I have an old Google account that I only use for one specific thing today: YouTube recommendations.

Their algorithm is actually decent. Which is not something I hear myself very often. And while it can be a trap, it does actually recommend me a fair bit of high quality content as long as I stay away from the obvious traps, make sure to block channels I don't like, and use the feature "not interested" on videos that I don't like.

However. I would like to only use my web feed client and no Google account at all, but I would then miss out on the recommended videos.

Is there some privacy respecting alternative to this that I'm not aware of?

Maybe invidious or use freetube.

There is also grayjay, and while it works pretty fine I believe there where some controversies around the program even tho I don't know the reason.

Doesn't those work like Piped, that you get recommendations based on the current video your viewing?

I was talking about the general recommendations that you get based on what you watch over time. :)

What types of videos do you watch?

I understand, in Grayjay that is working as far as I know. It shows me videos based on my previously watched content. So that should work.

Mostly content like Probably Riding, Jeff Geerling and Lance Hedrick.

Cool. I'll check it out!

smarttube fdroid has been working great for me

I know that's not exactly what you're looking for, but imo not getting recommendations from YouTube's algorithm at all might be better. Why? From the Cambridge analytica scandal we have proof that these algorithms have the capability to manipulate people's ideologies without their consent. I think your algorithm basically personalizes an indoctrination strategy. The idea is not new, it has been talked about in the famous book 'Manufacturing consent'.

Let's say, they don't have a grand political plan behind their algorithm, but even then, the algorithm is just optimizing your feed for maximum engagement rather than intellectual nourishment. They just want you to watch more and more. And not spend much time to stop, think and reflect.

As for recommendations, you can get them organically from your close friends (they'd def be happy to send you a bunch lol) or from lemmy communities (like the documentaries ones)

I use a front end called Grayjay. You can log in with your YouTube account in the settings and transfer everything over, or you can set up a Polycentric account and never use YouTube directly at all. It's ad-free on my device and I notice that it even shows locked Patreon content on some channels.

I downloaded it directly from their website and use F-Droid as the repository. I was able to do all this on an Android tablet, so it's fairly simple.

The controversy is that the code is not fully open source, but it was originally labeled as FOSS.

Why is no one mentioning Flow? It is literally built to be exactly what you want. It has a local, no-Google-account required recommendation engine.

freetube recommends decently similar videos with the occasional slop in there, in addition to your subscriptions that are not visible to google or anyone else. only here, when you hide a channel, that thing is hidden forever, won't pop up again randomly.

Thanks! I'll look into Freetube.

Thanks! It looks to be limited to phones only, but it seems like, technically speaking, the best option.

Thanks! I'll look into them and the controversy.

Oh! That is a no go for me then. I only use open source software.

Thank you for the, well.. human reply! :D

I know all about this, both from a moral and technical standpoint. And I have seen the algorithm do this multiple times, but I'm aware of it, and I only watch wholesome family friendly content, which is mainly about tech, bikes and coffee. I don't care for politics, drama or anything like that, which is why it's quite easy to spot the dark rabbit holes I get presented with from time to time. :)

Recommendations from friends only work if you have friends. I do get recommended videos on social media (which is the fediverse for me), but it's rare. I actually like checking my inbox, and if I don't feel like watching something there, I just go and see the rekommendations, which is not always good, but they do have some fun stuff from time to time. I have found most of the channels that I subscribe to there.

Thank you! I'll look into it.

That's the client that I've been using for a few years on my Android TV. However. It requires a Google account to work. :/

I'm fully aware of that, this is partly why I would like to avoid a Google account, even though the only thing I use it for, is YouTube. I don't like Google at all.

A local-only client (or something that's at least privacy respecting) is what I'm looking for, which is why this I submitted this topic. Do you have any recommendations?

I don't know anything about bikes or coffee, but here are my recommendations based on Jeff Geerling:

Sorry for the info-dump but I just went through my list of subscribed channels. That should keep you going for a while!

Thank you! I'll look them up. :D

I mighta misunderstood what you want; freetube gives good & relevant recommendations if you've selected a video, like you're watching something and then you see related stuff in the sidebar.

if you want to open freetube and then it recommends you things to watch, unprompted, that's not a thing. honestly, wouldn't want that to be an option at all.

when you turn off the "viral" shit, block a buncha slop channels (super easy - stupid face in the thumbnail? blockety block) and make your subs the home page, it becomes a joy to use.

No worries!

I understand that it might not be for everyone. I'm generally speaking against unethical soul sucking algorithms, which is why I don't use social medias (other than this account and one on GoToSocial). However. I find the algorithm for YouTube to be good as long as you stay aware of it.

You can still look at most of the code, but yes, that's an issue for people who want to stay 100% FOSS.

It always breaks in my case. The playback stops randomly and just refuses to work. Unreliable

Unfortunately, there's nothing close to the actual algorithm. You either use YT without an account in a privacy-focused web browser with uBO installed. That's as far as you go. And of course, sensitive and political topics are always to be watched in NewPipe/PipePipe/LibreTube etc.

The closest to politics I watch is why systemd sucks. ;)