YouTube: "Don't recommend channel"

[BrownEaredDog]

I watch quite a bit of YouTube. Mostly automotive and tech stuff with some random things such as walking videos, no-commentary cruise liner tours and game walkthroughs thrown in for good measure.

I rarely notice recommended videos, but one thing is certain: if the thumbnail/preview contains a big picture of the authors head wearing a "shocked" expression with lots of capital letters and exclamation marks then I'll be clicking "Don't recommend channel". It all seems a bit sensationalist to me.

Shorts - even automotive shorts - just annoy me.

Am I just a curmudgeonly old bd that needs to lighten up? Am I missing out on lots of excellent, mind expanding content?

[InitialDave]

Maybe, people who make good content still need to play the game to get it in front of viewers. If the description or the subject matter sound interesting, try it, despite the stereotypical thumbnail.

Can always use the "don't recommend" option later if you don't gel with their stuff.

[BrownEaredDog]

InitialDave said:

Maybe, people who make good content still need to play the game to get it in front of viewers. If the description or the subject matter sound interesting, try it, despite the stereotypical thumbnail.

Can always use the "don't recommend" option later if you don't gel with their stuff.

You make a good point. I have often clicked recommendations in the past, but had second thoughts when met with a shouty and overbearing intro, suppose that's why I don't bother with them now. I'm not putting these content creators down, all power to them and respect for what they do, but the "shouty" thing just isn't for me

[Sporky]

The algorithm rewards people pulling silly faces on thumbnails, and titles including "destroys".

[24lemons]

If the thumbnail consists of an obviously faked image or some other click-baity nonsense with an over the top title, the channel gets blocked.

[Zetec-S]

Sporky said:

The algorithm rewards people pulling silly faces on thumbnails, and titles including "destroys".

And "insane".

[Wacky Racer]

Like Mat Armstrong then?

[Gompo]

You sound reasonably similar to me, although I am perhaps a peg down. It can be quite clear when a video is not for me - If it looks like some road trip or 'challenge' that Top Gear might have done for a start. Usually before clicking 'Don't Recommend' I will have tried said channel, but the 'Don't Recommend' thing soon gets ignored by YouTube for whatever reason. Usually text on the thumbnail is a bad sign. I don't have a problem with channels trying to get more views, it seems many are purely in for that cause; but some half arsed kind of car related video made for mass appeal won't be for me.

[Stealthracer]

Don't forget you could instead click 'Not Interested' for that video only thus leaving the rest of the channel untouched in case anything interesting pops up later.