i dont personally need it but somebody probably will.
I would want something similar if it stopped creators from changing thumbnails and video titles on the user-end every couple of weeks. That bothers me more than the youtube face.
That’s a YouTube thing, actually. Creators can give a video multiple titles and thumbnails and YouTube will automatically A/B test them to see which gets more clicks. If the video randomly switched, either you swapped tests (happens all the time with multiple devices) or the uploader picked a more successful (read: clickbaity) alternative.
You can check for this by adding a video to the top of a playlist. The playlist header always uses the true thumbnail of the first video, so it’ll be different from the thumbnail in the video list if you’re not in the A group.
It’s both. The dumb faces and titles are unfortunately extremely effective at getting random clicks. The A/B testing is to find the more effective of a few options, which again will almost always be the worst sort of engagement bait.
i always find this funny because i’ve noticed myself only clicking on videos once someone changes the thumbnail in dearrow, most clickbait thumbnails and titles are literally less interesting to me than a dry description of what the video is about
you’d think youtube could use the ability to show different thumbnails to different people so i’m not shown things that clearly actively makes some people not click on videos, but of course they are incapable of considering anything but appealing to the majority…
Give them time. Eventually enough of their engineers with integrity will leave the company, and micro-targeting users to maximize engagement will be on the table. They’re solidly in the “growth at any cost” mindset.
i dont personally need it but somebody probably will.
I would want something similar if it stopped creators from changing thumbnails and video titles on the user-end every couple of weeks. That bothers me more than the youtube face.
That’s a YouTube thing, actually. Creators can give a video multiple titles and thumbnails and YouTube will automatically A/B test them to see which gets more clicks. If the video randomly switched, either you swapped tests (happens all the time with multiple devices) or the uploader picked a more successful (read: clickbaity) alternative.
You can check for this by adding a video to the top of a playlist. The playlist header always uses the true thumbnail of the first video, so it’ll be different from the thumbnail in the video list if you’re not in the A group.
ohhh, somebody had said it was a meta technique for creators to boost their views. I probably misunderstood them
It’s both. The dumb faces and titles are unfortunately extremely effective at getting random clicks. The A/B testing is to find the more effective of a few options, which again will almost always be the worst sort of engagement bait.
okay. so that’s a niche bit of knowledge. do you make videos too or are you just a little obsessed with watching youtube like I am?
Some YouTuber I watch explained the system. I can’t remember exactly which one though.
I think Linus Tech Tips also did a video on the system at some point, but I’m not subscribed so I couldn’t link to it.
neat. well, thanks for filling me in and sharing that plugin 🙂
i always find this funny because i’ve noticed myself only clicking on videos once someone changes the thumbnail in dearrow, most clickbait thumbnails and titles are literally less interesting to me than a dry description of what the video is about
you’d think youtube could use the ability to show different thumbnails to different people so i’m not shown things that clearly actively makes some people not click on videos, but of course they are incapable of considering anything but appealing to the majority…
Give them time. Eventually enough of their engineers with integrity will leave the company, and micro-targeting users to maximize engagement will be on the table. They’re solidly in the “growth at any cost” mindset.
Is that why videos change titles on NewPipe?
Probably, if you don’t have a user session and are anonymously querying the metadata each time.