Hacker News Reader

Comment by chemmail | Hacker News Reader

Tik Tok is youtube for people with ADD. I listened to some Mr Beast videos and checked out some of his videos on youtube. OMG its like freakin cuts every 10 seconds, feels like my mind going to explode. I finally figured they cut it like a Tik Tok video for the ADD.

View on HN

YouTubers have been doing gratuitous jump cuts since like 2011, go look at some Fred videos. It's nothing to do with TikTok nor ADD, they use the jump cuts to mask recording mistakes or to cut out pauses.

> they use the jump cuts to mask recording mistakes or to cut out pauses.

Over time, it becomes a culture signifier of sorts. MrBeast is bigger than Pewdiepie (embarrassed that I know these names), he obviously does not need to paper over mistakes with those cuts.

Same way he doesn't need to make exaggerated open-mouth face for the Youtube thumbnail, but they do anyway.

There have been a few people that examined the topic of YouTube thumbnails, even with a/b testing and statistical analysis (since YouTube allows you to change it and gives good stats). It really does matter to getting views.

> they use jump cuts to mask recording mistakes or to cut out pauses

Both of which of course have a lot to do with reduced attention span.

Pauses and mistakes objectively add negative value to videos it's a good thing that it's removed.

Showing a well placed recording mistake shows the youtubers is still human. You see it all the time in videos and of course it's on purpose.

I need to be in a certain mood to care about the video's "humanity", rather typically I just want the information.

Yes, and the scary part is even for people without ADHD, it's completely killing their attention spans, which is then triggering them to go and get themselves diagnosed. Producing ADHD meds is going to be a lucrative business

One of the greatest marketing moves of all time is coming up with the name "Adderall". It's just amphetamine! Well, a slightly different stereoisomer mix, but just amphetamine nonetheless. Sounds a million times better though, especially if your kid is about to take it.

Isn't Youtube for people with ADD? I don't really use Youtube much, but when I do end up on the site its full of cheap videos with people "reacting" to things with yelling/shocked faces and a bunch of chaotic nonsense.

The only good things on youtube are music videos, DIY repair, and lectures / talks that gets uploaded.

This is a matter of degree, short video sets the bar lower and encourages the behavior. After all, the reacting videos are only small part of Youtube the whole platform, but short videos are always like that kind of nonsense.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com