The Algorithm knows (what you have to watch)
Youtube recommendations broken?
Lately, I’ve been getting these video recommendations on my Youtube home page that are quite not what I normally watch in there.
They are short clips, from about 40 seconds to 2 minutes, shared with unintentional miniatures, no narration, almost no context, and a filling title that explains the whole clip.
Some are news clips uploaded by a user hoping to reach more people, pointing at an odd occurrence or maybe a funny part. Some others are fun content created intentionally.
A common thing with these clips is that they are not new.
This recommendation title reads “Gym recruiters be like” and was uploaded by user LongBeachGriffy almost 4 years ago.
This one-man show portraits how persuasive people can be to make you pay for a Gym subscription (Come to the Gym!).
The editing is rough and uses background music to create a “grudging” feeling for eating junk food. It also creates a sense of protest for how expensive a gym can be.
The fast-paced comedy and twist and the end are what make this video’s popularity.
“Those 8 dislikes are gym recruiters” that’s a normal comment on any video. If you watch enough Youtube you get used to them still they are so funny. It is a way to show support to the creator and turn down whoever is planning to dislike it.
Another commenter wrote “YouTube knows what I’ve to watch.” which is spot on. The algorithm wants me to work out more.
This is a well-viewed video and it’s normal to see it on recommendations. As if Youtube really knows what I have to watch.
On March 28, I got this suggestion titled “Hal On Point About Jobs” from the early 2000’s tv-show Malcolm in The Middle.
This 2016 clip shows three things in 1 minute and 8 seconds: the come and go from Malcolm's parents about having a job and focusing on school, how parental communication works, and the caliber of Bryan Craston’s acting.
“Thank’s for the 1 million views” jot the user in the description, the video is over 4 million at this date which shows the algorithm is suggesting this video to many people for any reason.
I don’t really remember this part of the show when I was younger, but the fact that I was recommended this clip when I was planning on leaving my job rings a bell (a bell? more like a giant bong).
“I love this poking fun at telling kids to live out their childhood constantly being undermined by the pressures we face at being adults before we’re even ready”, one commenter says.
The struggle of being in the middle, not knowing how to do it yourself becomes life. Yes, you will fail and it’s alright as long as you keep it up. Make something out of the failure!
Another commenter said,
“That’s one thing my parents taught me about parenting. Always stand United. No matter the issue”.
A lesson is hiding in every corner of the net or so it seems.
In that way, this comedy clip becomes a community to share how we feel about growing up, finding a job and living life.
That’s how wholesome the algorithm has become and how easy it is for Youtube to create a mini-community of people behind a keyboard sharing their thoughts and struggles.
A short video often carries an instant reward for the viewer. You watch it, you feel better.
These are not your regular fail compilation clips. They are short bits of memory uploaded with viral intentions or for the sake of sharing.
Are these videos full of ads? They’re not. So how are they sneaking into your recommendations feed?
I think the algorithm is shaping into a more interesting entity that wants to know what we like but also what we want to enjoy and share with others. This AI is on a mission to make every user content.
Algorithms are on the eye of everyone lately. Ethics meddle in the conversation since this is a product developed to track, save and multiply the earnings for other companies via your personal data.
What do ethics have to be with this? The conversation is on to determine whether it is good to have an algorithm throwing content that’s customized and tailored to be liked by you. It wouldn’t be the first nor the last time an evil company profits from the people.
Honestly, I won’t feel bad if videos like this keep showing in my feed. Right now it’s not a matter of spies and thieves but a matter of a product being well-engineered to amuse you.
A part of life is making questions. It is a valid question, is this good or bad for me? Is the social media algorithm making more harm than good?
Always question what you are getting online, especially when it comes to ads.
Finally, on February 2, I got this recommendation on my feed “GTA San Andreas Mission Stories Be Like”
The acting on this clip is priceless. It was a good laugh and also a nostalgia trip. Who hasn’t played GTA San Andreas yet?
“Please don’t stop doing this, at least not yet.” another commenter wrote and I really hope they find their way to keep it up.
The attention to detail in this first mission simulation was very well played. Most of the viewer's comments praise its fidelity to the original and the acting.
The fact that character models didn’t have individual fingers, so they are keeping their fingers altogether is gold. The voices are 99 % accurate and I appreciate they made a clean version.
“I kind of want to just watch a 20 hour film of them acting out everything this way” pleads a viewer. I have to disagree, who will watch a 20-hour film? For now, we have to appreciate the effort of these creators and their golden clips.
We learn to enjoy the bits of content and we embrace the lack of it because it builds anticipation. “Please don’t stop doing this, at least not yet.” another commenter wrote and I really hope they find their way to keep it up.
I still wonder how the algorithm understands our need for a good chuckle, a moment of sharing, or just a peaceful time.
There’s no violence, no need for attention (mostly!), or any other nocive behavior. Just humans sharing a common view, arguing about a hot topic, or loving the content they get.
The social media algorithm may be a way for Youtube to hide their intentions if there are any. For now, I’ll keep thinking about it.