Found a reddit comment that I strongly agree with about "tech reviewers", which are basically just glorified PR reps. In general, I think "influences" is a terrible job and people should stop looking up to these people and instead shame them. Their jobs are literally "here is a bunch of money. Now try and make your followers, the people who trust you, to buy our product".
QuoteQuoteBut does anyone else lately feel like a lot of his videos are oddly substance-less? S
Nothing odd about it--they are shit. All he had going for him to begin with was the production value and style, but with it stagnating faster than his hoodie collection, cheap editorializing bullshit has become the easy replacement. He should have done like Mr Mobile and made his overall style look 15 years old--using it as a pretension of "independence" (we saw how "independent" he was with his recent Pixel Buds 2 re-sellout-view).
The entire mainstream segment on YouTube is like that and it has frankly become a big garbage wasteland--everybody have become Diet iJustine. Dave Lee's 10 min long substance-less monologues are about as obnoxious as Austin "HEY GUYS IT'S ME MR. MESEEKS, LOOK AT ME" Evans guy now. There's that British Johnny Sins whose channel churn out generic videos like a porno--not a bad analogy for a channel named "Tech Spurt". Jon Rettinger's rehashed couch reviews (his high-pitched voice inflections and furniture set designs accounting for half his popularity), with the cliched "as I thought about Phone X more and more I really noticed/felt why it was so good".
MKBHD is no different--it's just his editing and direction is so good; like a magician with good showmanship. Even he has increased the frequency of "months later" segments and random tech videos that belong on Unbox Therapy. He has started inserting ads in ways you'd expect to see on LinusGiraffeNeckTips. The latter is pretty much Top Gear of PC Building, only Top Gear didn't gag you with sponsored segments--LTT is advertisement with a video in-between, not the other way around. SuperSaf isn't even worth talking about,
And then there's the long list of second-rate up-and-coming tech YouTubers dying to reach prostitute heights; Matthez Moniz, HowToMen (though he deserves creds for technically and structurally well made, videos, however useless and shit the content--also, nice r/unintentionalASMR source). Yeti Machete is a bitch nice, with not nearly enough views to be as big of a sellout (yet).
There are some good ones out there; Juan Bagnall for camera, Erica Griffin for displays, TechLead, etc., but they never really get the support or attention from r/Android and other places, which frankly have become pure advertisement walls for either OEMs (Google literally had several straight-out ads, several of them copies, plastered on the front a few days back--without the mods giving a damn), or the mentioned mainstream reviewers.
Their job is to receive devices by some OEM, put it through their stylized direction, give them a rating on a scale that start from 5/10 and then make additional featured videos talking about nonsense "Product X two months later: Does it hold up?", "Why the Product Z is changing the industry", "The Best <arbitrary product category I just made up> out there", etc. People who have been properly propagandized use them as an auditorium for circlejerking stuff they already own, or to confirm their purchasing decision decided beforehand.
All of this is by design and quite transparent. In the case of YouTube, and much of the internet media really, it's about garnering ad revenue. Those ads come from the same industry owning/financing the platform, those shipping these people their products and so on. The reliance on receiving products, getting invites, first-hand information, etc., are techniques of control to make sure reviewers play their part of indirect advertisers. Just like journalists in mainstream media do--with a facade of professionalism and one or two critical analysis from time to time, often against non-risky targetting, to keep the illusion of integrity.
This is why YouTubers who don't receive products from a said company tend to be more critical. And you see it across the board: the more subscribers and viewers they get, the more automated and streamlined they become. When share of revenue from advertisers, and following that more and more access to product shipments, deals and other stuff, the pressure to conform increases.
Don't forget that the product here isn't their content or the actual tech they test, the product is you. They are the seller, and the advertisers the buyer. You are the product being sold by these people to other industries.
The last part is why I like Unbox Therapy so much--open about the fact that he is whoring himself out (though his beef with Apple has paradoxically made him one of the more objective sources of critique on Apple stuff). Same with Flossy Carter. With a rating system ranging from Major Major Major Major Major Go and Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Go, conclusions as obviously fake as his carpet, and self-conscious piss-taking, you're presented with hilarity from start to finish. He is Marques Brownlee in another dimension, if he started off as a character from the Wire, before becoming a YT tech reviewer.
- lewdicrous and scottyseng
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To be honest I don't watch most videos that are made even semi professionally, I liked Linus when he was in his garage, I liked tech syndicate when they were Just sittin' around BS'ing about tech. Then they got all serious, I liked chucke2009 when he was welding in his mum's shed, not so much now with all the BS and crap with advertisers and shit. Hell, even geoff marshal has significantly better approach to videos where the sponsorship doesn't effect the video because he isn't selling anything for anyone (he does transport videos) other than PR for brutish rail (hardly a marketing stunt).
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It's consumer electronics. It's impossible to do something cool with a product without incidentally making a bit of an ad for it. It kind of comes with the hobby. As long as they aren't lying to their audience over which content is sponsored or which products they were given for free I can't think of how they could do better.
