To add to the timeline, the recommendations got weird a few months after Trump was elected. During that time it seemed like everyone was blaming YouTube and Fac

To add to the timeline, the recommendations got weird a few months after Trump was elected. During that time it seemed like everyone was blaming YouTube and Facebook for "radicalizing" half the US population. Their response was to heavily bias against recommending small channels. The "scandal" around ads showing up on inappropriate content made it worse. The weird kids videos fiasco strained it even further. I think COVID was the final straw that resulted in them pushing for complete commercial capture. It's probably the death knell for YouTube since other video platforms have started to take in creators and consumers repulsed by the drek being force fed by the new algorithm.