As one of the most popular video sharing platforms, YouTube hosts millions of videos every day, including some that may not be suitable for certain users. YouTube’s recommendation algorithm suggests videos based on the users’ search history and watch time, sometimes showing videos that are not preferred.
Russian-language videos are included in the YouTube platform, and they are not a problem for those who speak the language. However, for those who don’t, Russian videos can bring a lot of frustrating and wasted time. Russian videos may appear almost anywhere on the platform, from the home page to your own subscriptions and search results. In this article, we will cover five practical methods to block Russian-language videos from appearing on your YouTube feed.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Block Russian Videos on YouTube
Blocking Russian videos on YouTube is becoming an increasingly important task for non-speakers of the language. There are several reasons why one might want to block Russian videos on YouTube, such as:
1. Time-consuming: For those who do not speak the language, the videos can take up valuable time and mean that users have to spend more time scrolling through the platform to find videos to watch.
2. Irrelevant Content: Non-Russian speakers will find the content of these videos irrelevant because it is difficult to understand the language. This can lead to frustration and a less enjoyable user experience.
3. Unwanted Influence: Russian videos can influence the viewer’s perception and bring unwanted perspectives and ideas.
Method 1: Using YouTube Settings
YouTube has a feature to filter videos by language. Follow the steps below:
1. Open YouTube on your web browser.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines located in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. On the left-hand side of the page, click on "Settings."
4. Then click on "Language" and select the specific language of your choice, such as English.
5. Save the Settings.
Pros:
– Easy to use
– Automatically filters out all the videos in the selected language
– Suitable for those who only want to block particular languages.
Cons:
– Disable suggestions from the language, and not the category.
– Some English videos may also be excluded.
Method 2: Using Video Blocker Extension
Video Blocker is a free Google Chrome extension that allows users to block videos from certain channels or videos that contain certain keywords.
1. Open Google Chrome web browser.
2. On the Chrome Web Store, search for "Video Blocker" and click on the "+Add to Chrome" button to download and install.
3. Restart Chrome.
4. Go to YouTube.com.
5. Find the video you want to block, then click on the "Block" icon or "Block videos from this channel" button.
6. Add keywords or phrases that you wish to block, and videos containing these words will be excluded from your feed.
Pros:
– Easy to use
– Blocks videos containing selected keywords from all languages
Cons:
– Doesn’t permit for a selective exclusion
– Only effective within the Google Chrome browser
Method 3: Using UserWords Extension
UserWords is an extension that can be used on both Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers. It works by excluding videos containing selected keywords from your YouTube feed.
1. Open the web browser of your choice.
2. Go to the Firefox Add-ons page or the Chrome Web Store and search for UserWords.
3. Click on "Add to Firefox" or "+ Add to Chrome" button to download and install.
4. After installation, reload the YouTube webpage.
5. Click on the Add button located next to the Words to Unsubscribe.
6. Add the selected words and click on Save.
Pros:
– Blocks videos containing selected keywords from all languages
– Works on both Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers
Cons:
– Only excludes videos based on keywords
– Only effective within the Firefox or Google Chrome browser
Method 4: Using YouTube Options for Google Chrome
YouTube Options for Google Chrome is a great extension that works with Chrome browser. It provides several useful features, such as changing the video’s font size, blocking specific channels, filtering video search results, and so on.
1. Open Google Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for YouTube Options for Google Chrome.
3. Click on the "+ Add to Chrome" icon on the right-hand side of the page.
4. After installation, refresh the YouTube page, and a toolbar with different options will appear.
5. Click on "Customize Channel Filters" located under Channel Filtering.
6. Select your preferred video language and tick the box that says "Match the whole word."
Pros:
– Allows selective inclusion or exclusions of channels
– Blocks videos from the selected language while permitting different languages.
Cons:
– Only compatible with Google Chrome
– Configuration may be challenging for some users
What to Do If You Can’t Block Russian Videos on YouTube
If you have tried one of the above approaches but have not been able to block Russian videos on YouTube, below are some possible solutions:
1. Clear browsing data: One potential reason for Russian videos persisting on non-Russian accounts may be a problem with the cache or browsing data. Clearing the data may help reload the page correctly.
2. Sign out of YouTube: Sign out and then sign in again to your account on YouTube. This may frequently fix the issues.
3. Modify the region setting: User’s region settings on their accounts may cause the system to display Russian videos. Changing the region to a different location may help.
4. Delete/Remove inappropriate channels: Users should remove the channels they don’t like from their subscriptions.
Bonus Tip:
Many online apps allow users to block websites if the user doesn’t want to use them. "StayFocusd" is a Chrome extension that provides this service. This extension can be used to block access to YouTube, or to block the videos based on criteria like duration, category, or language.
FAQs:
Q1. Does YouTube’s Settings block all languages?
A1. No, it only puts a limit on the chosen language videos. These filter preferences can be modified, and all other content will remain, including videos that may include spoken words in the excluded language but subtitled or captions in the preferred language.
Q2. Can I exclude certain categories of content on YouTube?
A2. No, YouTube doesn’t provide any features to select or exclude the categories of videos. So far YouTube’s filters are limited to preference language.
Q3. Does Video Blocker work on mobile devices?
A3. No, Video Blocker is only compatible with the Google Chrome desktop version.
Q4. What if I have already watched or liked videos in Russian?
A4. The YouTube algorithm records users’ activities and makes suggestions based on the user’s history and preferences. If any user watches or likes Russian content, the algorithm will likely suggest more Russian content. In that case, use the extension to block these channels’ videos.
Q5. Will my preferences changes also affect the other devices that I use?
A5. Preferences are applied only to the specific user’s account on the device it was set on and won’t affect other devices.
Final Thoughts
Filtering out Russian-language videos on YouTube could aid in significantly improving user experience and save time for those who don’t speak the language. This article has presented four methods to block Russian videos on YouTube, and if none of them work, there are alternative fixes. By following the steps provided in this article, users will be able to filter out irrelevant videos and enjoy their time spent on the platform.