For me, the happy medium is an extension that replaces thumbnails with a frame from the actual video itself (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clickbait

For me, the happy medium is an extension that replaces thumbnails with a frame from the actual video itself (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clickbait-remover-for-you/omoinegiohhgbikclijaniebjpkeopip https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clickbait-remover-...). Videos are still visually identifiable this way, and as a plus you get a preview of their actual contents, all while significantly cutting down on visual noise.