Ep. 008 – Programmer explains YouTube Algorithms
YouTube's algorithm system explained from my perspective as someone who codes...
About me: I'm a physicist, but I have about 2 decades of programming experience in C, C++, Pyhton, R, SQL and some other languages (my fav are C and R). I made this video cause I see a lot of backend in YouTube's frontend, and sometimes I understand it, sometimes I'm thinking "Now that's just lazy." But I believe, you can use this system (AI or not) to your advantage. I would even say that (80% of the time at least) it is trying to work for you and not against you. But when making videos, a lot of creators just can't tell when their content is kind of lame (I include myself of course). You don't want to hear that, and it's easy to pass the guilt on to YouTube.
Anyway, here are the main pillars of YouTube's backend (in my opinion, I had no part in creating this system).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 YouTube algorithmic system(s)
0:40 Sanctioning & reward system – Monetization, views and video success
7:22 Nota bene: Integration time – Why you should upload (very) consistently
9:40 Categorization system – Why niches work (but still suck)
15:48 Randomization system
20:58 Motivation system – Virality, capped views and organic views
There is no "YouTube algorithm"
One term I really dislike is "the algorithm", as if there was only one... It exposes a fundamental lack in average low-level computer knowledge. It is very cringe for me to watch mainstream YouTubers explain "the algorithm" to their viewers, as if it was some malignant entity that just wants to hinder your success and doesn't get you.
in a way, the feeling is probably right. "It" does not get you. But how does that help your success on this platform? Will you, even if you try to, change it in a timespan that is relevant to your short-term success? And is your short-term success something you need to move on and create stuff for this platform? Because then, it just makes more sense to understand "the algorithm(s)" than just complaining about them all the time. You may change it, but you can't now. So you better be smart about it at this point.
Understanding random and intentional aspects
As and AI there is a certain degree of randomization to YouTubes algorithmic system. And that is something you can't possibly influence. You may be "discovered" or "suggested" at random sometimes, and that's something you have to accept. People find you by chance, long before they find you by search or by choice.
Other parts of YouTube are intentional and crafted, made so that matches can be created and elements of the set of viewers can be mapped to the set of creators. This part is easier for us to understand, because it is man-made and we (programmers) can anticipate what is likely going on behind the scenes. It just makes sense (even if some of it is lazy or not user-friendly).
Motivational components
A little theory of mine then is also that there is some sort of motivational system in place to keep you hooked. And by that I don't mean the viewer, I mean the creator. This is very obvious on TikTok, because the app promotes this "oh, you may go viral" hope more than YouTube. But I am pretty sure that YouTube does this too, just in a more subtle way. It's not unlikey that they cap views on videos that are too successful for small channels, and they also don't seem to care much about a correct categorization of your videos on their end (that is your job). Because it serves YouTube if you keep creating just enough videos for them to play ads in front and keep your hopes up while still not really breaking even. You want to keep going, for the hope of this hobby becoming a full-time thing. Or at least something you can be proud of. And that desire is part of the platform's vibe. We are all here to show a part of us, hoping for a stranger's appreciation.
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