Short Video Slop

     All of the major social media sites want video shorts like TikTok and it is ruining my online experience.  Fun comedy skits and animal videos dominate but the ones that go viral are about social issues, usually a copied video posted with the poster's commentary.  The algorithms rewards discussions about airport fight videos or teachers losing it in class. They want everyone to share an opinion on a video clip of a policeman beating a criminal or the close up of a politician's wife to see if she is really a man. Though my favorite websites have devolved into this, I am still not nihilistic about the future of art and expression on the internet. 

    Twitter used to be my fun place to have discussions and test written ideas but now it has become more like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They want Jerry Springer like drama and trashy short form videos or endless copies of cute animal clips. This isn't my imagination. On the X blog on Jan 9, 2024 it says "X is now a video first platform. . ." They know that is where they can make the most profit.

    It's May 1, 2026 and let's see what is popular on X right now. 

    "Hand-Eating Biryani CLIP divides Views on Culture and Immigration"

    "JP Morgan Exec Accused of Drugging Colleague and Racial Slurs in Lawsuit" 

    Already, one is about a video clip. These trends change every hour. 

    These are fun discussions, but now that Twitter (X) has monetized accounts. Every major account adds their opinions to keep getting what I call attention money. The thing is that they rarely add anything unique. It is just "what do you think" or some nasty joke to shock the audience. Everyone is trying to be the next Social Media Geraldo or Jenny Jones. (or Tucker Carlson or Candace Owens!)

    YouTube is slowly turning into Tiktok as well. Shorts dominate the pages. Comedy skit after comedy skit after comedy skit. FUN FACTS! Clips from TV shows. AI slop. Now I hear that long form video essayists are getting punished and some have even lost monetization. Shorts creators don't have to be paid as high as the long form video creators. Also, according to NetInfluencer.com "Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed during Alphabet's (the company that owns YouTube) Q3 2025 earnings call that YouTube Shorts now earns more revenue per watch hour than traditional in-stream videos on the platform, highlighting a shift in the company's strategy for short-form content."

    Entertainment in short bursts looks like it is the future. Already I have seen Chinese dramas packaged in shorts with a hook at the end to get you to watch the next short. People post movies on Tiktok a short at a time, skipping through to the less important parts. Sometimes I see interesting shorts that I can tell someone put a lot of thought into, but mostly it's "Hi! My ex-husband married my aunt while I was pregnant with his twins. Get ready with me!"  "Hi! I raise ten children in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. Watch me make breakfast!" Videos of overly made-up girls tapping products with their fingernails, describing them using vocal fry. React videos where the reactor says nothing interesting and just makes faces at the original video. 

    I gave up on Facebook and Instagram years ago and only use them to keep up with local news, friends, and relatives. 

ENDLESS TRASH

    People worry about AI slop, but we were already at a cultural low point anyways.

    I miss sincerity, authenticity. I am glad there are still dedicated creators bringing their art to the world. I hope that they will continue even when the algorithm punishes them. It is the sincere artist that will be remembered. If short form videos are the future, I hope that some will turn it into a beautiful way to express art. Maybe a 21st century Charles Dickens or Alfred Hitchcock will slowly lure us into their creations a few minutes at a time. 

    AI will take over the slop eventually and I hope that inspires creators to be free to make something meaningful and inspirational. Though I am frustrated with the state of things in art and entertainment, I still have hope that our best days are ahead of us.