• sad_detective_manOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    4 days ago

    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.

    • Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      4 days ago

      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.

      • sad_detective_manOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        4 days ago

        ohhh, somebody had said it was a meta technique for creators to boost their views. I probably misunderstood them

        • Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          4 days ago

          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.

          • sad_detective_manOP
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            4 days ago

            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?

            • Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              4 days ago

              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.