Shocked expressions, big red arrows pointing to nothing, titles based on shock, surprise or open-ended questions are videos I tend to avoid. I don't particularly care to watch a video where the first emotion had is sympathy for desperation. (It makes you almost question the emotional state of most of the users that "the algorithm" tuned itself for, TBH. I say that only as an observation of scale when looking at the sheer numbers of viewers that YouTube has.)
Sticking with the subtle stuff is just fine. A picture of the host smiling with an informative title and thumbnail is OK, and not very gag evoking.
Blaming "the algorithm" for having to do that shit is likely a very real thing. However, I will religiously watch channels that produce good content first.
Either way, I have conflicting views: A person has to earn a living, but when emotional exploitation is used in this way, I don't know what to think. Is it really harmless? Not sure about that yet.
I agree. It doesn't feel harmless because mirroring validates the behavior and perpetuates the cycle. It's not how I earn a living so I'm lacking the perspective and motivation of the account holder(s). Seeing thumbnails in that style has always made me cringe. Maybe I'm feeling embarrassed for the person?
Generally I found that people that rely on these types of thumbnails don't often have very good content. I like Josh the intern but he's started doing this as well.
Standup comedians in r/StandupComedy report that following some trends unfortunately does increase views. E.g. censoring ‘obscene’ or ‘violent’ words. Although that's not as prevalent on YouTube, but they can't really produce separate videos for various platforms.
Recommendations are a killer feature on YouTube. Only, one needs to cultivate them carefully. Look through the recommendations on an interesting video and save promising ones into the ‘watch later’ playlist (or better yet, separate playlists per topic). Don't click on random videos, especially from links on social media — use an incognito tab for that.
This works great for me, I have enough videos saved to last me a year or two at least. YouTube learned my taste quite well, especially when it comes to music — found many good albums and tunes in the recs, despite being a snob.
Louis Rossmann's videos were the break point for me, iirc. I've watched a couple of them, comprehended his position well enough, and certainly didn't need fifty more videos about how laptops are getting un-repairable these days.
I'm sure he does talk about other stuff, and I wish him well in his endeavours, seeing as they vaguely align with my ideals. But I'm not gonna watch dozens more videos of him taking apart another laptop.
I disabled "history" so it has almost? the same effect. It just keeps showing the same videos; no algorithm at all. it also shows a little banner "Is something off? You can always turn on history you know? Okey? no? .. aright"
I disabled watch history and the default front page is blank for me--tells me to enable watch history. The only place I see recommended videos now is the side bar that shows on the video watch page, which are more relevant than the default home page.
I only watch on desktop, it might be different on phone.
Same thing happened to me. I don't really search for specific videos or creators, so having absolutely nothing on the front page just made me stop using Youtube. So, good job Google?
I'm glad they do this so I know to avoid their channel. I know their content is likely not something I'm interested in spending my time viewing when I see the thumbnail following whatever the current trend is.
I'm not too interested in the fluffy stuff. But on the occasions I am, it's easy to find.
For instance, sometimes I like to watch travel vlogs. I avoid the ones that have thumbnails showing the face of the vlogger in every thumbnail, with just one exception, Dale Philip. He also has the most subscribers of anyone I'm subscribed to, by far.
As much as I try to like Bryant Gardiner's videos since he's so active on Peertube, I can't follow him simply due to his thumbnails. They irritate me so much. I'd love for a dearrow type of feature on Peertube or a way to straight up block channels from showing up in the Explore tab.
32 Comments
remotelove@lemmy.ca · 42 pts · 34d
Shocked expressions, big red arrows pointing to nothing, titles based on shock, surprise or open-ended questions are videos I tend to avoid. I don't particularly care to watch a video where the first emotion had is sympathy for desperation. (It makes you almost question the emotional state of most of the users that "the algorithm" tuned itself for, TBH. I say that only as an observation of scale when looking at the sheer numbers of viewers that YouTube has.)
Sticking with the subtle stuff is just fine. A picture of the host smiling with an informative title and thumbnail is OK, and not very gag evoking.
Blaming "the algorithm" for having to do that shit is likely a very real thing. However, I will religiously watch channels that produce good content first.
Either way, I have conflicting views: A person has to earn a living, but when emotional exploitation is used in this way, I don't know what to think. Is it really harmless? Not sure about that yet.
zanyllama52@infosec.pub · 18 pts · 33d
I feel you. DeArrow solves this.
chunes@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 33d
It superficially solves the problem. I want to know who is humiliating themselves to satisfy the algorithm so I can avoid their videos.
