If you're receiving weird and horrifying video suggestions on YouTube, there are several steps you can take to better control the content you see and improve your recommendations:
Don't engage with inappropriate content: If you come across a disturbing or inappropriate video, avoid clicking on it, liking it, or leaving comments. Engaging with such content might signal to YouTube's algorithm that you're interested in that type of material, leading to more similar recommendations.
Use the "Not Interested" feature: Whenever you see a video that you don't like or find inappropriate, click on the three-dot menu next to the video and select "Not Interested." This action will provide feedback to YouTube about your preferences and help refine your future recommendations.
Clear your watch and search history: Your watch and search history play a significant role in determining the videos YouTube suggests. Clearing your history will reset your recommendations based on your current interests.
Turn on Restricted Mode: YouTube's Restricted Mode is a built-in feature that filters out potentially mature content. While it's not foolproof, enabling this mode can help improve the safety of your browsing experience. To turn it on, scroll down to the bottom of any YouTube page, click on "Restricted Mode," and toggle it on.
Use Incognito mode or a separate account: If you want to browse YouTube without affecting your main account's recommendations, use the Incognito mode (if available) or create a separate YouTube account for casual browsing.
Adjust your YouTube settings: Under the YouTube settings, you can customize various aspects of your experience, such as location, language, content types, and more. These settings can influence the content YouTube recommends to you.
Subscribe to channels you like: By subscribing to channels that align with your interests, you tell YouTube explicitly what type of content you enjoy. This can help YouTube provide more relevant recommendations.
Report inappropriate content: If you encounter content that violates YouTube's community guidelines or terms of service, report it to YouTube. Reporting helps improve the platform's content moderation and may prevent similar content from appearing in the future.
Explore the Explore tab and Trending section: Sometimes, YouTube recommendations might be skewed based on past viewing behavior. To explore new and diverse content, check out the Explore tab or the Trending section, where you might find fresh recommendations.
Remember that YouTube's recommendation algorithm evolves over time based on your interactions and feedback. By consistently engaging with content that interests you and actively signaling what you don't like, you can help the platform provide more accurate and enjoyable suggestions.