Report reveals YouTube contains a plethora of antiquated videos uploaded long ago, with two-thirds receiving less than 130 views.

Report from the BBC reveals that YouTube is inundated with old videos that have been uploaded for a long time but hardly anyone watches. These videos showcase the evolution of online content.
Most videos on the platform have an average view count of 41. If a video exceeds 130 views, it falls into the top 33% of the most viewed videos on the platform.

Researchers also found that YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes new and trending videos. This means that a vast amount of videos go unnoticed if not directly searched for. Old videos are mostly buried within the system, making them difficult to find. Despite their low visibility, these videos offer an intriguing perspective on the past with their simplistic production, in contrast to the current content filled with editing, effects, and enhancements.

During the period of 2009-2012, iPhone allowed users to directly upload videos to YouTube, resulting in a 400% increase in mobile uploads. These videos still reside on the platform, but most remain unseen.

This raises concerns about whether YouTube overlooks smaller channels or videos with fewer views. The company clarified to the BBC that the algorithm is not intended to hide these videos but rather to aid users in finding content they desire. Sometimes, videos with lower views are selected for user feeds.

While most people are interested in viral clips or popular videos, YouTube remains a repository of countless old videos that may not have millions of views but reflect different eras and histories of the platform in an intriguing manner.

Other interesting findings from the report:

– Many videos are set to private or unlisted, either by the video owner or due to changes in YouTube’s policies.
– Over 70% of videos on YouTube are in languages other than English, indicating a diverse user base.
– In terms of content violating YouTube’s policies, in 2017, every 10,000 views revealed content violations ranging from 63-72 views, which has since decreased to 8-9 views.

TLDR: YouTube is filled with old and unnoticed videos, reflecting the platform’s history. The algorithm favors new and trending content, making it challenging for older videos to be discovered. Despite concerns, YouTube serves as a repository of diverse content from different eras.