Linus's Disturbing Trend to Clickbait

[AxelRantila]

I don't like the new thumbnails. Haivng text on them was why I liked them and how they stood out from the crowd. One of the new ones was even misleading.

 

I also remember Linus mentioning on a WAN show that they have rejected questionable sponsors in the past. But after seeing Youtuber HonorTheCall finding out some questionable stuff about one of their CES sponsors, I'm not sure that is the case anymore

[Tieox]

3 hours ago, AxelRantila said:

I don't like the new thumbnails. Haivng text on them was why I liked them and how they stood out from the crowd. One of the new ones was even misleading.

 

I also remember Linus mentioning on a WAN show that they have rejected questionable sponsors in the past. But after seeing Youtuber HonorTheCall finding out some questionable stuff about one of their CES sponsors, I'm not sure that is the case anymore

 

Interesting...

[FmPhenom]

Hey if you don't like the shocked faces he makes on the youtube thumbnails then go pay for and watch the videos they put out on vessel...............................

[WkdPaul]

6 minutes ago, fdz said:

*snip*

Thread merged with the existing one.

[chrisholland03]

Some people take their Internetz very seriously

[pk-man]

I'll just quote what I had said in another thread.

Quote

I totally agree with the clickbait style thumbnails and titles as they have gotten worse recently. I get it that's the current trend with youtube but it just makes them look "unprofessional", for a lack of a better word.  I don't understand the need to present themselves like Buzzfeed when their videos are clearly better that that.

 

As for video content sometimes being inconsistent, I think this is partially the product of having to produce videos for 3 channels. Plus their main channel has at least 1 new video uploaded everyday. That's a pretty hefty workload. Sometimes quality may suffer a bit when you have to worry about quantity. However, their hands are sort of tied as part of being a relevant youtuber is to have new content on a consistent basis. Also, keep in mind that the more videos they upload, the more ad spots they can offer to potential sponsors, and these built in ads are where the majority of the income comes from.

 

It's amazing to see how much LTT has grown from its humble beginnings inside Linus's garage to currently having their own studio in a multi-unit warehouse.  The channel has shifted away from its roots where they do unboxings/building guides/actual in-depth reviews to a more broader, generalized approach, with a more mainstream appeal.  Personally, I likes his older videos better.  I find myself not watching his new stuff on a more frequent basis as sometimes I find it to be shallow.  Maybe the analytics speak otherwise, but some of the new videos just don't appeal to me. I guess I'm in the minority

 

[FinalplayerRyu]

Well this is just childish, moving the Thread into Off Topic when its critism about the direction of the channel. I will check the channel here and there to see if they returned from their trip. Until then i am out until they get their act together.

[g12601]

Not going to lie, but this thread is the childish thing.

 

I don't like the new thumbnail style as much as the next person, but get used to it. That style is not going anywhere for a while. Now I don't think it was the best idea to start the format before and during CES but that is what happened. 

[captain_to_fire]

While I'm not bothered like anyone else about the Thumbnails that include their faces, it seems to me that @LinusTech and @Slick are sort of doing a case study if their target audience would like it or not. It seems that the temperament and sense of humor of a lot of LTT's viewers are like that of a 6^th grader. Maybe they can shed some light about this for tomorrow's WAN show.

[bossman1]

I dont like the way they are making faces and using that as the video thumbnail. Catering to the preteen crowd me's think's.

[Integer93]

Now I know, this topic has already raised some attention among you fellow LTT viewers. I just wanted to express my personal opinion, as professional as possible, on this emotional matter.

For me personally, the new thumbnails are just another reason to stop watching LTT videos. The amount of overacting is just too damn high.

 

I watch LTT videos for the jokes and the interesting projects, so I didn't miss much by not watching the entire CES videos. I really hope that the new thumbnail format was just a condition of AMD so they would sponsor the CES videos.

 

There are many YouTube creators that i found very honest and friendly, but stopped watching because there thumbnails, video names or just the videos in general got way to aggressive and overreactive.

I really hope that LTT is not going to be one of these creators.

[JoaoPRSousa]

I miss the past LTT... I really really do...

