Thoughts on YouTube Red

I find it amazing that despite how much time I put into absorbing content from YouTube’s vast array of creators, I am not even remotely interested in paying a monthly fee for a Red subscription. The service comes with several features that would seem enticing, the biggest of which being that ads are removed from videos. The advertising on YouTube does not bother me very much. When considering that most videos I watch can go upwards of half an hour each, a 30 second advertisement is not a big deal. Further still, the advertisements that I see are frequently matched well with the subject matter of the video I am watching, so I sometimes watch the advertisement all the way through, instead of going straight to the skip option, at least when it is available. Other benefits, such as offline viewing and original programming from some of YouTube’s most popular content creators just do not sway me very much either.

The only real feature that I am interested in is the ability to listen to play videos while on another app or with the screen off, especially when much of the content that I watch is discussion-based, where audio is much more important than video. However, I believe that this “benefit” should have automatically come with the YouTube app in its original form, and it frustrates me greatly that it is being kept to Red subscribers only. It is an intuitive feature should be included in the standard app. There is no way that I am paying $9.99 a month just to be able to look at other apps while using YouTube, especially when other subscription services like Spotify Premium have student discounts that are half that price.

Despite all these reasons, even if YouTube Red were to add features that made me feel that it was worth my money, I would have to still refuse on principle. Almost all of the YouTube channels that I am subscribed to have to deal with false copyright claims on their material, and due to YouTube’s broken copyright claim system, they often are unable to resolve the issues in a timely manner, which leads to them losing revenue from videos that they worked hard to make. Many companies seem to place false copyright claims because they either do not understand copyright law, or they do not care. YouTube has made almost no attempt to resolve this widespread issue, which is making me lose great respect for it as a brand, though I continue to watch it to support my favorite content creators. I refuse to give money to a subscription service that is not even worth my money when its owner is not going to help out the content creators that have made YouTube the social media juggernaut it has become.

Sunday Nights – When TV and Social Media Join Hands

When it comes to television, social media is at its most active on Sundays, according to Nielsen’s recent Social Media Report.  About one third of weekly Twitter activity and over forty percent of weekly Facebook activity focusing on television occurred in the United States this past fall. Audiences are very engaged with their television programming and want to continue the conversation online. Sunday Night Football, along with a number of very popular television series (The Walking Dead, Empire, American Horror Story) have inspired vast fanbases that not only return to watch on a weekly basis, but also post and discuss their reactions and follow conversations on their social media accounts.

It is interesting to see how strong social media activity is surrounding TV despite the fact that traditional TV is drawing in fewer and fewer watchers. Many Americans are opting to cord-cut, choosing instead to rely on streaming services such as Hulu or Netflix. On average, there has been a drop in TV ratings. Investing in television is still a viable option for advertisers, though it is becoming more important to get advertisements paired with shows that are receiving significant audience engagement.

Watching how the relationship between TV programming and its audiences has changed with the advent of social media has been very interesting. I think it is remarkable how people all over the world can participate in a conversation together as they all watch a story or event unfold. With TV, when a channel can create a show or program that gets so many people invested in what happens, those people are going to want to discuss it with others. It will be interesting to look at the statistics for the spring to see if the trend continues.

Oh Internet... Can You Please Leave Ben Affleck Alone?

It is truly amazing how quickly the internet changes its tune.

When Ben Affleck was first cast as Batman over three years ago, the anger from people online was palpable. The overwhelming consensus coming from the internet was that Affleck would not only ruin the character, but also the movie in which he was to debut, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Then the movie came out. And while it received incredibly negative reviews (I personally see it as an extremely flawed but ambitious film), Affleck’s portrayal of the character was almost universally praised. The internet had gone from thinking his casting was an omen to believing his Batman was a metaphorical second coming of Christ.

Fans are now eagerly awaiting Affleck’s solo Batman movie that he is co-writing and directing, tentatively titled The Batman. Unfortunately for Affleck, because he has had two different films come out within the past several months, he has had to constantly deal with questions focusing on his Batman film at press junkets. In recent interviews, it has become very clear that he is growing tired of the questions, and how the internet overanalyzes every word he says to then spread rumors and gossip about if the movie will actually be made. It’s hard not to notice the frustration he is feeling when watching this clip from his recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel:

Now, I get it. This is how internet fandom operates, and Ben Affleck should accept the situation if he really wants to participate in this franchise. Of course, Batman is a very popular, viable character and any movie featuring him is going to be highly anticipated. However, I believe that Warner Bros. (the film studio that produces the Batman films) should really be trying to take control of the situation, and not leave Affleck to seemingly deal with it on his own, especially if there is a tipping point at which he decides to not make the movie. There have been many rumors as of late about how Affleck is unhappy with both the project and the environment surrounding it, and is considering abandoning it altogether. Warner Bros. should use its social media resources to try and control the narrative, making it clear when certain rumors are flat out untrue while trying to make sure that both the media and the fans are on the same page. I by no means believe that Warner Bros. should deal with every rumor that gains even a modicum of traction, but it should consider addressing fairly popular rumors that are trying to portray the studio's plans in a completely negative light. The studio has several places from which it reports news regarding its DC Comics properties, whether it be Facebook pages or YouTube channels, and it would be nice to see them take advantage of these platforms to keep fans properly informed.

I may be asking for the impossible, but I really would like for the internet to just relax about The Batman, at least until it is officially announced. Ben Affleck should just be allowed to work on the script in peace, but alas, as anyone familiar with the internet knows, it can be a volatile and sometimes unforgiving place.