This doesn't help when searching. I'm looking for specific things as often as I'm clicking on recommendations.

What's needed is a global "Hide AI Dreck". Particularly the overwhelming hoard of AI slide-shows masquerading as reviews.

When I used to use YT, i used https://untrap.app/, it was a great improvement.

If you think you can't quit youtube, I used to think that way, and then i did it by deleting my account and using libredirect for invidious. my usage went to just a few minutes or 0 per day.

I suggest stopping any and all interaction w/ the algorithm. Get a library card and be intentional about your media consumption choices.

Or just use Channel Surfer.

https://channelsurfer.tv

This is exactly how I consume YouTube as well. I do keep the side recommendations on since they mostly contain music or videos I've already watched, which I don't mind.

I'm now experimenting with hiding thumbnails too, and honestly I've been liking it a lot. It's a very curious feeling how my eyes can no longer latch on to something visually appealing, and instead try to look for information in channel names.

I use Unhooked on desktop and UnTrap on iOS for this. Both work flawlessly, and reduced my YouTube usage to almost zero.

Their recommendation engine has surfaced awesome obscure content I would have never found otherwise so I value it.

Stuff like random recorded conference talks with 3 views. A super enthusiast in Latvia.

It does recommend crap sometimes but on balance I like it.

I love how passive aggressive the page becomes: "You turned off recommendations...we won't show you anything else on here either!"

Same for me. Godsend. It also switches off showing me a follow up "short" after I watch the one I want to watch.

Likewise. The page is youtube.com and then just /feed/ without anything else there. That's the blank page, thank goodness they've not ruined that yet :)

This ^