#sorry. one too many slop thumbnails. anyway

[codecicle]

honestly im just in a complaining mood but im gonna make this it's own stand-alone post. the current state of youtube is really really disheartening. it's insane to me that we've entered an era where it's actually incredibly normal for video-making to be people's Real Actual Jobs, yet the youtube algorithm is still not very understood and changes on a whim with little to no warning. it's so goddamn stupid for people to have to edit certain ways, or title their videos in certain ways, or just create ugly-ass thumbnails with red circles and shitty clickbait graphics, JUST to get the algorithm to pay enough attention and push their shit. it's been like this for years, but you'd think in a post-2020 shutdown world they'd find ways to take it seriously, ESPECIALLY considering how heavy of a boost their platform got during that era. it's sad to see this taken as "just one of those #influencer things" and not something that could be changed for the better, and currently isnt being changed by a major multi-billion dollar corperation. because at the end of the day, youtube CAN change their algorithm. they have in the past, and the final "major change" they made was the push to make it more advertiser/brand friendly. remember when people couldn't swear before the first minute of the video? remember how that was actually a community-discovered function through youtube mature-content-labeling thousands of people's videos and limiting their income they relied on to live? they were told first 10-20 seconds, and that number varied SO heavily they ended up running with a full minute into the video. not to mention how you can't get most strikes appealed through regular functions, but instead have to BEG youtube publically on twitter and use your clout to shame them. people have to bend over backwards and pray to the algorithm gods if they want to be happy making what they love, and if they don't? their videos won't be seen. they CAN make content without caring about the algorithm, but it's discouraged every step of the way. and even people who appease the algorithm and try their very best to lick the corporate boot will REGULARLY have their income COMPLETELY RANDOMLY struck, and their livelihoods put on the line, all because of youtubes shitty copyright system and even worse demonetization system. all im saying is it's crazy my phone will autocorrect it to their brand name of YouTube, and they have such a focus on keeping advertisers and ad-revenue, but most youtubers have to use shitty clickbait circles and arrows while taking sponsorship deals every video to stay afloat "living the dream."