Really? It feels like theres a lot less diversity of thought on the internet now. I used to be able to jump on stumbleupon and find a website about psilocybin, or someone's insane ramblings about the new world order. Now its all just crap. Used to be the world was too far away, used to be the stars didn't have much to say.
this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2025
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People use the youtube app?
Yeah people use all sorts of stuff that you don't. Wild, isn't it?
Online monoculture died when the normies finally got online and brought real life cliques to the internet.
When was this?
Asking as someone who’s been on the Internet since 1989.
15-20 years or so ago. Whenever smartphones became the dominant communications tool, and pretty much everyone had access to the internet from their pocket square.
Been online since '93 myself at pretty much the dawn of the World Wide Web.
I remember cliques and a lack of online monoculture on Usenet and IRC before the World Wide Web even existed; the web exploded things even further, as did the privatization of DNS and takeover of funding by VCs and ad conglomerates. All that had happened by 1998.
I followed the link of a video here on Lemmy just a few minutes ago and it opened in the browser.
Nothing shocking up to this point.
Then I get a prompt from the video saying "Ready to buy products advertised in the video? Log into the official app in order to."
Direct purchase through the YT app is a novelty for me.
Newpipe all the way.
I recommend Tubular. Newpipe with Sponsorblock. Didn't realise how much of a game changer that would be until I tried it.
Just need to find a way to stop Eternity from opening Youtube links in the browser. Sure you can share it with the app but it would be a lot more convenient.
Tried newpipe when I migrated from reddit. It worked 50% of thw time. Any better now?
Any iOS alternatives? The ad experience is not great.
AltStore + YTLitePlus
I don't use iOS any more, but I found that a combination of Safari + adblocker + Vinegar was the golden setup. No ads, and you get to use the default iOS video player.
I got rid of YT and replaced it with PeerTube and Nebula. Am I a bit less entertained? Sure. Am I a lot less angry? Yup.
I’m also learning a lot more because I was forced to find new content and new creators which was actually really fun.
Nebula has certainly improved but I still think they need to put more effort into getting new creators that aren't political or news. I just did a skim through their uploads lists for various topics and news and/or political (or political ish) content is still the most active. Topics like technology and gaming see far less uploads.
There isn’t a ton of content, but Jetlag SLAPS
Genuinly asking this question. Aren't the ones on nebula the ones that make you mad? Maybe that's not the best way to put it but the ones like philosophy tube are the ones that got me started down my political path and they are still super political.
Fair question, I don’t really watch that stuff. I’ve been watching channels like king k and Liam triforce etc. I also dabble in channels like Not Just Bikes. So nothing super political. I also follow a channel that dives into Math topics, etc.
NJB is the shit.
I will never, never visit Fake London.
Haha fake London looks terrible!
I think Jacob Geller and wendigoon are on nebula and they don't make political content. I'm sure there are others
Patrick H Willems, particularly his 'Star Wars Christmas Special', is the reason I signed up to Nebula. He's decidedly non-political.
You're not wrong honestly. I just did a scroll through of the more recent channels and they've picked up a ton of people that aren't really primarily politics.
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I've been using YouTube as my primary source of entertainment since 2009. I don't think I've looked at the trending page even once.
Has the internet ever been a 'monoculture'?
The trending page of YT is like the r/all of Reddit. If I want to see some stuff I couldn't care less about, that's where I'll find it. I have no idea who actually uses that, but I've never found anything of value there.
At least Reddit's front page features some news sometimes while YT front page caters to 3-6 yr olds who are YT's main demographic. It's all AI junk clickbait brainrot and shorts content.
I could never click on any YT's front page links. It's not appealing to me not even in my drunkiest state
The only view of reddit I have is top/hour.
The YT trending was disgusting boring farmed content. It was like going to r/all two days ago.
Exactly. I have my own interests and I just stick to that. Arts and crafts and dog grooming videos haven’t made me angry.
Gizmodo still exists 😲
keep showing viewers the videos that we think they’ll love
We'll keep profiling you and target you with videos that drive engagement, so largely things that inspire rage or conflict between you and others. Extra points if we drive your political and social views further to the right.
Youtube has just one priority, it wants you to watch as much monetised content as possible. If you watch and engage with those types of videos, it'll suggest them to you.
I don't, and I never see them recommended either - here's my youtube homepage right now.
DIY, electronics, cooking, gaming, science, with some weeb stuff sprinkled in - exactly what I'd expect.
I've noticed that with Facebook. Facebook will push conflict to my feed excessively hard, to the point that spending not even 30 seconds there will start making me angry. I refuse to use Facebook at all anymore.
Delete it. Do it.
Its nuts to me that we figured out their strategy like 10 years ago and people just chose to ignore that information and kept using all these platforms anyway.
10 years ago? saw that shit begin when the news feed was first plagued by friends liking posts in a way that auto shared it with everyone. that was long before 2015.
My father was addicted to the “righteous” rage. Though he was mostly just addicted to being angry. Hated commercials but intentionally watched live tv to curse at the “motherfuckers stealing my time.” I’d say “rest in peace” but I think that might be antithetical to his wishes.
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They've removed down notes, date posted in placeholders, and the ability to properly alter monetization the way you want to...seems like a competitive product could pop in at any time. Sadly, the only competition would have to come from another equally shitty company with a massive infrastructure footprint.
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