Someone Stole My Thumbnail

Clip from BSP-405: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SCpiCKV0TI
Originally aired: 13 OCT 2024

This is NOT the end of the world, but I wanted to go on a rant about this. Some idiot took my thumbnail and used it on their twitter post without any credit. Normally, I would not care much about this because any YouTuber or content creator understands this will happen. It’s inevitable. There are a few issues I have with the situation though:

  1. When I called this person out, they took no corrective action to credit me. I do not expect someone to delete their post or anything. A simple reply to their own post stating “credit for artwork: link here” would have been enough. Days after the communication, nothing.

  2. The type of content this person advocates for. They post about FACELESS SOCIAL MEDIA! I downright loathe this type of content as well as all the social media accounts that advocate for it.

  3. And lastly, a question. If you are such a skilled faceless channel content creator who earns thousands of dollars from your brilliant strategies, why couldn’t you just make your own graphic? Why would you need to go out and take someone else’s work?

This may seem petty to you, and perhaps it is, but I have a strong disdain for faceless social media advocates and for fully AI-channel advocates for a plethora of reasons that were outlined in episode 388 of the BSP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz4hpFUO2jU).

I believe the thing that makes YouTube and Podcasting so special is the fact that it started with people who only made content because they are passionate about a topic. It was not tainted by the idea of getting reach or famous, it was someone in a spare bedroom who felt the need to make a video about topic X or they would freak out. That passion comes through in a video; it’s not some sterile corporate nonsense, it’s authentic.

Enter these advocates for full-Ai content and faceless channels, they prey on people who are desperate to earn money with screenshots showing massive monthly earnings and views, promising that “you can do it too with these 10 steps”. I am highly skeptical that they are earning any significant income utilizing the advice they’re giving. My estimation is that they are earning money off of giving advice to people who desperately want to get rich and famous through social media.

Not only do I think they’re lying, and that their claims are bull crap, but I think they are advocating for content that ruins the quality of content available on platforms. The first place I noticed this was Everyday Carry. I used to search this topic regularly on YouTube, but now when I do it is flooded with crappy AI & Faceless Channel videos that are unwatchable. It led to me no longer searching for that type of content.

Bottom line, don’t be jerk and steal other people’s work.

AI Content is Ruining YouTube

Over the last 12 months or so I have noticed an influx of AI generated content and Faceless Channels, and I believe it has had a serious negative impact on the viewing experience on YouTube. The main area of YouTube that I think is negatively impacted by this content are the search results. There are plenty of times when I will search specific topics and sort by newest upload and the primary results I get are AI generated listicles.

I’m not discussing content created by someone who uses AI tools to assist in generating videos, I am talking about people who seek the highest CPM or highest affiliate marketing categories, and just use AI to create countless videos in these topics to try and get massive views and affiliate link sales with LOW EFFORT content that they do not actually care about.

There are also an increasing number of commentary channels that seem to be using A.I. to generate the content, or at the very least generate the voice.

I think this is negatively impacting YouTube for multiple reasons:

  1. In many cases the people inputting prompts to the AI (or hiring people on fiver to produce the content) have no knowledge in the subject matter so they are unable to fact check or verify that information is correct. This means that they are going to be putting out inaccurate information.

  2. The thing that has made YouTube special is the fact that any random person who is passionate about topic X, Y, or Z can make a video talking about it and sharing that passion. When those people are drowned out by the floor of inauthentic, unpassionate, soulless AI/Faceless content, the “soul” of YouTube dies. I know that sounds dramatic, but the passionate people who make content are pushed off the platform, the platform ceases to be interesting and loses the main draw.

That’s my take on why AI content and Faceless Channels are ruining YouTube. If you have any experience with this, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment.s

Clip from BSP-388: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz4hpFUO2jU
Originally aired: 12 MAY 2024

Bandrew Scott

Bandrew Scott is the founder and host of the youtube channel Podcastage, where he posts reviews of audio gear, and shares tips and tricks to improve the audio of your Podcast, YouTube Channel, or Live Stream.

He also founded the Geeks Rising podcast network, which is home to amazing education, wellness, and pop culture podcasts such as Tourette’s Podcast, Sunshine & Powercuts, and On The Subject.

Bandrew also runs his own show titled the Bandrew Says Podcast. On this show he analyzes the latest news to determine how it affects the content creation ecosystem, and shares that to help creates remain aware of how the platform they use is changing.