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You know how YouTubers are always talking about how "the algorithm" didn't like this video, or loves that video. Or that "the algorithm" is a huge black block w

by phire 2y ago

You know how YouTubers are always talking about how "the algorithm" didn't like this video, or loves that video. Or that "the algorithm" is a huge black block which nobody knows how it works. Youtube's "the algorithm" will make or break both videos and channels. But "the algorithm" isn't really a mystery. At a basic level, it just shows a bunch of video recommendations to viewers, and measures if they click it or not (watch time, comments, likes also factor into the algorithm, but none of that matters if they don't click first). The higher the click-through rate, the more the video is pushed in recommendations. And the only things a viewer sees is the thumbnail, channel name, and video title. They have to decide which video they are going to watch based on just that. So really, a large chunk of "the algorithm" is just how appealing your thumbnail is to potential views.

mrheosuper 2y ago
not sure if this is good thing, but recently i've seen youtube recommend videos from very small channel(sub <10k)
- dboreham 2y ago
  Like thread priority inversion.
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  I think there’s a randomized inclusion of new content just to see if anyone clicks it.
s1artibartfast 2y ago
I think the mystery is in the categorization of interests and user profiling. The click is central to the process, but the magic is getting your pie video in front of someone on a baking video binge, and not someone trying to to fix their oven.
chaorace 2y ago
There actually is an outcome worse than a missed click: if too many viewers are abandoning your video within the first few minutes (i.e. before midrolls), you'll experience substantial downranking. More or less, the art of making a successful video requires: * An attention-grabbing thumbnail * A curiosity-provoking title & premise * A strong hook which convinces the viewer to put the screen down and let it run * Editing which delivers the information at an engaging (yet monetizable) pace * Packaging said information so that it is intelligibly balanced across the mediums (audio/text/video) * ^^^ Doing this all in a style which still retains enough uniqueness to establish a repeat viewerbase "The algorithm" is a system for efficiently delivering novel videos with these qualities to the audiences who will most eagerly consume them, which is an essential function for a platform with 2 billion monthly users. For every video on lowest-common-denominator celebrity junk, there's a dozen niche videos tailored to some ravenous subculture or other. Not all magazines are tabloids... but just about anyone can kill time with a tabloid, so that's what leads. Unlike magazine stands, however, the platform will eventually learn to only show you the thumbnails for videos you'll want to finish watching. It's almost embarassing to share... but here's an example batch of 12 recommendations, almost all of which I'm likely to (eventually) click on and fully watch: https://i.imgur.com/dygfXXb.png https://i.imgur.com/dygfXXb.png
- brudgers 2y ago
  the art of making a successful video requires Only to the degree Youtube defines success for a person. As a form of creative expression, a Youtube video can be successful independent of the analytics. Sure defining success on your own terms means you need a day job. But defining success on Youtube’s terms treats Youtube as a day job anyway.
- encom 2y ago
  It requires all of these things, yes, but it also must deal with a topic approved by Google. So not offensive to an american coastal liberal type of person. One popular channel who commentates on american police body cam footage, replaces the gunshot sounds with animal noises. It's ridiculous. Also no discussion or use of tobacco. Many times I've heard people refer to Adolf Hitler as "bad mustache man" for fear of getting censored or demonetised. One channel that discusses historical firearms, is censoring the 1933-1945 german reichsflag. And so on and so on. It's all so tiresome.
  - account42 2y ago
    It's unfortunately not just YouTube but all social media. Self-censoring like "unalived" or 'k**ed" to avoid the wrath of the algorithm is becoming all too common.

by phire 2y ago

mrheosuper 2y ago

not sure if this is good thing, but recently i've seen youtube recommend videos from very small channel(sub <10k)

dboreham 2y ago
Like thread priority inversion.
SoftTalker 2y ago
I think there’s a randomized inclusion of new content just to see if anyone clicks it.

s1artibartfast 2y ago

I think the mystery is in the categorization of interests and user profiling. The click is central to the process, but the magic is getting your pie video in front of someone on a baking video binge, and not someone trying to to fix their oven.

chaorace 2y ago

There actually is an outcome worse than a missed click: if too many viewers are abandoning your video within the first few minutes (i.e. before midrolls), you'll experience substantial downranking. More or less, the art of making a successful video requires: * An attention-grabbing thumbnail * A curiosity-provoking title & premise * A strong hook which convinces the viewer to put the screen down and let it run * Editing which delivers the information at an engaging (yet monetizable) pace * Packaging said information so that it is intelligibly balanced across the mediums (audio/text/video) * ^^^ Doing this all in a style which still retains enough uniqueness to establish a repeat viewerbase "The algorithm" is a system for efficiently delivering novel videos with these qualities to the audiences who will most eagerly consume them, which is an essential function for a platform with 2 billion monthly users. For every video on lowest-common-denominator celebrity junk, there's a dozen niche videos tailored to some ravenous subculture or other. Not all magazines are tabloids... but just about anyone can kill time with a tabloid, so that's what leads. Unlike magazine stands, however, the platform will eventually learn to only show you the thumbnails for videos you'll want to finish watching. It's almost embarassing to share... but here's an example batch of 12 recommendations, almost all of which I'm likely to (eventually) click on and fully watch: https://i.imgur.com/dygfXXb.png https://i.imgur.com/dygfXXb.png

brudgers 2y ago
the art of making a successful video requires Only to the degree Youtube defines success for a person. As a form of creative expression, a Youtube video can be successful independent of the analytics. Sure defining success on your own terms means you need a day job. But defining success on Youtube’s terms treats Youtube as a day job anyway.
encom 2y ago
It requires all of these things, yes, but it also must deal with a topic approved by Google. So not offensive to an american coastal liberal type of person. One popular channel who commentates on american police body cam footage, replaces the gunshot sounds with animal noises. It's ridiculous. Also no discussion or use of tobacco. Many times I've heard people refer to Adolf Hitler as "bad mustache man" for fear of getting censored or demonetised. One channel that discusses historical firearms, is censoring the 1933-1945 german reichsflag. And so on and so on. It's all so tiresome.
- account42 2y ago
  It's unfortunately not just YouTube but all social media. Self-censoring like "unalived" or 'k**ed" to avoid the wrath of the algorithm is becoming all too common.