I used to occasionally enjoy watching random videos online. But this trend of people attaching their annoying and obviously FAKE reactions on top of the video is happening a lot lately. Aren’t people bothered by this ? How is that even supposed to help with the content of the video ? I understand if they own the content of the video, but lately I see a lot of people doing it on completely random content.
It’s absolutely awful and if I get clickbaited into one such videos I let it play for a few seconds before clicking it away. I hope this makes their bounce rate drop.
They steal content and provide nothing of value besides their fragile and fake personalities that a few people might like because they’re lonely.
If you’re referring to the youtube thumbnail trend, it’s because it helps people choose videos without reading channel names. You know who it’s from just by looking, you see the title, you’re more likely to click.
In other words, the office nerds at Mr. Beast Inc. crunched the numbers and discovered that they get ??% more viewers by putting Jimmy’s face in the thumbnail, and every other youtuber took that as gospel.
In order to use someone elses content under fair use you have to make “meaningful commentary” so they do the bare minimum in order to use other people’s videos.
I had very recently come across a reactionary content left-wing YouTube channel, reacting to Rachel Maddow of MSNBC reacting to Elon Musk’s interview… I thought that was pretty bizarre. (link).
It was a 30 second intro segment, then a 8 minute clip of the Maddow show, followed by a 1 minute outro commentary segment.
I actively avoid videos with those awful thumbnails, but I figure it must result in a net gain in clicks.
“Look at this old lady. She wake up everyday to do old lady things. Like if you think that the old lady is doing great”
easy way to steal content, and enough people don’t care it’s happening, so they get away with it
DarkviperAU has entered the chat.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAnJ4ZuTYaeGv4WIexP9C5LAuMEnMkG-Q
I dislike reaction content.
You should make one of those video with your reaction to the fake reaction videos
It boosts engagement. Anything you see trending is because it boosts engagement. Social media pays for engagement, content creators min max for that.
Are there people who specifically watch these videos for the reactions? I can imagine some enjoying it, but I thought the general consensus (at least among my friends) is that it’s annoying. I was hoping the trend would die out at some point, but the opposite seems to be happening.
Reaction videos have been for many years always very profitable. I mean, you can easily find creators/channels that have millions of views and they just film themselves reacting to a video. As a creator, you can incorporate a bit of that into your content and you’ll likely see people engaging more. I personally never understood what’s the appeal of watching somebody watch something instead of me watching that directly. I think it is something that goes in the direction of a para-social relationship, but I’m no expert.
Edit: I think I might be thinking about a different kind of reaction videos mind. Sharing an example of what you were referring to?
It is gross, but watch a child watch the video. They look to the talking head to interpret what is happening and to tell them how to react.
I like reaction videos. If you don’t like them, don’t watch them, this isn’t complicated. I think football is stupid, but lots of people love it. It’s a big ol world, and it’s full of people with nervous systems all firing in different ways. Stop yucking other people’s yums.
Some of us are homebound with various disabilities. Some of us are too ill or too medicated to deal with actual social interaction. Reactions offer a parasocial experience that helps stave off loneliness. Lots of things that seem “stupid” turn out to be helpful for disabled people.
What is added by having a small face in the corner of the screen that partially blocks the actual content of the video? Like with straws it’s to help people with grip strength or with unsteady hands to be able to drink water so what do you actually gain from the persons face? I am not trying to be attacking but just trying to understand
You may have missed the point of this post. It’s not about enjoying reaction videos. There are lots of creators putting effort into their videos. OP is focused on grifters intentionally forcing a strong reaction to boost engagement on their videos. its annoying that bad videos get pushed by some unknown algorithm.
What if someone’s yum is yuking on someone else’s yum?
ah yes, Karl Popper’s paradox of yumyucking.
As in most social media apps, downvote and move on. Personally, I have a list of channels I subscribe to and mostly just stick to watching the content they produce. None of that is reaction videos, which I agree are lazy and stupid, but I guess some people like them or they wouldn’t keep making the rounds.
I’m not sure what you mean… I haven’t really gotten much of that at all, thankfully, as it does sound pretty annoying.
Let me guess, this dude with yellow helmet showing the same expression at both fails and wins of various construction and transport jobs? The content is often good but he’s ruining it.
I know the one you’re talking about and to me that’s the least egregious of them all. It’s contextual and thematic, even if it is just shit.
I’ve been looking over my daughters shoulder as she watches YouTube shorts, and a regular clip of brain rot will announc its using the greenscreen effect. Hidden behind all the username/soundtrack/description will be a teeny tiny brown man’s head muttering punjab almost imperceptibly quietly.
Not sure if they’re better or worse than the dickheads splitting the screen in two and passively pointing up towards the video that is also showing.
Not sure why that people do it, and yes it is annoying.
