Comment on Are Men Killing the Planet? | Our Changing Climate
redpen@lemmy.world 10 months agoI agree that the creator may have chosen a title that could potentially be counterproductive, but it was certainly an intentional moce. At least it led to some discussion on an issue that frankly doesn’t have much awareness is the generl public. “Shock value” is a strategy where creators intentionally use provocative or controversial imagery, titles, or content to elicit strong emotional reactions from their audience. This can be done to grab attention, spark discussions, and raise awareness about a particular issue, idea, or message. The goal is to make the audience think and engage with the content more deeply due to the intense emotional response it evokes. In this case, it worked pretty well, considering many videos posted have almost no discussion at all in the comments.
Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
I think most people know why it’s done, it’s pretty transparent and common especially for a YouTube video where you are incentivised to get clicks, watch time and comments. I just think in many cases including this one it is a perverse incentive that runs counter to the actual goal of raising awareness and generating quality discussions. Human brains are great at coming to quick judgements based off their biases, especially if it confirms pre conceived notions, no need to make it easier. This is how we get echo chambers where everyone who already agrees with each other congregates around certain communities and creators, not how we raise awareness and promote discussion.
Anyway, it’s pretty pervasive everywhere unfortunately, this video is far from the only one so I know I’m just talking into the wind here. The general problem is a tough one like I said and I don’t know what the solution is or if there even is one because it’s tied to the whole business model of all these platforms.
redpen@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Well, I hear the wind talk and appreciate the discussion. I think in broaching a topic like climate change and especially how it relates to established social systems and norms, it takes all kinds. There is definitely an incentive you describe that is perverse when it’s just for money, but when it comes to getting a message out there, I think most well-meaning people just realize they have to play the game. Everything in in the digital age is always is jockying for leverage in the attention economy, and if what your putting out is something you really care about, you want it to have an impact. I definitely agree the approach can be counterproductive, but it’s up the creator in the end. And, other less genuine, reactionary, and shallow exchanges in this post’s comment section aside, at least in this particular case it led to something good. Much appreciated :)