I still find myself going on YouTube since the majority of content creators are there, and often I use it to learn about something. But ever since I set a daily limit of watching five videos (YouTube or not), I find myself going on there less and less, as my feed is bombarded with videos that only serve to stimulate dopamine. With the continued improvement of ad blockers, content creators finding the loophole of using in-video sponsorships instead of YouTube's ads (which is YouTube's primary source of revenue), and a gradual overall exodus of both consumers and creators from the platform, it seems YouTube (and Google at large) is becoming a bit anxious and desperate. Just yesterday, I noticed YouTube's new feature, YouTube Playables, which screams, "We're desperate to keep you all trapped on our platform by getting you even more addicted so we can keep making money off of you by selling your attention to advertisers."

This move feels like a last-ditch effort to retain users by increasing engagement through addictive gameplay, rather than improving the quality and relevance of the content. It's a clear sign that the platform is prioritizing profit over user experience and well-being. As someone who values meaningful content and mindful consumption, this trend is pushing me further away from YouTube, encouraging me to seek out alternative platforms that align better with my values and goals.

The company pulls in more user data the longer users stay in the Googleverse, which includes YouTube, and that data helps it market more efficiently across all its platforms. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/053015/how-youtube-makes-money-videos.asp

Any alternatives to YouTube stackers enjoy using? I am now consciously working on deGoogling my brain and would love to learn about any alternatives that have served you well!