Also I feel it's pretty unfair to say LTT chases ad revenue by rushing videos - they definitely do not do that. They specifically avoid that in fact, to the point that they're always a bit late on big releases (unless the embargo has been very lenient) because they don't want to overwork their employees nor do things in a hurry and put out low quality or wrong information.
And by the way, imagine criticizing LTT and then citing Unbox Therapy as "one of the more objective sources of Apple critique". Self awareness 101.
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That's a pretty stupid view to take. A lot of people give their opinions, and compare products. The resource is incredibly useful. Not every influencer is paid to look at products. He complains about ads being inserted into videos; no shit. How does he think they make their money? MKBHD constantly bashes companies when there's something about their product he doesn't like. Does he include good things as well? Yes. Very, very few products are bad on every level.
You seem to have a problem with reviews as a whole. How do you research your purchases?
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@Sauron It's totally possible to "do something cool" with something without making it into an ad. But the whole premise is flawed to begin with because you don't have to do something cool with a product to make a video about it. How about actually just being honest and informative?
And I think it does damage even if they aren't technically lying. Ever seen people on this forum want a product just because Linus showed it to them? That's bad, and it happens all the time. The problem is that people don't view "inflections" as what they really are, sales people.
If someone saw Linus say something in his video, people for some reason hold that as "more true" than if some TV commercial said the same thing, even though both of them hold as much water.
Oh and if they didn't want to put out low quality or wrong information then they should shut their channel down quite frankly. Channels like Techquickie is full of misinformation. A lot of them seem to be written by someone who has no experience with the subject, and spent an hour or two reading Wikipedia on it. They are absolutely garbage for information and I honestly hope nobody actually uses them for learning, because you will just be learning a bunch of wrong info. Sadly, I know that people believe the info in the videos are correct.
I also think you're projecting quite a bit there because nobody has said Linus rushes videos.
The only thing that has been said about LTT is that their videos are ads with a bit of content in-between, which is totally true in my eyes.
LTT is basically an ad channel. But since you brought it up, I think they have rushed a lot of videos. Hell, Linus even said they used to have a system where if a video took more than X amount of time to write and shoot, they would not do it. Linus literally put his employees on a timer to produce videos.
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@dizmo I haven't researched all my purchases. Far from it. And when I do research them I don't go to influences whose jobs are to convince me to buy something. That's like going to the Apple store to get info on which phone I should buy.
MKBHD is a terrible example because he doesn't know what he is talking about half the time. Like I said in some other thread, I think MKBHD's videos are essentially the marketing stuff taken from the companies website, some nice looking shots that belongs in a commercial, and then some opinions from someone with little technical knowledge that mostly use his phone to browse Twitter. And there is certainly a place in the market for those videos. But people should know what they are. MKBHD is a marketing tool used by companies to sell more products. So is Linus.
Remember, you are the product with these videos. The videos aren't produced to entertain or inform you. They are made to try and convince you to buy stuff.
I both watch MKBHD's videos and listens to his podcast. He really don't know what he is talking about half the time. But I still find his videos and his podcast enjoyable. But I also like reading the product pages on for example Asus' website. But I value both of those things equally when I make a purchasing decision. Sadly, a lot of people don't do that.
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the whole premise is flawed to begin with because you don't have to do something cool with a product to make a video about it. How about actually just being honest and informative?
So just list a spec sheet and run a couple of benchmarks? Any remark along the lines of "it's good/decent/bad for the price" is going to influence a purchase decision. That doesn't mean they aren't being honest.
Besides they can't cover everything so even then what they do cover gets more exposure than some competitors.
QuoteEver seen people on this forum want a product just because Linus showed it to them? That's bad
That's such a weird thing to say. If people finding out about a product and deciding they want one through a video is bad then any video showing any product is bad. If you like consumer electronics then a huge inherent part of your hobby is going to be either buying or at least considering to buy products.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like consumerism either - I just think it's kind of inherent to the field given the current state of the market.
QuoteIf someone saw Linus say something in his video, people for some reason hold that as "more true" than if some TV commercial said the same thing, even though both of them hold as much water.
That's not true outside of paid sponsorships, which are of course ads in the same way as tv ads. You'll never see a TV ad list what the presenter didn't like about a product or what they would buy instead.
QuoteI also think you're projecting quite a bit there because nobody has said Linus rushes videos.
I'm pretty sure a statement was made in the post about youtubers only caring about ad revenue.
QuoteThe only thing that has been said about LTT is that their videos are ads with a bit of content in-between, which is totally true in my eyes.
So is literally any ad supported content if you oversimplify it.
QuoteHell, Linus even said they used to have a system where if a video took more than X amount of time to write and shoot, they would not do it. Linus literally put his employees on a timer to produce videos.
That's another matter entirely. It makes perfect sense that if a video takes weeks to make and they want to release a video per day then they won't crunch to make it fit their schedule and will simply abandon the idea. Everyone does that to some extent, the only difference will be on how long the acceptable time frame is. It's a healthy practice to give up on projects that wouldn't fit their usual model. That doesn't mean they'll overwork themselves to get the latest news out within an hour or two of the embargo expiring, which is what rushing a video to get ad revenue means.
