I used to occasionally enjoy watching random videos online. But this trend of people attaching their annoying and obviously FAKE reactions on top of the video is happening a lot lately. Aren’t people bothered by this ? How is that even supposed to help with the content of the video ? I understand if they own the content of the video, but lately I see a lot of people doing it on completely random content.
Narcissism
Not sure why that people do it, and yes it is annoying.
easy way to steal content, and enough people don’t care it’s happening, so they get away with it
It boosts engagement. Anything you see trending is because it boosts engagement. Social media pays for engagement, content creators min max for that.
Are there people who specifically watch these videos for the reactions? I can imagine some enjoying it, but I thought the general consensus (at least among my friends) is that it’s annoying. I was hoping the trend would die out at some point, but the opposite seems to be happening.
Reaction videos have been for many years always very profitable. I mean, you can easily find creators/channels that have millions of views and they just film themselves reacting to a video. As a creator, you can incorporate a bit of that into your content and you’ll likely see people engaging more. I personally never understood what’s the appeal of watching somebody watch something instead of me watching that directly. I think it is something that goes in the direction of a para-social relationship, but I’m no expert.
Edit: I think I might be thinking about a different kind of reaction videos mind. Sharing an example of what you were referring to?
It is gross, but watch a child watch the video. They look to the talking head to interpret what is happening and to tell them how to react.
Sounds like boomers watching cable news to me.
In order to use someone elses content under fair use you have to make “meaningful commentary” so they do the bare minimum in order to use other people’s videos.
I had very recently come across a reactionary content left-wing YouTube channel, reacting to Rachel Maddow of MSNBC reacting to Elon Musk’s interview… I thought that was pretty bizarre. (link).
It was a 30 second intro segment, then a 8 minute clip of the Maddow show, followed by a 1 minute outro commentary segment.
This is the correct answer here! People copyright strike reposted videos all the time, but turning it into commentary makes it a new artwork so it won’t get removed. They also often insert the commentary over the sections of video that include copyrighted music.
Fair use commentary generally requires as little of the actual original work to be used as possible. Summary may be ok, clips/recordings are ok, but they must be minimal. That commentary must also be substantive.
Reproducing a work in full (thus obviously limiting the commercial viability of the original work - another factor considered) with light commentary over the top probably wouldn’t hold up in court. The commentary just avoids automatic systems in the increasingly poorly moderated internet.
The technicality is, it’s not a replay of somebodies content with changes, it’s “Hey look at me reacting to another’s content”
You should make one of those video with your reaction to the fake reaction videos
I actively avoid videos with those awful thumbnails, but I figure it must result in a net gain in clicks.
It’s been a trend for quite a while now, “reaction” videos. There was even a YouTube gremlin who wholesale stole content from everyone and did nothing on camera
I like all the extra information. What I’d really like is for the subtitles to be in sync with the audio. Comedy is spoiled when the whole build up AND punch-line show up together 15 seconds early.
I’m not sure what you mean… I haven’t really gotten much of that at all, thankfully, as it does sound pretty annoying.
I think he means reaction content. Where some influencer or some other reacts to viral stuff or whatever. Most are shit.
But if you managed to find it there are some good ones where they add good content on top.
I personally am following a chef doing this reaction content. He adds a lot of advice and suggestions for the normal home cooks.
I thought reaction videos were passé. Is this a short video thing I’m too old to get targeted by?
Since Google wants to take the TikTok crowd, they are boosting Shorts. So content creators are pushing Shorts.
That’s one of the reasons I stopped using YouTube. I don’t want to see people’s stupid face, it adds nothing and it detracts from the video.
Let me guess, this dude with yellow helmet showing the same expression at both fails and wins of various construction and transport jobs? The content is often good but he’s ruining it.
I know the one you’re talking about and to me that’s the least egregious of them all. It’s contextual and thematic, even if it is just shit.
I’ve been looking over my daughters shoulder as she watches YouTube shorts, and a regular clip of brain rot will announc its using the greenscreen effect. Hidden behind all the username/soundtrack/description will be a teeny tiny brown man’s head muttering punjab almost imperceptibly quietly.
Not sure if they’re better or worse than the dickheads splitting the screen in two and passively pointing up towards the video that is also showing.
As in most social media apps, downvote and move on. Personally, I have a list of channels I subscribe to and mostly just stick to watching the content they produce. None of that is reaction videos, which I agree are lazy and stupid, but I guess some people like them or they wouldn’t keep making the rounds.
“Look at this old lady. She wake up everyday to do old lady things. Like if you think that the old lady is doing great”
I like reaction videos. If you don’t like them, don’t watch them, this isn’t complicated. I think football is stupid, but lots of people love it. It’s a big ol world, and it’s full of people with nervous systems all firing in different ways. Stop yucking other people’s yums.
Some of us are homebound with various disabilities. Some of us are too ill or too medicated to deal with actual social interaction. Reactions offer a parasocial experience that helps stave off loneliness. Lots of things that seem “stupid” turn out to be helpful for disabled people.
What if someone’s yum is yuking on someone else’s yum?
You may have missed the point of this post. It’s not about enjoying reaction videos. There are lots of creators putting effort into their videos. OP is focused on grifters intentionally forcing a strong reaction to boost engagement on their videos. its annoying that bad videos get pushed by some unknown algorithm.
