To return to a theme around here - these videos are the product of incentives, and though they’re extreme manifestations of those incentives, they’re hardly unique in being shaped by them. One commonplace that’s found among Reels that have some purpose and some plausible entertainment value is the “wait for it” thing, artificially delaying the... See more

In 2006, the launch of YouTube promised a democratization of creativity. Anyone with an internet connection could now share their work with the world, bypassing traditional gatekeepers in publishing, music, and film. Over the next two decades, platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and Instagram further dismantled barriers, offering creators direct... See more