What happened to YouTube? Has anyone else just stopped using it or deleted it entirely?
I feel like YouTube changed so much over the years that it barely feels enjoyable anymore. Everything feels optimized for retention instead of actual quality. Search results feel worse, recommendations get repetitive, thumbnails/titles are over exaggerated, and Shorts are starting to feel like every other endless scrolling app.
I miss when YouTube felt more personal and creative instead of constant algorithms, sponsors, reaction content, AI-generated videos, and creators chasing engagement. Even smaller channels feel pressured to follow the same formula now.
Lately I’ve found myself opening the app out of habit more than because I actually want to watch something. Sometimes after scrolling for 20 minutes I realize I didn’t even enjoy any of it.
They don’t even try with the ads anymore either. Half of them feel like AI slop, fake podcasts, scam courses, or weird mobile game ads. It makes the whole site feel cheap.
Has anyone here actually deleted YouTube or stopped using it regularly? What do u use instead?
Curious if other people feel the same way or if I’m just burned out on internet content in general