YouTube is testing a more customizable homepage with its new "Your Custom Feed"

The experience of opening YouTube and finding a chaotic mix of videos that have little to do with what you feel like watching at that moment is quite common. The platform seems to have realized this problem. and is testing a new feature designed precisely for order that mess: a YouTube homepage much more customizable thanks to the experimental feature called "Your Custom Feed".

This new option introduces a significant change in how the homepage is built: instead of the system simply deducing your preferences from your browsing history, The user will explicitly indicate what type of videos they want to watch at any given time.All of this is supported by an artificial intelligence chatbot and simple instructions written in natural language, which It points to a shift towards a more tamed and less unpredictable YouTube..

What exactly is "Your Custom Feed" and where does it appear?

Based on what has been observed in this test, «"Your Custom Feed" appears as a new chip or tab located right next to the classic Home button in both the app and the web version. It doesn't replace the usual main screen, but rather acts as a kind of parallel track where the user can generate an alternative version of their homepage with recommendations tailored to a specific intention.

By tapping this new button, YouTube prompts you to type a prompt, that is, a simple phrase indicating What do you feel like eating?It can be a very broad topic, like cooking or technology, or something as specific as "quick 15-minute dinner recipes" or "photography tutorials for beginners." Based on that indication, the platform reorganizes the home feed to prioritize videos that match the request.

The idea is that this section will function as a temporary discovery mode Based on your query. There's no need to go video by video or depend on specific playlists or channels: It's about telling the platform what you're looking for during that browsing session and letting the system adapt. the cover to that context.

For now, the company is testing the feature with a small group of users spread across different regionsAs is often the case with house experiments, There are no guarantees that it will reach the entire public as is., nor a confirmed date for a possible global rollout that includes Spain and the rest of Europe.

The role of AI: from opaque algorithm to chatbot that understands instructions

Until now, the YouTube homepage has relied primarily on a recommendation system that observes your viewing historyThe videos you like, the channels you subscribe to, and the time you spend on each piece of content. This model has been very effective at keeping people on the platform, but it also has drawbacks. obvious limitations.

One of the most discussed problems is the algorithm's tendency to overemphasize passenger interestsWatching a few Marvel reviews, a Disney trailer, or a fitness video can trigger a wave of similar content for days, as if the user had suddenly become an absolute fan of that topic. According to various studies, current controls, such as “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend channel,” They barely reduce a small percentage of unwanted suggestions.

To try to correct this behavior, YouTube is resorting to a artificial intelligence chatbot integrated into the "Your Custom Feed" experienceInstead of simply inferring your tastes from statistical patterns, the The system accepts messages written in natural language explaining what you want. seeFrom “long film analysis videos without spoilers” to “guitar tutorials for beginners in Spanish”.

The company hasn't given too many details about exactly how it works internally, but Everything points to the AI ​​model being responsible for interpreting the intention behind the prompt and translate it into Weight adjustments on topics and content typesThis softens the classic "you've watched three videos, I'll send you three hundred more" effect and introduces a clearer signal than simple occasional playback.

This approach also opens up debates about privacy and use of dataIt's expected that the instructions entered through the chatbot will be used to further train AI models and refine the system, something platforms like Google already do with other services. The key will be in to offer mechanisms so that those who do not wish to participate can turn off or limit these functions if they feel they are interfering too much with their behavior on the platform.

How to use the new, more customizable YouTube homepage

In the profiles included in the test, the usage process is relatively simple. The user only has to click on the custom function, right next to the Home button. By doing so, An interface opens where you can write directly what kind of videos are of interest at that moment. Complex sentences aren't necessary: ​​the system is designed to understand. everyday instructions.

Once the prompt is entered, the cover page "resets" to place in foreground content that matches that demand. If the user wants to refine the result, they can write new instructions, change the topic, or try different nuances (“20-minute yoga classes for beginners,” “easy vegetarian recipes,” “science videos in Spanish,” etc.). Each Adjustment offers a new set of recommendations, which can be refined in real time.

This method complements, but It does not eliminate existing tools., such as the history clearingThe option to mark videos as "Not interested" or the ability to indicate that a specific channel should not be recommended. The difference is that, instead of reacting to what the algorithm throws at you, The user then proceeds to enter the address from the beginningwhich reduces the feeling of fighting tooth and nail against a system that doesn't listen.

An important point is that, at least in the current test, "Your Custom Feed" functions as a sort of alternate mode over the homepagenot as a permanent profile adjustment. That is, It serves more as a layer of occasional customization It's like a clean slate for your entire history. This allows you, for example, to use it when you want to delve deeper into a specific topic for a few days without completely ruining your overall profile.

For everyday use, YouTube recommends continuing to use the following as well: classic controls history management and "Not interested" optionswhich remain relevant for keeping out inappropriate content, even when using the new prompt-based system.

Why the home feed can be so chaotic

The discontent with YouTube's homepage is not new. Most of the viewing time on the platform comes from the automatic recommendations, and that makes Any deviation from the algorithm is massively noticeableIf, for example, several family members share a device in the living room and each one watches different content, the result is usually a hybrid feed that doesn't accurately represent anyone.

Furthermore, recommendation systems are good at detecting behavioral patterns, but less effective at grasping the underlying motive. A single trailer or a sports video watched out of curiosity can be interpreted as a lasting shift in interestsWhich It ends up generating that feeling of "it doesn't recognize me" that many users express..

