YouTube’s extreme content pipeline alive and well according to research [Video]

• Research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue reveals that extreme content finds its way to all users, no matter their interests.
• There is also an alarming prevalence of medical misinformation being recommended to users.
• The ISD has called for greater transparency from YouTube as regards data sharing and how its recommendations work.

There was a moment in YouTube’s history where children were being fed some of the most bizarre content imaginable. By gaming the algorithm, content that shouldn’t become popular for children did and it highlighted just how much harm YouTube content could cause.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) published research this week that shows that YouTube still has a habit of feeding users extreme content including sexualised gaming videos, misogynistic content and videos relating to self-harm and suicide.

The ISD notes that this is particularly concerning as it found little that prevents children from being influenced by these videos. The institute notes that YouTube has rules in place …