So I finally contacted Google disability support about the degrading accessibility of the youTube app for iOS. I'm fairly sure I was sent there from the youTube help site. I summarized a lot of the issues I and other Voiceover users have been having with the iOS app, particularly the hellish clutter of search results and recommended videos. The response I got today directed me to write to YouTube premium support, but the page they linked to is only for help with one-time purchases or ongoing subscriptions. As an alternative, I was told to post in the community. There was no acknowledgement of the issues and no offer to pass it along. It very clearly said "You've reached the wrong place."
My interpretation of this e-mail is simple: Google disability support can't file feedback about youTube. If there is a way to do so and reach an accessibility-aware person, I have not found it.
The youTube iOS app has now degraded to the point where it's painful to use. I think this is a good nudge to move the podcast feed generator in-house (literally) and start listening to videos in Overcast. It'll also make me less unfocused and dependent on the algorithm. #Accessibility#Google#YouTube#Enshittification
