Certain YouTube channels might not be to your liking. Maybe they’re full of clickbait or the creator has viewpoints you disagree with. Whatever the reason you don’t need to let these channels clutter up your YouTube feed.
Let’s go through the steps to keep these channels out of sight regardless of the device you’re using.
Preventing a YouTube Channel from Appearing in Your Feed
While you can’t eliminate a channel from YouTube as a viewer you can ensure it stops showing up in your recommendations and your feed. This won’t prevent the channel from appearing in search results or on websites outside of YouTube.
When you choose to block a channel this setting is synced across all devices where you’re logged into your YouTube account. It’s a private action so no one, not even the channel owner knows that you’ve blocked them. This action won’t be visible on your channel either if you have one.
For parents managing a YouTube Kids account the ability to block channels is more robust. You can refer to our separate guide on blocking channels on YouTube Kids for more details.
To proceed with blocking a channel on YouTube follow these instructions on both YouTube’s website and the mobile app:
- Make sure you’re logged into your YouTube account.
- On the YouTube homepage locate a video from the channel you wish to block.
- On a desktop hover over the video’s details; on mobile this step is not necessary.
- Click on the three vertical dots.
- Choose ‘Don’t recommend channel’.
- If you change your mind simply select ‘Undo’.
How to Unblock a YouTube Channel?
If you wish to reverse a block unless you immediately click ‘Undo’ you can’t unblock a single channel. Instead, you must clear your entire recommendation history which will reset all blocks:
- Go to your My Google Activity page.
- On the left menu select ‘Other activity’.
- Under ‘YouTube “Not interested” feedback’ click ‘Delete’.
- Confirm by clicking ‘Delete’ again.
Enhancing Your YouTube Viewing Experience
YouTube tries its best to tailor recommendations but sometimes it misses the mark. If you find yourself bombarded with suggestions for a channel you watched once and didn’t enjoy, simply block it. This helps tailor your YouTube experience to better suit your preferences.
Expanding Your YouTube Horizon
Sometimes blocking certain channels can make room for discovering new and exciting content that aligns with your interests and values. YouTube is a vast platform with creators from all corners of the globe covering an almost infinite array of topics. By filtering out the content that doesn’t serve you you open up a space to be surprised and delighted by what you might find next. It’s like tidying up your digital video shelf to make room for fresh engaging entertainment and knowledge.
Maintaining a Positive Digital Space
It’s important to remember that your mental and emotional well-being is paramount when navigating online spaces YouTube included. Channels that provoke stress or discomfort have no place in your personal viewing space. Taking control of your feed is not just about preference but also about protecting your digital environment. Think of this process as curating a personal collection of digital artifacts that inspire, educate and uplift.
Engagement Matters
Engaging positively with the channels you love not only enhances your viewing experience but also supports creators who produce content that matters to you. Your likes, comments and subscriptions help guide YouTube’s algorithms to better understand your preferences making them more efficient at recommending content that you will find appealing. This symbiotic relationship between viewer engagement and content recommendation is key to making YouTube a rewarding experience for all.
Concluding Thoughts
Ultimately YouTube is what you make of it. By taking proactive steps to mold your feed you not only enhance your own viewing experience but also contribute to a healthier more productive online community. Keep exploring, keep adjusting your preferences and you’ll find that YouTube can be a wonderful resource for entertainment and learning tailored just for you.