I noticed my consumption has decased quite a bit. I would visit regularly to watch content from few channels. I would probably still visit every so often to watch the new videos. But the experience has become more deliberate and conscious. I go to YouTube because I want to go and watch something specific. Mindlessly browsing and watching additional content is harder.
This is good progress from Google to get off their platform :)
I stopped using recommendations years ago and only use NewPipe and Invidious. I did notice a reduction in my watch time, but there is plenty to watch when using a subscription-only feed. I havent added very many channels to my list since then, but personalized recommendations aren’t worth the privacy cost. Hoping to leave the platform eventually
You talk about leaving like it’s an addiction, but it sounds like you enjoy the content.
I have a few subs that I enjoy, but it’s not like I can find replacements like I did with twitter and Reddit.
Hoping to leave how? Just by not watching anything, or just hopeful of a replacement?
Haha yeah, nicely put. I do enjoy the content, mostly because I’ve been following these creators for some time, and it’s hard to find a replacement for it… there is a lot of great content there, but it makes me feel gross using it. And same, I had no problem finding an alternative for Reddit (this), probably because I was not very attached to individual creators there.
I’m hoping a decentralized solution gains traction, but in the meantime I’ve been trying to limit the amount of information I share with the platform. I’m not actively trying to restrict my usage (most of that was achieved when I stopped using an account), but maybe it’s a good idea to do so. I mostly use it when eating or going to sleep, and there are better ways to occupy that time.