> To be clear, I don't think YouTube has a RW political agenda, but perhaps it has an economic interest in pushing people to the fringes (maybe people at the extremes click more ads or something).
I think it's simpler than what you're suggesting. They want to make money, and the indirect way they do that is to get people to watch more videos. If most people who watch Jordan Peterson tend to also watch extreme right wing content, and you watch his video, then you will get recommended right wing content, because they think that's what you will want to watch.
I work for Google but not on Youtube, opinions are my own.
I considered that, but I can't think of any plausible reason for prominent overlap in viewership of JP's moderate political content and extreme RW content. Maybe Peterson appeals to people who previously thought the only moderate option was quiet deference to progressives? Would be really interesting if this were the case--it might imply that Peterson has a strong moderating effect on RWers and/or that people are being taught a false dichotomy between extreme left and right.
> I considered that, but I can't think of any plausible reason for prominent overlap in viewership of JP's moderate political content and extreme RW content
From my understanding, JP is actually pretty connected with conservative/right wing politics. Not so much that he is necessarily right wing himself, I wouldn't know, but that he has a large right wing following.
I think they like him for his opposition to political correctness/gender pronouns. His philosophy on masculinity also really appeals to conservatives rebelling against feminism.
It's a recommendation engine. People who like JP also like X.
And almost anyone who likes any alt-right video also likes JP, because he provides a veil of respectability for anti-feminist, anti-multicultural views.
I think it's simpler than what you're suggesting. They want to make money, and the indirect way they do that is to get people to watch more videos. If most people who watch Jordan Peterson tend to also watch extreme right wing content, and you watch his video, then you will get recommended right wing content, because they think that's what you will want to watch.
I work for Google but not on Youtube, opinions are my own.