Summary:
I’d like to suggest introducing custom feeds to PeerTube, inspired by how Bluesky allows user-created feeds. This could greatly improve content discovery on PeerTube while staying true to its decentralized philosophy.
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Context:
Right now, PeerTube doesn’t use recommendation algorithms (aside from possible third-party integrations). While this approach avoids centralization, it can make it harder for users to find new and interesting content.
Bluesky has addressed a similar challenge by letter users create and subscribe to custom feeds. These are essentially community-or user-curated “living playlists” that update automatically with new content matching a theme. (Reference: Complete Guide to Bluesky Custom Feeds: The Complete Guide to Bluesky Custom Feeds (2025 Update) | FollowBlue)
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Proposal:
Allow PeerTube instances (or external developers) to create custom feeds that users can subscribe to.
Examples might include:
Cooking videos
Horror videos
Comedy videos
Cute/wholesome videos
Collections of videos from specific PeerTubers or channels
etc.
This would give users a more engaging way to explore content beyond standard chronological or category-based browsing.
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Benefits:
Improves content discovery without relying on a centralized algorithm.
Empowers users and communities to curate their own recommendation systems.
Adds flexibility for different interests and niches across the federation.
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Potential Concerns:
Could add UI/UX complexity if not implemented cleanly.
Needs to remain decentralized, ensuring no single authority controls the feeds.
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Question for the community:
Would the PeerTube dev team and community be open to exploring a system like this, where custom feeds complement the existing decentralized model of discovery?