

I agree with pretty much everything. I’m a millennial who grew up with YouTube before it was Google’s, back when “related videos” were basically your only discovery tool, and that was enough. I’d add: kill the comments entirely, and pair whatever frontend you use with an adblocker plus SponsorBlock.
Lately I came across this Android app. It does local algorithmic recommendations, but everything stays on your device so you can wipe and restart it whenever you want. I’ve used NewPipe and its forks (last one being PipePipe) for years, and I’ve been testing Flow.
To each their own, I guess, but having some discovery without Google’s finger in it is a nice thing imho.

I agree. Sometimes words can’t fully express what we mean because we also rely on subtle cues from facial expressions and body language, and not everyone is a good writer. I’ve realized that my partner and I sometimes misunderstand each other, but things become clearer when we meet in person.