4 ms·

A platform for everything, competitor to YouTube etc., but more centrist. I'm getting the impression that the whole placate-the-right "free-speech" thing was me

by braxvc 3y ago

A platform for everything, competitor to YouTube etc., but more centrist. I'm getting the impression that the whole placate-the-right "free-speech" thing was meant to get the people back from TruthSocial and get street cred. Now he'll move left again and cash in. Also of course there are considerations like Tesla subsidies and DoD contracts. But perhaps those institutions approved the above plan to restore centrist views.

_cenw 3y ago
How is YouTube not centrist? Their entire platform is geared to be maximum advertiser friendly, aka the status quo. It really isn't like YouTube doesn't discriminate equally, I'd even say in some cases they do so more strongly towards certain groups that tend to be left wing (e.g. queer people immediately being demonitized when not shrouding words like "biosexual").
- brabel 3y ago
  It seems to me the YT algorithm doesn't care about left/right. Sometimes I watch a rightwing video, and then all I get is more and more extreme rightwing videos suggested. Then I have to watch some leftwing video to get back to more balanced content :D... but there seems to be plenty of content on both sides, with suggestions leaning heavily on which side you watched the most.
  - mrguyorama 3y ago
    Youtube algorithm only cares about "engagement". How long do you watch, do you stay on youtube and watch another video, do you click any of the buttons like subscribe, do you comment. Content that gets an extreme emotional reaction is strictly better at causing engagement, that's just like a basic sociological thing. The result is that youtube pretty much constantly tries to radicalize everyone. It doesn't care if you get radicalized left or right, it cares that you go into rabbit holes that make you angry or emotional and have a reaction. I watched youtube attempt to do this to me, as I watched a singular video by a more radical than average leftist youtuber, and youtube immediately started recommending me the classic "angry incel right wing" content that so many young men are deeply entrenched in, but I have never been recommended in my 15 year old youtube account. Depending on your beliefs or research I'm not aware of, right wing radicalization might be more effective, as "it's not your fault, we just have to hurt and remove certain people" is more palatable to certain people than "the system is fucked and we have to gut it and work hard to build it back". In that case, it would naturally push right wing radicalization over left wing radicalization. None of this has to be purposeful. However, willfully ignoring this outcome because it makes you a lot of money is actively evil in my opinion.
    - _cenw 3y ago
      Left wing radicalization makes you depressed, right wing radicalization is congruent with fascism in the absoluteness of not just us versus them, but us or an apocalyptic, demonic, absolute and all-encompassing evil them. My favorite Innuendo Studios essay is dealing with this concept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Luu1Beb8ng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Luu1Beb8ng
    - astrange 3y ago
      You're describing the YouTube algorithm from 2016 or so. It doesn't do that anymore because people yelled at them enough; that's why the comment sections are a nice experience now.
eecc 3y ago
Meh, the plan is to turn Twitter into an American TikTok. Great pivot given the timing, but he first had to destroy the “liberal stronghold” image it had acquired. It’s cynical af, but yeah… also the milquetoast Jack was appeasement all the way down

by braxvc 3y ago

_cenw 3y ago

How is YouTube not centrist? Their entire platform is geared to be maximum advertiser friendly, aka the status quo. It really isn't like YouTube doesn't discriminate equally, I'd even say in some cases they do so more strongly towards certain groups that tend to be left wing (e.g. queer people immediately being demonitized when not shrouding words like "biosexual").

brabel 3y ago
It seems to me the YT algorithm doesn't care about left/right. Sometimes I watch a rightwing video, and then all I get is more and more extreme rightwing videos suggested. Then I have to watch some leftwing video to get back to more balanced content :D... but there seems to be plenty of content on both sides, with suggestions leaning heavily on which side you watched the most.
- mrguyorama 3y ago
  Youtube algorithm only cares about "engagement". How long do you watch, do you stay on youtube and watch another video, do you click any of the buttons like subscribe, do you comment. Content that gets an extreme emotional reaction is strictly better at causing engagement, that's just like a basic sociological thing. The result is that youtube pretty much constantly tries to radicalize everyone. It doesn't care if you get radicalized left or right, it cares that you go into rabbit holes that make you angry or emotional and have a reaction. I watched youtube attempt to do this to me, as I watched a singular video by a more radical than average leftist youtuber, and youtube immediately started recommending me the classic "angry incel right wing" content that so many young men are deeply entrenched in, but I have never been recommended in my 15 year old youtube account. Depending on your beliefs or research I'm not aware of, right wing radicalization might be more effective, as "it's not your fault, we just have to hurt and remove certain people" is more palatable to certain people than "the system is fucked and we have to gut it and work hard to build it back". In that case, it would naturally push right wing radicalization over left wing radicalization. None of this has to be purposeful. However, willfully ignoring this outcome because it makes you a lot of money is actively evil in my opinion.
  - _cenw 3y ago
    Left wing radicalization makes you depressed, right wing radicalization is congruent with fascism in the absoluteness of not just us versus them, but us or an apocalyptic, demonic, absolute and all-encompassing evil them. My favorite Innuendo Studios essay is dealing with this concept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Luu1Beb8ng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Luu1Beb8ng
  - astrange 3y ago
    You're describing the YouTube algorithm from 2016 or so. It doesn't do that anymore because people yelled at them enough; that's why the comment sections are a nice experience now.

eecc 3y ago

Meh, the plan is to turn Twitter into an American TikTok. Great pivot given the timing, but he first had to destroy the “liberal stronghold” image it had acquired. It’s cynical af, but yeah… also the milquetoast Jack was appeasement all the way down