YouTube testing Incognito Mode to hide your embarrassing video searches

YouTube is reportedly testing an Incognito mode for users of its Android app, similar to the feature offered on Google Chrome.

By default, the video and streaming site tracks everything its users search for in order to suggest videos and target advertisements.

But if members don’t necessarily want the Google-owned company tracking all their moves, there may soon be a way to hide searches.

To activate it, tap the account avatar on the top right of the app. For users with the feature, ‘switch account’ and ‘sign out’ are now one option and ‘turn on Incognito’ is below it

Android Police reports that in some devices, an Incognito mode has become available.

To activate it, tap the account avatar on the top right of the app. For users with the feature, ‘switch account’ and ‘sign out’ are now one option and ‘turn on Incognito’ is below it.

Activating the feature turns off subscriptions and doesn’t save viewing data. Turning off Incognito or becoming inactive on the app switches it back to using the member’s account.

YouTube’s recommendation algorithm has landed the company in hot water in recent months.

YouTube is reportedly testing an Incognito mode for users of its Android app, similar to the feature offered on Google Chrome. The update is not yet available to all users

YouTube is reportedly testing an Incognito mode for users of its Android app, similar to the feature offered on Google Chrome. The update is not yet available to all users

Last year, the algorithm was recommending ‘creepy’ videos in its YouTube Kids section and failing to filter out disturbing content.

Some of the recommendations included Peppa Pig being tortured by a dentist, one of a burning airplane from the cartoon Paw Patrol and footage explaining how to sharpen a knife. 

In April YouTube announced that is overhauling its kids-focused app to give parents more control over what their children can watch. 

The new features will allow parents to filter content on the app so it only displays channels that have been reviewed by humans rather than algorithms.

In March, a disturbing Peppa Pig fake, found by journalist Laura June, shows a dentist with a huge syringe pulling out the character's teeth as she screams in distress. This image shows a Peppa Pig fake that depict the character being attacked by zombies

In March, a disturbing Peppa Pig fake, found by journalist Laura June, shows a dentist with a huge syringe pulling out the character’s teeth as she screams in distress. This image shows a Peppa Pig fake that depict the character being attacked by zombies

An update later this year will also allow parents to configure which videos and channels, specifically, can be viewed.

Both the grown-up video service and the YouTube Kids app have been criticised by child advocates for their commercialism and for the failures of a screening system that relies on artificial intelligence.

The app is engineered to automatically exclude content that’s not appropriate for kids, and recommend videos based on what children have watched before.

That hasn’t always worked to parents’ liking – especially when videos with profanity, violence or sexual themes slip through the filters.

In February, YouTube apologized after disturbing videos surfaced on its YouTube Kids app. 

HOW IS YOUTUBE MAKING ITS KIDS APP SAFER?

YouTube is finally rolling out changes to the privacy settings on it Kids app. 

After several issues with the service were reported, it is now rolling out updates this week. 

The new features will allow parents to filter content on the app so it only displays channels that have been reviewed by humans rather than algorithms. 

 Later this year there will be three further updates. 

Collections by trusted partners and YouTube Kids staff

YouTube Kids staff will offer collections of trusted channels on a variety of subjects.

This can be done from in the Profile Settings and parents can select from collections such as Sesame Workshop and PBS KIDS. 

YouTube will continue to add more partners over time. 

Parent approved content

YouTube is rolling out a feature later this year that will allow parents to specifically handpick every video and channel available to their child in the Kids app.

Improved search-off control

Starting this week, turning search off will limit the YouTube Kids experience to channels that have been verified by the YouTube Kids team.    



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