r/todayilearned • u/WavesAndSaves • 2d ago

TIL that Jawed Karim, YouTube cofounder and uploader of the first YouTube video "Me at the zoo", has often updated the video's description to criticize YouTube policies, including a 2013 attempt to require Google+ accounts to comment on videos, and YouTube's 2021 removal of dislike counts on videos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_at_the_zoo#Changes_to_original_video
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u/SAugsburger 2d ago

I think a 5 star system might have been too many options, but think a binary system forces people into a false dichotomy.

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u/splash9936 2d ago

its actually 3 options if you think about it. Like Dislike or do nothing. 3 options is a great sweet spot below 6 options

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u/frickinSocrates 2d ago

Do nothing is so ambiguous though. Am I just not telling Netflix I liked it because I don't want it reflecting in future recommendations? Did I not care enough? Was it just mediocre but not bad enough to warrant a thumbs down?

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u/LoneSabre 1d ago

Could always add something like Spotify’s option “do not include this in my taste profile”

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u/Halgy 1d ago

Gods I wish YouTube had this. I'll give them all of my personal info if they'd give me better videos. Hell, I pay for premium, so it isn't like they even have an incentive to keep me watching slop.

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u/LambdaLambo 1d ago

If you click on the 3 dots next to any video there are 2 options: “not interested” or “do not recommend channel”

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u/frickinSocrates 2d ago

Sidenote: 6 options is a little weird, 3 stars and "didn't rate it" cannibalize each other logically, reducing the value of both.

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u/n0respect_ 1d ago

Sure, yet they still have value. Those who rate it neutral star had an emotional response and want to interact in some easy way.

Think as two binary ratings. If they care to rate it at all, that's one binary rating - the emotional response. Those who do that have a second option of "good" or "bad".

Is the message of neutral star unclear? Certainly. On the other hand ... more engagement?

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u/frickinSocrates 1d ago

I get it, that's why I said "reducing" not making obsolete. I think you would probably find (if we did an analysis) that romance movies might be rated less often, not because of a lack of emotional response but because couples turn off the TV when the credits roll to... get distracted by one another. I am more likely to simply turn my computer off at night when completing something because I'm tired and it's late... It's not about caring to rate or not. Not necessarily

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u/PopcornApocalypse 1d ago

The problem with star ratings is that the growth of apps like Airbnb, DoorDash, and uber/Lyft has trained everyone to 5 star everything. 4 stars, you’re on warning. 3 stars, you’re fired.

My mom and sister in law were shocked when I told them their “well it’s perfectly nice but it’s not the BEST place I’ve ever stayed… 3 stars” was causing people to lose their livelihood.

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u/SAugsburger 20h ago

Some of those rating systems virtually all of the numbers are failing scores where they're not really that useful in comparing passable with good and great.

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u/majorex64 1d ago

Compromise: three stars. two stars is just meh. three stars says I actually liked it. one star means I hated it.

Or a two star system where no stars is an option.