this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 42 points 1 month ago (5 children)

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 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] chunes@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago

That's nifty as heck

[–] sit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Dearrow masks the channels that expose themselves and their audience. Uninstalled when i realized.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] bert_macklin_fbi@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

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?

[–] Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Also anything with DESTROYS in the title

[–] kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I just "don't recommens me channel" immediately

[–] Flower@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I killed YouTube history and the algorithm with it. I live on channel subscriptions.

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Don't click on random videos

Yeah, a single Chrono Trigger cover will contaminate your recommendations for days.

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago

I cant avoid reading this in Mario's voice.

[–] A_Chilean_Cyborg@feddit.cl 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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 points 1 month ago

The internet sucks these days.

[–] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 5 points 1 month ago

YoU wOn'D bAliEvE iT!!!

[–] aamram@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago
[–] UnLocoPoco@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

This was inevitable considering a few notable youtubers (one of them being kwebblekop) has started using AI avatars

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 month ago

This is tempting but also I do use clickbait in a reverse manner (e.g. by avoiding channels that abuse it).

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] anotherpos@feddit.online 1 points 1 month ago

i guess they're also youtubers in their time

[–] baltakatei@sopuli.xyz -1 points 1 month ago

Instant block to any channel that pulls that stunt.