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So just list a spec sheet and run a couple of benchmarks? Any remark along the lines of "it's good/decent/bad for the price" is going to influence a purchase decision. That doesn't mean they aren't being honest.
Well how about not taking money from sponsors, make it more clear that they are being paid if they are (not do what Linus does and say "it's a product showcase" which is a term he came up with and never explained until people got mad at him).
How about highlighting issues more often? If your videos are 90% positive then chances are you are leaving things out.
How about not following reviewer guides? For those of you who are unaware, whenever a review gets a product, they get a "reviewer guide" which are basically instructions from the manufacturer on which features to highlight, which tests to run and so on. It's basically instructions on how the manufacturer wants the review to be, and a lot of people just follow that.
QuoteThat's such a weird thing to say. If people finding out about a product and deciding they want one through a video is bad then any video showing any product is bad. If you like consumer electronics then a huge inherent part of your hobby is going to be either buying or at least considering to buy products.
No, buying stuff isn't an inherent part of liking consumer electronics. That might be what influences have brainwashed people into thinking, but it isn't. Would you say I am interested in consumer electronics? I think I am. I would even say it's my hobby. How often do you think I buy new stuff? Very rarely. I've upgraded my computer once since 2011. Does that mean computers can't be my hobby?
Buying stuff is not a requirement to have something as a hobby.
I was hoping that the video of Linus crying and talking about the impact he has on the world and what his legacy will be would have made an impact with people but I guess it didn't. For those of you who don't remember, this is what I am referring to.
QuoteSometimes I do wonder about the wider impact that I am having on the world and whether it's a legacy that I am going to be proud of. Those of you who know me personally, which is very few of you probably, know that while I do have a studio full of flashy toys and cool gear, those are not the sorts of things I would actually buy for myself.
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As I grow older I am finding the type of mindless consumerism that our videos, whether I like it or not, end up promoting more and more troubling.
QuoteDon't get me wrong, I don't like consumerism either - I just think it's kind of inherent to the field given the current state of the market.
It isn't. You're wrong for thinking it is. Plain and simple.
QuoteThat's not true outside of paid sponsorships, which are of course ads in the same way as tv ads. You'll never see a TV ad list what the presenter didn't like about a product or what they would buy instead.
And how often do that really happen in videos from "Tech reviewers"? Maybe like once every 10 videos or so at most. How often do you see Youtube reviewers actually spend a lot of time on issues with products or just go "don't buy this"? What do you think would happen if Linus reviewed the new AMD processors and went "don't buy these because you probably don't need them. Buy a second hand 2500K instead"? Because those are Linus' actual thoughts. Maybe not those exact products, but that's what he actually thinks. But he puts on a charade to hype up a product because that's what his sponsors want, and what his viewers want. People want to hear positive things about whichever flavor of the month product they have already decided they are buying or has already bought. And then it becomes an endless cycle because the next month a new product is out and reviewers has to pat everyone who wants to buy that product on the back.
The negative stuff usually brought up are so minor anyway so it basically just exist to make them seem impartial, which they aren't. When they bring up negative stuff it's usually just stuff everyone already knows about and it's widely accepted anyway. "This phone doesn't have a headphone jack".
QuoteI'm pretty sure a statement was made in the post about youtubers only caring about ad revenue.
Yes? I am pretty sure that goes for Linus too. I mean, he has already said stuff like how his videos are problematic and lead to mindless consumerism. He has also said that he isn't proud of making silly thumbnails. He has said that he used to push his employees with strict timelines for video production. Do you think he did those things because he wanted to? He did it because he put making money above those other things like integrity and personal beliefs.
And whenever he responds to criticism it's usually "well we have to make money". So yes, I do think they pretty much only care about making money. That's not really weird either. It's their jobs. I certainly go to my job primary to make money. But I don't think people view for example LTT as just a tool that exist to make Linus money, which it is. That is the purpose of the LMG channels. To make Linus more money.
Not sure why you replied to that with "Linus doesn't rush videos!". Prioritizing making money doesn't mean you have to rush things.
QuoteSo is literally any ad supported content if you oversimplify it.
The difference, which is very important, is the ratio of ads and content.
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Then you don't know how valuable having a resource like that can be. It's not always about what that person thinks, you can see product comparisons on size, features, etc that you really wouldn't get anywhere else.
You're incorrect on what the videos are, as well. I find them immensely informative, and they entertain me. Not sure what aspects of the MKBHD videos you think are wrong; most of his information is, in fact, correct. What's wrong with someone reviewing phones the way that 90% of people are going to use them? That's more useful than a bunch of synthetic benchmarks that, really, in day to day use mean absolutely nothing. They might not do that for you, but that's more of a personal problem.
Product pages are not a review. They don't give you any useful information into how well the product works, merely a list of the components it's made of.
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