Have you ever watched a video or two on a given topic only to return to your YouTube homepage and see a barrage of similar videos in your suggested feed? Or maybe you’ve searched for something only to find your searches are now being eerily personalized?
If you’ve ever found yourself in either of these situations, then you'd love this article. We'll show you five ways to browse YouTube anonymously.
1. Use a Throwaway Google Account
The first way to browse YouTube anonymously is to create a throwaway account. A throwaway account is an account you use solely for YouTube, and you don't input any personal information. This way, there's no connection between your real identity and your YouTube activity.
Creating a new Google account on Android, iPhone, or your computer is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is go to Gmail's website and select Create an account. You can then go to YouTube and use your throwaway account to binge-watch YouTube to your heart's content without worrying about your privacy.
2. Sign Out of Your Google Account Before Browsing
If you're uncomfortable making a whole new account, you can just sign out of your regular account before browsing YouTube. This way, your activity will not be linked to your real account and identity.
Of course, this method isn't perfect because YouTube will still be able to track your IP address. However, it's a quick and easy way to browse YouTube anonymously. You can use a VPN or proxy to mask your IP address and increase your anonymity.
3. Browse YouTube With a VPN
Another way to browse YouTube anonymously is through a VPN or Virtual Private Network. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in another location. This makes it appear that you're browsing from a different place than your actual location. Not only does this make it more difficult for people to track you, but it also allows you to bypass geographic restrictions.
For example, if you're trying to access a video that's only available in the United States, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in the US and watch the video as if you were there.
There are a lot of great VPN providers that offer free trials, so it's important to do your research before choosing one. Some factors you may want to consider include price, speed, security, and ease of use.
4. Use YouTube’s Incognito Mode (Mobile)
If you're using the YouTube app on your phone, you can also take advantage of the in-app incognito feature. This is similar to signing out of your account before browsing, but it's a bit more convenient. Whatever you do while in incognito mode is not linked to your account and, thus, will not be used to personalize your experience.
To turn on incognito mode, open the YouTube app and tap on your profile picture in the top right corner. Then, select Turn on Incognito. You'll know it's working because a black bar will appear at the bottom of the screen that says, "You're incognito."
5. Use Tor Browser to Browse YouTube
Another way to browse YouTube anonymously is by using the Tor Browser. In case you don't know what the Tor Browser is, this is a special browser that routes your traffic through multiple servers before it reaches its destination. This makes it very difficult to track where the traffic is coming from. However, because your traffic is going through multiple servers, it can slow down your connection speed.
The Tor Browser is free to download and use, making it a great option for people on a budget. However, because it's free, there is no customer support if you have any problems with the browser.
Binge-Watch YouTube Anonymously
You don't have to sacrifice your privacy to enjoy YouTube. By using one of these methods, you can browse YouTube anonymously and watch whatever you want without worrying about how it will affect your video recommendations. So go ahead and binge-watch to your heart's content! Just don't forget to come up for air every once in a while.