YouTube stops recommending videos if you're not signed in

Traditionally, Youtube Recommended videos are always on the home screen of the site, regardless of whether you have Google Logged in or not. However, this mechanism has stopped working in some countries when accessing the platform anonymously – and Brazil is on the list.

No sign in, no recommendation

The recommendations window no longer appears on the platform's website flow In the last days. Instead of playlists, as observed in our tests Canaltech This Monday (11) YouTube presents a blank screen with a warning.

“How about starting a survey? Watch the videos to help us create a content feed that works for you,” the notice says.

The alert appears either in a regular window or in an incognito tab, both without a registered account. Moreover, even when performing the action reported by the service itself, the home page continues without recommendations.

The case has also been reported on social media, such as X (formerlyTwitter):

YouTube will also not show any suggestions on your home page if you clear your search and watch history as well as turn off history entirely. It seems like a bullying tactic to get people to turn against history.

-Haridev (@haridev8281) March 10, 2024

Also on YouTube in other countries

We also tested when connecting to a VPN in other countries, such as Germany, the US, Italy, and Portugal. In any case, YouTube did not return recommendations as it always did.

This change has drawn more attention in European countries, where YouTube is questioning whether it allows access to content biscuit And provide personal suggestions. Even when accepted, the site does not recommend videos, including when playing various content.

As in the YouTube test for Brazilian audiences, the analysis was performed without a procedure sign in In your Google account. When entering credentials, recommendations instantly return to the home screen, even when using the streaming platform from another country.

YouTube and Google have not commented on the change yet. It is worth noting that the live broadcast platform last year Stop recommending videos to those who don't have their viewing history activated.

Despite the silence from companies about the change, the reason for the change should be related to increasing respect for user privacy and also to avoid accusations of favoring a certain type of content when making recommendations to those who access the network via the first. time or remove your entire viewing history.

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