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Honest question, how many of you watch the autoplaying videos on websites ? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by pocker_machine@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

They are one of the most infuriating things for me. But I curious to know why is this a popular pattern in websites. Do people actually stop whatever they were planning to do and watch the video ?

I’ve blocked them on all my devices. But once in a while I see them when I use someone else’s devices and I wonder.

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[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 31 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

Not me. In fact if it isn't blocked and I can't easily get rid of it, I'll bail on the site altogether.

Honestly don't understand what the benefit to anybody is. If I want to watch it, I will, if I don't, I won't. They're just making the overall experience worse.

I assume it's some bonehead manager that thinks it looks cool or will increase engagement though.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 3 months ago

Exactly. If a site tries to shove things down my throat so much that it prevents me from accessing the part that I want to access, fuck em. I close the tab.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Look boss we have 'engagement' up 700% now! Everyone looks at the video!! Well, at least 5 to 15 seconds it seems but not more hmm gotta fix that too now...

[–] eco_game@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 months ago

I find it even more puzzling as surely it has to be a decent increase in server demand to constantly be streaming video. How can that be worth it??

[–] ASaltPepper@lemmy.one 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There's a Wikipedia page about this phenomenon where advertisers started to prefer video in 2015.

Explains exactly what you're seeing.

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

Also seems like Facebook potentially played a part in their push, driven by faulty data. That's crazy.