YouTube has begun testing a new feature that aims to give users clearer control over what appears on their home feed. The experiment, known as Your Custom Feed, was reported by a common publication and is designed to address long standing concerns about YouTube’s recommendation system, which often shows videos that do not match a viewer’s actual interests.
At present, YouTube offers only a few ways for users to express interest or disinterest in content. They can select Not interested, choose Do not recommend channel, or delete items from their watch history. These options work to a certain extent, but the algorithm can still overreact. For example, the system may fill the feed with similar videos after a viewer watches only one or two on a topic.
The new feature takes a more direct approach. Users included in the test will see a Your Custom Feed button beside the Home tab. Instead of waiting for the algorithm to interpret their activity, they can type specific prompts, which YouTube will use to adjust recommendations. This gives viewers a proactive way to shape their feed rather than correcting it after an unwanted suggestion appears.
This experiment comes as several social platforms revisit how their recommendation engines work. Threads is testing tools that allow users to fine tune their algorithm, while X is developing a feed adjustment system supported by its AI chatbot named Grok. These developments show a wider shift in the industry towards giving users more clarity and control over personalised content.
YouTube is also testing the return of private messaging in its mobile app. This feature allows users to share videos and chat directly without switching to another platform. The experiment is available only to adults in Ireland and Poland. Users can start conversations through invitations and can block or report chats. All interactions remain subject to YouTube’s Community Guidelines. This test effectively brings back a messaging option that was removed in 2019 after repeated user requests for simpler private sharing.
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