Chapter 1: The Toxic Relationship with YouTube

Navigating the world of YouTube can often feel like being in a toxic relationship. I recognize how detrimental it is, yet I find it hard to break free. For instance, consider these two videos—what ties them together beyond their absurdity and extensive editing?

Despite their ridiculousness, these videos attract millions of views, highlighting a significant issue. The comment sections often provide a more truthful reflection of the content than the videos themselves.

As a writer, I understand the necessity of promoting your work to avoid obscurity. To achieve a million views, you need a million clicks. However, there’s a line that should not be crossed. I have established new guidelines for dealing with clickbait that frustrates me. For example, if I encounter an ALL CAPS title, I immediately mute the channel.

The same principle applies to other platforms like Quora and Facebook; if I see someone sharing nonsensical posts, I won't hesitate to unfollow them.

Section 1.1: Understanding Clickbait

The challenge lies in the fact that the most engaging posts often flirt with the limits of acceptable content, and many users are unaware of what constitutes clickbait. Generally, clickbait creates unresolved curiosity, employing sensationalism to draw in viewers with exaggerated claims.

The first video titled "Clickbait is Unreasonably Effective" explores how clickbait tactics manipulate viewer engagement and the psychology behind it.

Clickbait may also entail a title that only hints at a small segment of the video—like a how-to guide that spends 20 minutes on irrelevant content and only two on actual instruction. YouTube lacks the necessary regulation; as long as content doesn’t promote hate or violence, almost anything goes.

One lesson I learned from writing is that readers dislike being told how to think or feel. They should decide for themselves if something is surprising or impressive.

Section 1.2: The Marketing Genius of Clickbait

While researching, I stumbled upon a user who cleverly titled their album “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” This simple yet effective strategy attracted substantial traffic—just smart marketing.

If there were a course dedicated to clickbait on YouTube, it would certainly feature "Intro to Red Arrows 101," as these visual cues generate significant viewer traffic.

The second video titled "The TRUTH Behind CLICKBAIT and YouTubers!" delves into the mechanics of clickbait and its pervasive presence on the platform.

Screen Rant exemplifies the worst offenders, with unnecessary shapes that point to information that viewers could decipher without assistance.

A more amusing aspect of this phenomenon is that it has led to a plethora of memes, mocking the absurdity of these tactics.

Chapter 2: The Reality of Clickbait Culture

Numerous creators cram every cliched clickbait tactic into their thumbnails.

Vloggers often lead the charge in this regard, producing thumbnails that are vibrant and eye-catching, yet the actual video quality often falls short of expectations.

The unfortunate reality is that there is little we can do to combat the prevalence of clickbait. These tantalizing titles generate massive revenue for YouTube.

In conclusion, the core issue with clickbait is its exploitation of human nature. We have an innate desire to resolve uncertainty and stay informed. After consuming countless clickbait titles, I felt overwhelmed and needed a break.

Nothing seems sacred anymore. The only way to cleanse your feed—and your life—of such content is to stop engaging with it. If you encounter titles that irritate you or exaggerate claims, there’s a high chance you’ll be disappointed.

Ultimately, YouTube thumbnails are bizarre, and I predict that this trend will fade in the next 5 to 10 years, much like bell-bottoms—occasionally trying to resurface but never quite making a comeback.

Subscribe to my newsletter for more insightful content.