Author Topic: Facebook's lies about video metrics (Read 7889 times)

Justanotherphotographer · « **on:** February 07, 2021, 10:07 »

I can't recall is this has been posted about here before, but I think it is super important:

https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/facebook-online-video-pivot-metrics-false.html
https://www.ccn.com/facebook-lied-about-video-metrics/

Micros have been pivoting to video extremely aggressively over the last couple of years. I expect demand increase to slow as the reality of video engagement filters through to ad buyers over the next year or two. I think micro contributors who have invested heavily in production equipment will be hit hard.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2021, 12:42 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on February 07, 2021, 10:07

I can't recall is this has been posted about here before, but I think it is super important:

https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/facebook-online-video-pivot-metrics-false.html
https://www.ccn.com/facebook-lied-about-video-metrics/

Micros have been pivoting to video extremely aggressively over the last couple of years. I expect demand increase to slow as the reality of video engagement filters through to ad buyers over the next year or two. I think micro contributors who have invested heavily in production equipment will be hit hard.

Interesting. A 3 second view counted in their data, and scrolling past a pop up video probably counted as a view. But this is the way "the next big thing" in Microstock works too. We get lied to about trends and needs, then production exceeds any realistic demands.

The contributors wonder why they don't make money from the latest predicted demand and trends.

flywing · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2021, 19:38 »

I always doubt that people have time to watch videos appear on their facebook's news feed (of course, unless they are irresistibly interesting). You just can't skim-read them like text based content. I even had a little debate with a news page who insisted their video's "engagement" was great...until it was not. Now they've reverted back to use still images in most of their content.

Firn · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2021, 02:12 »

Quote from: flywing on February 07, 2021, 19:38

I always doubt that people have time to watch videos appear on their facebook's news feed (of course, unless they are irresistibly interesting). You just can't skim-read them like text based content. I even had a little debate with a news page who insisted their video's "engagement" was great...until it was not. Now they've reverted back to use still images in most of their content.

Ugh, I HATE videos on news pages so much that by now, if I see a video on a news site about something that interests me, instead of watching the video I will google whether the same topic can be found on another news site where I can read it.
I agree, can't skim read it and a lot of news sites will force you to watch an add banner before the video starts. I don't have time for that.

On Facebook there is really only one type of videos I don't just scroll past and that's videos of musicians I am following - because you can't have music in text form, so that makes sense. I will never prefer watching a video to reading text. It's too time consuming. Always wondered why vidoes were apparently so much in demand and who actually watched them, as it certainly was not me. Turns out I might not be the only person in the world who prefers text over video after all.

Roscoe · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2021, 03:21 »

And I thought I was old-fashioned by preferring text with images over watching videos.
But I guess it's different for the younger generation with gen-z'ers strongly preferring video or audio over text and I don't believe the demand will slow down. On the contrary.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2021, 05:02 »

Quote from: Roscoe on February 08, 2021, 03:21

And I thought I was old-fashioned by preferring text with images over watching videos.
But I guess it's different for the younger generation with gen-z'ers strongly preferring video or audio over text ...

I think that is what the court case is about. The tendency for users to prefer video was being greatly exaggerated even in the younger generation. This led to many companies shifting focus to video only to lose users and go under.

We definitely saw stock agencies doing this too. I remember when the shift started lots of posts on the sites made direct reference to these same engagement statistics to explain their shift.

Whatever increase in demand there is has been grossly overestimated as the calculation has been based on a very faulty premise. Expect the RPD on videos to continue to plummet and competition to be chasing much fewer buyers than expected is all I’m saying...

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2021, 12:13 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on February 08, 2021, 05:02

I think that is what the court case is about. The tendency for users to prefer video was being greatly exaggerated even in the younger generation. This led to many companies shifting focus to video only to lose users and go under.

We definitely saw stock agencies doing this too. I remember when the shift started lots of posts on the sites made direct reference to these same engagement statistics to explain their shift.

Whatever increase in demand there is has been grossly overestimated as the calculation has been based on a very faulty premise. Expect the RPD on videos to continue to plummet and competition to be chasing much fewer buyers than expected is all I’m saying...

YEAH BABY! You hit a home run with that one.

Quote from: Firn on February 08, 2021, 02:12

Ugh, I HATE videos on news pages so much that by now, if I see a video on a news site about something that interests me, instead of watching the video I will google whether the same topic can be found on another news site where I can read it.

Turns out I might not be the only person in the world who prefers text over video after all.

I'm in the same group with you. Except I use Bing for the points and not Google.

I thought I was just being old fashion and a stick in the mud. Oh videos are the in thing. Maybe it's for people who do everything on a phone, where they can't read that tiny text?

I'd rather read and see details and get numbers and facts, than have someone skimming along with pictures and a bunch of talking heads. (unless it was the band of that name, who are great)

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Author Topic: Facebook's lies about video metrics (Read 7889 times)

Justanotherphotographer

Uncle Pete

flywing

Firn

Roscoe

Justanotherphotographer

Uncle Pete

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