[Thorzdad]

Sooooooo...I was rummaging around YT for videos on cleaning stuff (specifically that weird pink shit that builds-up in bathtubs, and how to take apart and clean between the glass panels of an oven door...surprisingly simple, as it turns out)

Anyway, as I kept digging, I started noticing other sorts of “cleaning” videos being heavily recommended by the algorithm. Specifically, videos of attractive young women cleaning large, backlit windows in skimpy, sheer/see-through apparel and no underwear under the apparel. And, of course, clicking on one brings on a flood of similar videos. Apparently, transparent clothing try-on videos are a big-ish thing on YT. Also, there are demonstrations of how well said transparent clothing holds up to being soaking wet. For consumer information purposes, of course.

Considering what sort of inoffensive stuff YT regularly bans, running into a torrent of this stuff was pretty jaw-dropping. They seem to be exploiting some sort of sweet spot in the YT algorithms that make the vids ok.

[ghporter]

It sounds like the algorithm was pretty aggressive in “suggesting” the “suggestive” videos. Seeing a connection between cleaning showers and cleaning in transparent clothing isn’t too hard, but still. It feels like it was “waiting” to see an opening.

I get suggestions for things like Adam Savage and “Smarter Every Day” videos (which are fascinating). Following these leads to videos from one or another “slo-mo” teams that capture super high speed video of…well, all sorts of stuff. Also fascinating. But never the kind of videos you mentioned. Drat it.

[Thorzdad]

I think it was probably the oven door cleaning searches that probably launched the “cleaning” vids. Glass, cleaning, window, etc. Most of the suggested vids involved cleaning windows. Happily, the algo has moved on from those.

[Laminar]

The weekend that TikTok was banned my Instagram Reels took a HARD shift - all of a sudden it was 90% thirst traps (i.e. women lifting their shirts and the video cuts right before anything is revealed) and street racers running from the cops. These are not things I'd ever seen on reels before, the only things I follow are car/metal fabrication and stand-up comedy. The only things I actually engage with (like/comment) are posts from real people I actually personally know. I don't know if Instagram was really trying to rope TikTok refugees back in or what.