For 20 years, ISD has delivered field-leading threat detection, analysis and real-world strategies to combat terrorism, extremism and authoritarianism - in all their ideological forms.

Home / Reports / Pulling Back the Curtain: An Exploration of YouTube’s Recommendation Algorithm

Publications

June 19, 2024

Pulling Back the Curtain: An Exploration of YouTube’s Recommendation Algorithm

ISD-US

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Kids Online Safety, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

This is the executive summary of ISD’s Pulling Back the Curtain series which explores different aspects of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm. The series consists of four separate investigations examining the recommendations sent to eight U.S.-based YouTube accounts registered with varying ages, genders, and interests over one month. This report summarizes the findings across all four investigations and provides an overview of the project and platform policy recommendations.

In the media

Recruited by algorithms and AI: Terrorists in the West are getting younger

YouTube’s algorithm targeting boys and young men with mysoginistic, ‘manosphere’ content

Algorithms and pandemic pressure: The perfect storm on social media

How misogynistic hate benefits from algorithms and propels through social media

ISD Contributors

Charlotte Moeyens
Senior Manager, Strong Cities

Milo Comerford
Senior Director of Policy & Research, Counter-Extremism