Disney vloggers accused of exploiting and monetizing Hurricane Ian disaster

I don't know what it's going to take for people to stop watching this garbage. These assholes are not "creators," they're bottom feeder opportunists, and watching their crap makes them money.

So why give them more attention by posting links to their content?

I don't think people really understand that these cats make money this way. There is so much garbage on the Internet, and people engage in it because they don't realize that they're incentivizing the creation of more garbage. This article spells it out.

“so if you guys could, please go ahead and thumbs up this video and subscribe if you guys are new.”

good grief…..the lowest of the low.

These people are unethical for sure. However, I think part of the bigger problem is that the YouTube algorithm rewards clickbait. There are a number of legit tech YouTubers who have discussed at length about how they are basically forced to come up with clickbait titles and thumbnails in order to maximize the revenue from their videos.

Jeff:

I don't think people really understand that these cats make money this way. There is so much garbage on the Internet, and people engage in it because they don't realize that they're incentivizing the creation of more garbage. This article spells it out.

admittedly, I’ve watched several of these types of vids before. Mainly for tips for upcoming vacations, etc…..

but I won’t be watching anything that exploits a disaster while people are distressed. Not sure why they felt the need to do this? Plenty of viewers with morbid curiosity I guess….

PhantomTails:

There are a number of legit tech YouTubers who have discussed at length about how they are basically forced to come up with clickbait titles and thumbnails in order to maximize the revenue from their videos.

Yep... Veritasium has I think the best of these, and he earns every one of his millions of views. Ditto for Smarter Every Day. Some of the video guys I watch also express their frustration with the algorithm, like Gerald Undone and others.

Jeff:

Ditto for Smarter Every Day.

I just subscribed to that dude last week after watching one video. Good stuff.

Check out his backwards bike video. We show that as an example of overcoming "thought pattern habits" in our industry problem-solving class.

Later,
EV

It's not quite the same thing, but I currently have a Solitaire game available for iPhone and a competitor has bought the keyword for my name – so if someone explicitly looks for my product, then they get the alternative first. Their bid price is more than my sale price, because they're ad-supported.

The Internet sucks sometimes.

Jeff:

Yep... Veritasium has I think the best of these, and he earns every one of his millions of views.

OK, Jeff, I watched this video (specifically at the 5:37 mark of the video), and I think you've unwittingly led us to the perfect term for a coaster that looks cool and makes you want to ride it, but ultimately lets you down and sucks....

"Dupe-chute"

Later,
EV

I don't understand this world we have created. And now I feel old.

So am I the only one who fails to see the difference between YouTube "content creators" monetizing off the Hurricane and the mainstream news that also makes money off having their reporters standing in danger during every storm?

Using Hurricanes, and other disasters in dramatic ways to make money off of it has been the foundation of the media forever....yet we're supposed to be mad at Youtubers/ influencers....whatever you want to call them for doing the same things?

Seems like the pot calling the kettle black to me.

I really don’t see it any differently than I do news people standing outside getting blown around.

I don't recall seeing any ABC News tease showing a distraught guy in front of a down tree that was a stock photo, or the Pop Century sign "broken," or any bona fide journalist buying the last hurricane meal kit from the hotel when they lived a few miles away. Oh, and like and subscribe. That's the difference that you fail to see.

Is “like and subscribe” any worse than than this?

Photoshopping fake thumbnails is undeniably gross though.

In the past I have seen real journalists covering storms caught dramatizing the situation by faking the need for boats in ankle deep water, or stuggling to maintain their balance in the winds while people walk behind them just fine.

That's about the same equivalent as photoshopping thumbnails IMO.

Anything to get viewers at home to stop flipping channels and watch the dramatic coverage.

Also all those journalists coming to town are also buying up supplies locals might need as well.

Newspapers have been publishing misleading headlines for years to sell papers. Your local news teases and embellishes dramatic stories every day to get you to tune in.

So again, I don't see any difference. It's terrible yes, but it's been happening for years in every form of media/entertainment.

(Just imagine if Hollywood ever capitalized on a major real life disaster....oh wait that happens all the time as well.)

The NYT is a subscription based service. They're not showing you a link bait thumbnail to content that isn't what it says it is. Let's not pretend it's the same thing while some asshole is making himself the story instead of covering it.