I can't really think of better spokespeople for AI, since they're already completely fake people.
this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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It still boggles my mind, in a world where so many list after the "real-ness" that has been brought to us by individual content creators that so many still follow these people that are just doing it for the money, clout, etc. Sure, creators need to make a living, but why bother following the types of people that would think attending an AI luxury trip (whatever that is, I cannot be arsed to find out) is a good idea?
This is something i think about a lot, though I've had a hard time putting it to words exactly.
We live in a largely fake world. Objects and pictures representing things have increasingly replaced the genuine articles. We are expected to be continually wow'd by images on our screens as though they're as good or engaging as reality. So many stores like Homegoods carry all kinds of items that serve strictly aesthetic value. So much of advertising is convincing the target that the item will improve their lives in extraordinary ways when the reality so often proves itself lesser-than-expected. We even have amounts of money in circulation that can't feasibly exist. The US national debt is an absolutely staggering number -- it's an irrational amount of money/value. Does that much value actually exist in the world? There are so many things that exist in theoretical space but make impact in reality--it feels fake. Don't even get me started on AI/deepfakes etc.
I still don't know if I've gotten my thinking straight on this yet, it's just this nagging thought in the back of my mind i can't seem to shake.
Plenty of shallow people in the world, sadly, enjoy vicariously living even shallower lives than their own.
I've never understood people deciding to spend their time and their lives watching what other people on YouTube or other social media have to say about anything.
Nothing about how social media works create some actual drive for those people to be honest or genuine about anything. They're directly financially incentivized to do or say whatever they think would get them the most clicks and views. There isn't any realness, just the drive to make people think they are being real and genuine in whatever it is they think we'll get the most clicks and views.
When it started I saw it is mostly people streaming playing games on line and just didn't understand why I would spend my time watching other people play games instead of spending my time playing games myself. Now it's changed to pretty much just watching everything a person says and watching their "life" while they sit in front of the camera or no other cameras are rolling and act completely different than they would act without them.
Yeah, sometimes someone's going to slip up and let out a racial slur or something. Some sign of the person they really are. But most of what everyone is watching is just people putting on an act to get views and to make money. It's just the "reality tv" of a younger generation and just as based in actual reality. Semi scripted arguments between two players to try to drum up views for both of them, all of it. It's Real World, Big Brother, and Real Housewives.
None of it is real, the people are all completely fake, but the streaming format makes people tune in and feel more like they are actually these people's friend instead of another one of 100 million people that suckered into watching their bullshit so they can make what's not crazy amounts of money doing nothing with any actual value to society.
I think that's an overly cynical take tbh, and inaccurate to some extent. Not all online videos are bad and fake. I'm bias, as I create videos myself, but I mention that because the stuff I make is real. If I weren't filming I'd be doing very similar stuff anyways. YouTube is at it's best when you're watching a relatively niche piece of someone's life that they're passionate about, it isn't all fake reality bullshit. Additionally, I'll mention that people have shown that they want entertainment whether it be a TV show, movie, or an independent creator on YouTube, and that stuff does have real value to people. It, by definition, isn't worthless, as people will pay for it. Of course, I wish people held those they watch online to a higher standard.
Sure, I'm not saying there aren't people filming their actual lives or opinions or other really real things on streaming sites. There definitely are. Most people who make those videos and streams might even start off that way.
But the algorithms that control what users see push whatever content each person is likely to agree with or strongly disagree with in order to maximize user engagement. That means anyone making videos that a large percentage of the user base will agree with or saying things many people will strongly disagree with and argue about are going to have much better metrics and make a lot more money, and the people who find a sustainable way to balance those two things will usually be the top and make the most.
Being in the top group can mean going from being completely poor to living in a mansion with lots of millions of dollars and the best of everything along with having millions of people watching and caring about everything you say.
Everyone making videos or streams is going to pay attention to their total views and shares and user comments. When a video does way better than others they're going to wonder why and probably rewatch it, eventually noticing the patterns in ways they were acting and things they said that resulted in the most views and shares and people commenting and watching their next videos.
It gives everyone doing it huge motivation to act whatever ways they learn get them the most attention. They might not actively decide to put on a total act and fine tune it into what gets them the most views, but over time most people are going to do that. The streamers and online "content creators" that have the highest views and the most recognition are almost all going to be the fakest people.
