this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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[–] [email protected] 108 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

Yeah the titles are actually a huge draw for me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] setsneedtofeed 37 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

It's definitely an intelligent based issue, not necessarily age.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] Tanoh 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There is a reason clickbait images and titles are used, they work. If they didn't work, no one would use them.

[–] eskimofry -5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

You must think marketing is made of infallible geniuses. Just because it exists doesn't make it good.

[–] spacedancer 21 points 1 year ago

They didn’t say it was good, just that it’s what works; that’s why it’s everywhere.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody said "good", but if it keeps existing, it works or at least isn't harmful. Bit like evolution.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Pregnenolone 1 points 1 year ago

Good is what generates money. If it works it’s good

[–] raltoid 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.