For many people, YouTube search results are failing to show videos that match the exact terms that users enter. Many users see recommendation-heavy pages instead of direct results. This just changes the whole point of keyword-specific search, and many users are annoyed.
A widely shared post from Jeff Geerling on X highlights how DuckDuckGo is performing better than native search in some cases. Many people just want search to return the most relevant context for the query. It’s fair to expect keyword matching, clear sorting, and results that are predictable.
Some people get under 3 relevant results, followed by some unrelated shorts. There are a bunch of unrelated playlists that show up after this. People have suggested using extensions such as YouTube Unhook to solve the problem, where you get granular customization over what you can hide and show.
Users on X were mad about being shown Resident Evil 9 spoilers, which was not relevant to the search. YouTube replied that your search results were influenced by your activity, which is true in some capacity, but it still doesn’t change the fact that search is just broken right now.
Instead, YouTube mixes in random suggested videos that aren’t even related to the typed terms. This behavior increases the time required to find their desired content. The complaint in the main post is actually a long-running complaint, and not a sudden problem.
We don’t know why YouTube does this, but pushing recommendations like this may increase watch time. This somewhat weakens task-based searches, and niche videos become harder to find. The “Continue Watching” feature is a mess as well.
This is the reason why some external engines, such as DuckDuckGo, work better in some cases. They properly search with keyword indexing and override YouTube’s search algorithm. This affects creators as well, since videos lose exposure when random recommendations replace keyword results. Essentially, the new algorithm seems to favor already popular content.
It isn’t very difficult for YouTube to fix, since search worked perfectly fine before. They just have to separate search from recommendations, or add a new mode that keeps recommendations away. Adding a filter to search that prioritizes keyword-based search also helps.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1430 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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