YouTube is testing a new experimental feature called “Your Custom Feed,” designed to give users more control over their content recommendations.

Users participating in the experiment will see “Your Custom Feed” displayed next to the standard “Home” button on the homepage. The feature allows users to input prompts tailored to their interests to shape their feed. For example, users wanting more cooking videos can type that preference into the custom feed, prompting YouTube to prioritize similar content.

According to TechCrunch, YouTube’s algorithm has been reported to frequently misjudge user intentions. The platform’s recommendation system can make assumptions based on limited viewing behavior; watching a few Disney videos could lead to an overwhelming number of similar recommendations, even when they don’t align with user preferences.

Alternative to Existing Tools

TechCrunch notes that the custom feed feature could offer a more effective alternative to existing curation methods, which require users to click each video and select “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend channel” options.

YouTube isn’t alone in developing customized feed options. Threads was recently observed testing an algorithm configuration feature. X is also working on a feature that would allow users to tag its AI chatbot, Grok, to adjust their feed.

YouTube’s move toward user-directed content curation reflects growing demand for personalized control over social media feeds across multiple platforms.

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