this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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Really good extension, I've added it to my browser.
While some creators like Linus have said they dislike the clickbaity titles and thumbnails but they have to do it due to engagement that's simply because the younger generations are the ones engaging with that content. As an older person I'd rather just have a to the point description of what I'm going to get.
I might get it for the titles alone. The clickbaity thumbnails don't really bother me, but I'd like to have a good title at least.
Yeah the titles are actually a huge draw for me.
I'm going to set the fallback thumbnail to the original instead of a random thumbnail. The randomly generated thumbnails are too out of context to be useful.
I don’t think it can be said to conclusively be an age issue. I assure you that many Boomers and older Xers love clickbait titles.
It’s a more granular demographic than just age.
It's definitely an intelligent based issue, not necessarily age.
Maybe but I can only go with my own anecdotal experience and It tends to be the younger audience more attracted to them.
Of course, I fully admit I may be completely wrong.
There is a reason clickbait images and titles are used, they work. If they didn't work, no one would use them.
You must think marketing is made of infallible geniuses. Just because it exists doesn't make it good.
They didn’t say it was good, just that it’s what works; that’s why it’s everywhere.
Nobody said "good", but if it keeps existing, it works or at least isn't harmful. Bit like evolution.
Or there are people with an interest in keeping it that way.
I don't think there's any big conspiracy about YouTube titles, but let's not pretend thing like wealth inequality still exist because they're not harmful.
What "interest" would they have to keep it that way if it wasn't working?
Wealth inequality exists because it works for the people who have the power to control it. In a way, it's not harmful ENOUGH to change evolutionarily.
Are you serious? You literally answered your own question with the very next sentence.
What? The original argument was "Just because it exists doesn’t make it good.", implying that it (click-bait thumbnails) doesn't necessarily work. To which I said that the fact that it exists means it works. To which you seemed to object by saying that there may be people who have an interest in it existing - like they want it to exist despite it actually not working. I'm confused about what it is you're saying.
You can go and read my comment again if you're confused. It's pretty clear that I was saying your original argument might apply to YouTube titles, but doesn't apply in many other parts of life.
Since Youtube is what we were talking about, I see no reason to assume that wasn't what you were talking about. Also, I do think that the principle can be applied in most situations, some more easily, some less.
Me: "thing like wealth inequality"
You: "oh he must still be talking about YouTube!"
Please
Your original comment said nothing about wealth inequality.
clickbait is unreasonably effective
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=S2xHZPH5Sng
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
Good is what generates money. If it works it’s good
Don't forget that creators will release a video that you might want to watch later and then change the information.
You'll see a video you want to check tomorrow but not enough to add it to the "watch later". But when you check your subscriptions the next day it's been 12+ hours and they've changed the title and thumbnail to further game the algorithm.