[rn8686]

Its annoying for me too, but from what I heard, it gets them more viewers that way or something. @nicklmg

[JoaoPRSousa]

6 minutes ago, rn8686 said:

Its annoying for me too, but from what I heard, it gets them more viewers that way or something. @nicklmg

 

Click bait, "appealing" thumbnails, that's what gets you views these days, unfortunately...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[HKZeroFive]

7 minutes ago, Integer93 said:

For me personally, the new thumbnails are just another reason not to stop watching LTT videos

So you like the new thumbnails? Your entire post is very conflicting.

 

I would have posted this in one of the several threads that are already discussing the said subject. No need to create an entire new thread just to voice your opinion.

[Mihle]

I dont like them.

 

My brother said he did stop watching any videos because of it.

[Integer93]

5 minutes ago, HKZeroFive said:

So you like the new thumbnails? Your entire post is very conflicting.

 

I would have posted this in one of the several threads that are already discussing the said subject. No need to create an entire new thread just to voice your opinion.

No i don't like the thumbnails. I Just forgot to delete one 'not'.

 

Yes maybe i should just write a reply to the other Topics. But I wanted to make a personal statement without people screaming clickbait all around me.

[HKZeroFive]

5 minutes ago, Integer93 said:

No i don't like the thumbnails. I Just forgot to delete one 'not'.

 

Yes maybe i should just write a reply to the other Topics. But I wanted to make a personal statement without people screaming clickbait all around me.

Trust me, a lot of people (I'm not talking about the ones who are saying it's 'clickbait') are sharing the exact same concern. Particularly in this forum.

[mrchow19910319]

10 hours ago, FinalplayerRyu said:

Well this is just childish, moving the Thread into Off Topic when its critism about the direction of the channel. I will check the channel here and there to see if they returned from their trip. Until then i am out until they get their act together.

Should be glad that  this was not deleted. 

[mrchow19910319]

On 1/11/2017 at 8:55 AM, SSL said:

You can say what you like. I simply fail to see what is childish about discussing Linus using clickbait to increase views.

Could it be that you just disagree, but don't know how to articulate a meaningful rebuttal?

I remembered playing league of legend when people try to insult you: "whoa, look at mommy's good boy, mom tell you to shut down pc right?? that's why you dc just now" &" whoa..25 years old already still behave like a kid" And who talks like that??? Kid. Simple as that. My point is , don't need to argue with them... cos more than likely they won't give you an justifiable answer.... 

[3 Lions]

There's nothing wrong with the tumbnails, I mean you watch the video not look at the tumbnail. 

[xAcid9]

I don't see what is the problem here really. You get what you clicked for unlike real clickbait link.

[mad dudy]

i really don't understand why people keep calling these thumbnails click baitly when they are not. its not like the put a nude picture of luke for a  thumbnail then have never have him nude in the video then its click bait.

[LAwLz]

11 minutes ago, mad dudy said:

i really don't understand why people keep calling these thumbnails click baitly when they are not. its not like the put a nude picture of luke for a  thumbnail then have never have him nude in the video then its click bait.

1) Some thumbnails do contain things which are never in the video, such as their laptop revival video never containing water (from what I've heard).

2) Whether or not it is "clickbait" is kind of irrelevant. They look like crap and are flat out embarrassing regardless of if they are clickbait or not.

 

 

With that being said, there are plenty of threads about it already. We don't really need another one.

[CharminUltraStrong]

Hello chaps,

I'm writing this because I'm quite discouraged by the recent influx of "Click Bait" that Linus Media Group(LMG) has been using on their videos.  I find it's becoming more and more often,(the WORST of them being "How to revive your old laptop").  Right down to the thumbnail it's become click bait, and it coincides with the recent increase in paid promotion spots, take with that what you will(e.g. the Toyota video). I know that I'm not the only one who's become discouraged by these titles, although I don't mind paid promotion spots because they blatantly state what it is unlike some.  

 

For such a professional media group, it feels slightly amateur of them to traverse this route and, not to mention what it feels like being a long time user. It feels as though they're now, trying to cater to a new audience leaving the one they built, behind.  Hopefully they change, stop the nonsensical titles and go back to their roots.  Normally this type of thing doesn't upset me, but having been a member of the LTT community for as long as I have this honestly bugged me.

Anyhow, apologies for the short rant but I know I'm not alone in this argument.

 

Cheers!

 

Here are a few examples, and you can say "He cut out the replies on purpose", I didn't. Go to each respective video and look at the replies.

http://prntscr.com/dv578c

 

http://prntscr.com/dv58bk

 

http://prntscr.com/dv58yj