They're putting on the act they've found gets them the most views, the most money, and the most clout, but that most people will watch and interact with and applaud the views they agree with or angrily comment about the things they strongly disagree with because they believe they're interacting with someone's actual thoughts and opinions and not what's become a character.
The top performers can be banned repeatedly from platforms and keep coming back or do things that should be a permanent ban or even criminal charges and have nothing come of it. Whatever platform they're on cares about getting the most views, and money, and highest user engagement and retention more than honesty, their ToS, legality, treating all of their "content creators" the same, or anything else. The platforms are aware that saying and doing very controversial or even illegal things can result in a whole lot of public engagement.
It makes the very worst of us 'celebrities' and pushes decent people who start it into becoming sacks of shit.
“Creators are an important part of our community and how people get information and learn about our products today,”
Oh man, what a great time to be alive. I hate to watch the internet die for 2 decades now. It sickens me.
Why do people watch these turds? Who cares what some "influencer" does? It's all fake anyway. And this is where people "get information"? How about Wikipedia? Or some halfway-trustworthy news? Ugh...
Because people are miserable, earn no money, are servery depressed and don't have anything better to do in their lives than look at some rich kids. We used to read magazines.
But when I'm poor and miserable, why would I watch rich kids do rich-kid-stuff? That would depress me even more. To see a 16yr old get rich with incredible stupid shit but massive luck. At least it would not push my poor&miserable mood up...
I hate to watch the internet die for 2 decades now.
That's not what "dying" looks like. That's "mutating", in the horror movie sense.
Why do people watch these turds? Who cares what some “influencer” does? It’s all fake anyway.
I mean, YMMV. Lots of people don't watch them. Lots of people just kinda flip through what's on their feed and land on whatever catches their eyes. Lots of people get this stuff jammed down their throats through different flavors of marketing, engagement, and native-ized slop.
And this is where people “get information”? How about Wikipedia?
Wikipedia isn't where people naturally go for fashion tips and entertainment promos.
I really think a lot of this boils down to "I've completely forgotten what it's like to be a teenager". Young people trying to act like old people. Old people trying to act like young people. A lot of it boiling down to hormones, boredem, and Freemium ad-slop being the entertainment they can afford.
That’s not what “dying” looks like. That’s “mutating”, in the horror movie sense.
Indeed. "The Thing" comes to mind :-(
I mean, YMMV. Lots of people don’t watch them. Lots of people just kinda flip through what’s on their feed and land on whatever catches their eyes. Lots of people get this stuff jammed down their throats through different flavors of marketing, engagement, and native-ized slop.
Yeah sure, people DO watch those turds. Yet there's still a difference between watching them because they just came up and boredom makes me watch or actively subscribing, clinging to everything they do and...ugh.
Wikipedia isn’t where people naturally go for fashion tips and entertainment promos.
Fair point. If anyone ever needs "fashion tips" :-)
I really think a lot of this boils down to “I’ve completely forgotten what it’s like to be a teenager”.
Actually I didn't watch stuff like that when i was teenager either. Despite then it wasn't youtube/tiktok but MTV or boybands or whatever other kids fancied.
A lot of it boiling down to hormones, boredem, and Freemium ad-slop being the entertainment they can afford.
Also fair point. Though i usually say "boredom is for the boring mind, the world is teeming with curiosities and wonders". "Not able to afford" is a solid point sadly, as nearly everything costs money nowadays :(
Watching idiots on YouTube act out of fake personas, have fake arguments with other idiots on youtube, and say and do whatever they think will get them the most views and money has become the newest generation of reality tv.
Oh boy, I sure am glad to not consume these platforms at all.
I honestly wouldn't lump all of YouTube in the same bag. At the end of the day it's currently one of the only viable platforms for video-based essays and I personally find a ton of valuable stuff there. That said, one miss-step and your algorithm fills up with the influencer crap, so you gotta tread carefully.
Oh sure. That might be some decent stuff in there. I just wouldn't know as I can't use the site without an account, the moment I use a VPN. So...nah.
Gaze upon mine field of fucks; ‘lo, it is barren.
I have absolutely zero interest in or sympathy for “influencers”.
Oh I have interest in “influencers”. I have a high interest in punching them in the face.