[bscphil]

I think it's more complicated than that. YouTube's algorithms don't just represent (or misrepresent) the truth, they also have a role in creating the truth. That is to say, if YouTube's algorithms disproportionately represent terrible (likely) sponsored videos on the trending pages and your personal feed, those videos will as a result objectively receive more views. The only way a "fair trending" approach could really work was if we somehow had access to the stats videos would receive without the distorting effects of Youtube's algorithms. We don't have that, so this project (while very interesting) is not likely to be very useful.

[goldenkey]

This is the same issue with models like Black Scholes that came to be used in pricing options. Or the confounding issues with gravitons having energy such that they themselves generate gravitons - hence the loopback effect.

Self-modifying programs are still an enigma we haven't untied.