External organizations have studied these problems. Research such as that conducted by the Mozilla Foundation has indicated that current control buttons they do not drastically change What appears in the feed; in some cases, they only reduce unwanted recommendations by around 10-12%. Given this scenario, it makes sense for YouTube to explore more direct and understandable methods for the average user.

Furthermore, the overload of content—with millions of new videos every day—makes the role of the homepage even more critical. Without fine-tuned personalization, it's easy for users to get lost among generic suggestions, repetitions, or trends that don't always match what they're looking for. The new approach aims to redirect this abundance toward something more manageable, without sacrificing the... discovery ability that so many users value.

In this context, "Your Custom Feed" is presented as an attempt to rich and varied selection: maintain a rich and varied selection, but filtered by a clear intention communicated by the user, instead of relying entirely on automatic inferences.

Potential impact on users in Spain and Europe

Although the trial has not been specifically announced for the European market, a potential widespread implementation would have particular implications in regions such as Spain and the European Unionwhere regulations surrounding personal data and algorithmic transparency are stricter. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and new rules on digital services have brought the spotlight to how behavioral data is used on large platforms.

In this regulatory environment, a feature that allows the user to take a more active role in personalization could fit well with the requirements of greater control and clarityHowever, YouTube would have to specify precisely what information is used to train the AI ​​models, how the prompts that are typed are stored, and how long they are kept linked to a specific account.

For Spanish and European users, the arrival of a more customizable YouTube homepage could translate into Less noise and more relevance when they open the app on the living room TV, mobile phone, or tablet. Families who share a device, for example, could use different prompts at different times to guide the session without having to constantly switch accounts.

There is also the question of whether it will be allowed disable completely the use of chatbots or limiting their reach. Some users prefer to continue seeing a more "raw" feed, without so much AI intervention, and European authorities are generally sensitive to the need to offer clear opt-out options in advanced personalization tools.

It remains to be seen whether the company will adapt the feature with specific nuances for comply with European regulationsThis is common when it comes to new features that combine behavioral analysis, machine learning models, and decisions about what content is brought to the forefront for millions of people.

What does this mean for creators and channels on the platform?

The shift towards a More customizable YouTube homepage It not only affects those who open the app, but also those who upload content and depend on the homepage to gain visibility. If "Your Custom Feed" becomes established, Video discovery could become more “intentional”That is, more linked to specific needs expressed by users than to simple recommendations based on long histories.

This can benefit creators who work highly focused formatssuch as tutorials, in-depth explanations, structured lessons, or thematic analyses. If someone writes a detailed prompt—for example, “30-minute piano lessons for beginners” or “spoiler-free film essays”—, Videos that best fit that description could gain positions in the feedeven if they don't belong to the biggest channels.

For small channels in Spain or other European countries, a system that more directly captures user intent can represent an opportunity: Niche and high-quality content could gain ground against more generic offerings. but with a longer click history. However, YouTube will likely continue to prioritize metrics from long-term satisfaction —viewing time, internal surveys, abandonment rate— versus quick clicks.

At the same time, the existence of natural language prompts opens the door to new strategies for optimizing titles, descriptions, and tags. It's easy to imagine that some creators will try to adapt their titling style to align with the most common formulations from users, taking advantage of keywords that sound like a direct request to the system.

The company, for its part, It will have to ensure that the search engine and feed are not filled with titles designed solely to please the AI....to the detriment of clarity for users. It will also be key to prevent prompts from facilitating the emergence of information bubbles that are too closed or low-quality content inflated only by a good keyword strategy.

General trend: more user control over their feed

YouTube's move didn't come in a vacuum. Other social and video platforms are also experimenting with formulas for return some control to the user in the face of highly opaque algorithms. Threads, for example, is testing adjustments to its algorithm so that the displayed content can be better configured, while X is working on an option for its AI assistant, Grok, to directly influence what appears on the timeline.

TikTok, which popularized the concept of a hyper-personalized feed, has offered less explicit control beyond the classic "Not interested," so YouTube's initiative sits somewhere between a traditional search engine and an AI-driven recommendation carousel. It's a hybrid approachThe user expresses an intention almost as if performing a search, but the result is not a specific list of videos, but a complete, readjusted cover.

For the general public, this can make the launch feel less like an imposed showcase and more like a custom-configured space for each session. Instead of having to dive through sections, lists and channels, everything is summed up in a simple question: “What do you want to watch now?” and from there, the system organizes the rest.

In previous experiences, YouTube had already incorporated elements such as topic chips, the "New for you" tab, or pop-up windows to choose categories of interest. "Your Custom Feed" goes a step further because it combines those contextual clues with the power of an AI model capable of understanding free phrases and nuances that do not fit into predefined labels.

The key will be in the execution: whether the result perceived by the user is truly a cleaner and more useful feedOr if it remains an additional layer that doesn't significantly change the underlying behavior of the algorithm. Like so many other experimental Google features, the The lifespan of this new product will depend on the extent to which people adopt it into their daily routine..

The move towards a more customizable YouTube homepage through prompts and an AI chatbot reflects a clear attempt to correct the shortcomings of an algorithm that, despite its power, often falls short in understanding what we want to see at any given moment. If the "Your Custom Feed" feature ends up being rolled out to Spain and the rest of Europe, balance between personalization and transparency This will be key for users and creators to gain control, relevance, and discovery opportunities, as long as a reasonable balance is maintained between personalization, transparency, and respect for privacy.

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Alberto navarro

I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.

If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.