Websites like Youtube, TikTok or other platforms are accused that their algorithms increase the problems of the title. The algorithms would led to a spiral down to suicide and depression. Many companies already tried to prevent that. They change the algorithms to protect the users. It is a similar strategy with Fake news. Youtube promotes official sources though this is kind of unfair and sometimes the official sources also spread fake news. I won't say which outlet I have in mind because this is not the politics subforum.
Yeah I am not sure how much this is a problem. I often only use youtube. This is why I can only say my opinion on this platform. I think it is barely impossible to solve the problem fully. Like my example. I like to listen to David Foster Wallace narrations. The algorithms showed me more and more content. But they cannot really know that I am interested in his texts also because he can very accurately describe the feeling of suicidality (in my opinion). They would have to make a dichotomy between artists who have committed suicide and artists who didn't. This would be kind of unfair. And I think such a differentiation could be ethically problematic. I also like listening to Linkin Park. Should the band be cancelled or disadvantaged just because Chester committed suicide?
I think there are some standard videos which are promoted on the platform if you search for suicide. There is this yale course The rationality of suicide. You find myriads of videos about suicide squad. It is a long time ago...not sure what the content of the Yale course was. I probably watched it but I am not sure.
I don't watch this much depression or suicide related videos on youtube currently. At least for the music I can comfirm they don't really change the algorithm to prevent sad/depressed music. I watched Antinatalist youtubers some years ago. I always saw them in my subscription box. I think antinatialism is not disadvantaged on Youtube. Not sure about Promortalism. I think there are some youtubers who are promortalists. I don't really agree with them philosophical but I was kind of surprised youtube allows such content.
My conclusion is I think it is not that strictly regulated. Especially for the sad songs an intervention would be kind of insane. At least for me I can say they can comfort me and let me feel less alone. But this is probably up to the individual.
What is your stance on the topic? I think I don't know enough for a more sophisticated analysis. Sorry.
Yeah I am not sure how much this is a problem. I often only use youtube. This is why I can only say my opinion on this platform. I think it is barely impossible to solve the problem fully. Like my example. I like to listen to David Foster Wallace narrations. The algorithms showed me more and more content. But they cannot really know that I am interested in his texts also because he can very accurately describe the feeling of suicidality (in my opinion). They would have to make a dichotomy between artists who have committed suicide and artists who didn't. This would be kind of unfair. And I think such a differentiation could be ethically problematic. I also like listening to Linkin Park. Should the band be cancelled or disadvantaged just because Chester committed suicide?
I think there are some standard videos which are promoted on the platform if you search for suicide. There is this yale course The rationality of suicide. You find myriads of videos about suicide squad. It is a long time ago...not sure what the content of the Yale course was. I probably watched it but I am not sure.
I don't watch this much depression or suicide related videos on youtube currently. At least for the music I can comfirm they don't really change the algorithm to prevent sad/depressed music. I watched Antinatalist youtubers some years ago. I always saw them in my subscription box. I think antinatialism is not disadvantaged on Youtube. Not sure about Promortalism. I think there are some youtubers who are promortalists. I don't really agree with them philosophical but I was kind of surprised youtube allows such content.
My conclusion is I think it is not that strictly regulated. Especially for the sad songs an intervention would be kind of insane. At least for me I can say they can comfort me and let me feel less alone. But this is probably up to the individual.
What is your stance on the topic? I think I don't know enough for a more sophisticated analysis. Sorry.
Last edited:
