YouTube will now penalize creators for clickbait videos. The platform said that it will take action on videos that make "promises or claims that aren't delivered within the video itself, especially when that content focuses on breaking news or current events."
What this means for IHers: The costs of posting clickbait YouTube videos may be higher than you think.
You can still post appealing, but non-clickbaity titles though. Say you're doing a video on how to make $1M as an indie hacker.
Instead of saying: "Made $1M with indie hacking!" — a false, clickbaity title — you could say: "This approach to indie hacking could make you millions." Promises > false actual statements.
YouTube is cracking down on clickbait by penalizing creators who make unfulfilled promises in their videos, especially regarding breaking news or current events. To avoid penalties, creators can still use appealing titles but should avoid misleading claims. For example, instead of saying, "Made $1M with indie hacking!" which can be considered clickbait, a more accurate title like "This approach to indie hacking could make you millions" would be better, as it suggests potential without falsely claiming success. The key is to focus on delivering value without misleading your audience.
smart move, but the line between advertising and click bait may be a little unclear
This is a smart move by YouTube. It pushes creators to focus on delivering real value rather than misleading viewers. Crafting intriguing yet honest titles, like the example given, is a great way to maintain trust while still driving curiosity. How are others adjusting their approach to titles?
It's challenging when you consider that we want these platforms to allow freedom of use in whatever way a creator wants to do that. At the same time, most people find an annoyance with click-bait videos which only prevents them from wanting to follow and continue watching videos from a certain creator.
Most platforms rely on clickbait to survive. This is an age-old story.
Also seeing a lot of prominent IHers do YouTube videos regularly (like Marc Lou) so curious how this will affect them.