4 ms·

The problem with Google is every 5 or so years they pick a random software product and try to copy it, often cannibalizing one of their existing products for th

The problem with Google is every 5 or so years they pick a random software product and try to copy it, often cannibalizing one of their existing products for the brand recognition. YouTube went from (1) A platform where you upload your home videos to (2) a passive media platform like satellite TV or Netflix to (3) all about Shorts! Which is just TikTok tucked into a corner of YouTube (competing with T-Series and MrBeast for views). (Of course we all know what YouTube will be eventually: https://killedbygoogle.com/ https://killedbygoogle.com/ )

Macha 3y ago
I think Search, YouTube and Gmail are the three Google products that will be left until they're turning the lights off, since even "normal" people would notice their shutdown
vineyardmike 3y ago
That's a good narrative to fit in with the "Graveyard" plat, but I think the reality is more nuanced. 1, 2, and now 3 all still exist. They cannibalize only in that attention is finite, but they were losing that attention to others anyways. But 1 was nice, but it was losing attention to 2, so they added 2. Then TikTok made 3, so now they need to add 3 to capture that attention. The reality is that users want short form video. And YouTube is happy to provide to prevent you from seeing TikTok ads instead. You can still upload your family videos, and you can still watch your TV shows on it. You're missing when YouTube was all about music, and people used it for music videos. And that YouTube is pushing into Podcasting. And YouTube educational videos, and YouTube Kids. Everyone has the YouTube app, and they need to ensure you don't have a reason to download a new one. Its not random decisions from a bad business, its a ruthless use of a popular platform to capture new formats before users go elsewhere.

4 ms·

The problem with Google is every 5 or so years they pick a random software product and try to copy it, often cannibalizing one of their existing products for th

by phendrenad2 3y ago

Macha 3y ago
I think Search, YouTube and Gmail are the three Google products that will be left until they're turning the lights off, since even "normal" people would notice their shutdown
vineyardmike 3y ago
That's a good narrative to fit in with the "Graveyard" plat, but I think the reality is more nuanced. 1, 2, and now 3 all still exist. They cannibalize only in that attention is finite, but they were losing that attention to others anyways. But 1 was nice, but it was losing attention to 2, so they added 2. Then TikTok made 3, so now they need to add 3 to capture that attention. The reality is that users want short form video. And YouTube is happy to provide to prevent you from seeing TikTok ads instead. You can still upload your family videos, and you can still watch your TV shows on it. You're missing when YouTube was all about music, and people used it for music videos. And that YouTube is pushing into Podcasting. And YouTube educational videos, and YouTube Kids. Everyone has the YouTube app, and they need to ensure you don't have a reason to download a new one. Its not random decisions from a bad business, its a ruthless use of a popular platform to capture new formats before users go elsewhere.