A former alt-right YouTuber details how he tailored videos for the “echo chamber”, including focusing squarely on confrontations to drive views on YouTube
New York TimesCade Metz
Discussion
@sivavaid
Dr. Siva Vaidhyanathan on x
They understand how it works. So do authoritarian movements and parties around the world. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@profpcdoherty
Prof. Peter Doherty on x
Media of our time. 'Focus on conflict. Feed the algorithm. Make sure whatever you produce reinforces a narrative. Don't worry if it is true.' Feeding Hate With Video: A Former Alt-Right YouTuber Explains His Methods https://www.nytimes.com/...
@nytimesbusiness
@nytimesbusiness on x
Over the more than two years Caolan Robertson helped produce and publish videos for right-wing YouTube personalities, he learned how making clever edits and focusing on confrontation could help draw millions of views. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@markhurst
Mark Hurst on x
“ ‘We realized that if we wanted a future on YouTube, it had to be driven by confrontation.’... the longer someone watches, the more extreme the videos can become.” Google is not trustworthy. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@jgreenblattadl
Jonathan Greenblatt on x
Powerful piece by @CadeMetz exploring how #extremists knowingly exploited @YouTube's algorithm, spreading #hate and #harassment widely. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@frankpasquale
Frank Pasquale on x
“It can create these very radical people who are like gurus,” said Guillaume Chaslot, a former YouTube engineer who has been critical of the way the company's algorithms pushed people to extreme content. “In terms of watch time, a guru is wonderful.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@nytmedia
@nytmedia on x
Caolan Robertson learned how making clever edits and focusing on confrontation could help draw millions of views on YouTube and other services. He also learned how YouTube's recommendation algorithm often nudged people toward extreme videos. https://www.nytimes.com/...