Zarobi@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 33d
That's nifty as heck
sit@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 28d
Dearrow masks the channels that expose themselves and their audience. Uninstalled when i realized.
bert_macklin_fbi@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 33d
I agree. It doesn't feel harmless because mirroring validates the behavior and perpetuates the cycle. It's not how I earn a living so I'm lacking the perspective and motivation of the account holder(s). Seeing thumbnails in that style has always made me cringe. Maybe I'm feeling embarrassed for the person?
P00ptart@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 34d
Generally I found that people that rely on these types of thumbnails don't often have very good content. I like Josh the intern but he's started doing this as well.
Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
Also anything with DESTROYS in the title
kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
3 ukrainian soldeirs OBLITERATE 3 russian soldiers. Russia is BANKRUPT (added 4 years ago)
I was erect for too long, it's coming any day now!
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
Standup comedians in r/StandupComedy report that following some trends unfortunately does increase views. E.g. censoring ‘obscene’ or ‘violent’ words. Although that's not as prevalent on YouTube, but they can't really produce separate videos for various platforms.
kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 33d
I just "don't recommens me channel" immediately
Flower@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 33d
I killed YouTube history and the algorithm with it. I live on channel subscriptions.
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
Recommendations are a killer feature on YouTube. Only, one needs to cultivate them carefully. Look through the recommendations on an interesting video and save promising ones into the ‘watch later’ playlist (or better yet, separate playlists per topic). Don't click on random videos, especially from links on social media — use an incognito tab for that.
This works great for me, I have enough videos saved to last me a year or two at least. YouTube learned my taste quite well, especially when it comes to music — found many good albums and tunes in the recs, despite being a snob.
baltakatei@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 33d
Yeah, a single Chrono Trigger cover will contaminate your recommendations for days.
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
Louis Rossmann's videos were the break point for me, iirc. I've watched a couple of them, comprehended his position well enough, and certainly didn't need fifty more videos about how laptops are getting un-repairable these days.
kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
hé talks about other stuff too. he also get into legal fights over license terms that are too scammy. he s a good and well meaning guy lol
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
I'm sure he does talk about other stuff, and I wish him well in his endeavours, seeing as they vaguely align with my ideals. But I'm not gonna watch dozens more videos of him taking apart another laptop.
kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
I disabled "history" so it has almost? the same effect. It just keeps showing the same videos; no algorithm at all. it also shows a little banner "Is something off? You can always turn on history you know? Okey? no? .. aright"
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
I disabled watch history and the default front page is blank for me--tells me to enable watch history. The only place I see recommended videos now is the side bar that shows on the video watch page, which are more relevant than the default home page.
I only watch on desktop, it might be different on phone.
LostCarcosan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 33d
Same thing happened to me. I don't really search for specific videos or creators, so having absolutely nothing on the front page just made me stop using Youtube. So, good job Google?
AstralPath@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 33d
I cant avoid reading this in Mario's voice.
A_Chilean_Cyborg@feddit.cl · 7 pts · 33d
They kinda are force to do it or else the algorithm punishes them.
many channels do the thumbnail face thing but after some time, after the video is no longer trending, change it to the intended thumbnail.
OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
The internet sucks these days.
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space · 5 pts · 33d
YoU wOn'D bAliEvE iT!!!
aamram@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 33d
deArrow
friend_of_satan@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
Shout out to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/clickbait-remover-for-youtube which honestly makes looking at YT so much less awful.
Obi@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 33d
This is tempting but also I do use clickbait in a reverse manner (e.g. by avoiding channels that abuse it).
UnLocoPoco@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
This was inevitable considering a few notable youtubers (one of them being kwebblekop) has started using AI avatars
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
I'm glad they do this so I know to avoid their channel. I know their content is likely not something I'm interested in spending my time viewing when I see the thumbnail following whatever the current trend is.
I'm not too interested in the fluffy stuff. But on the occasions I am, it's easy to find.
For instance, sometimes I like to watch travel vlogs. I avoid the ones that have thumbnails showing the face of the vlogger in every thumbnail, with just one exception, Dale Philip. He also has the most subscribers of anyone I'm subscribed to, by far.
anotherpos@feddit.online · 1 pts · 33d
i guess they're also youtubers in their time
k0e3@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 33d
As much as I try to like Bryant Gardiner's videos since he's so active on Peertube, I can't follow him simply due to his thumbnails. They irritate me so much. I'd love for a dearrow type of feature on Peertube or a way to straight up block channels from showing up in the Explore tab.
baltakatei@sopuli.xyz · -1 pts · 33d
Instant block to any channel that pulls that stunt.