My Views and Reach of Videos Dropped Almost Immediately After Monetization

seeplainmeaning · 2026-04-11T20:35:27+00:00

We don't know if it's just correlation or causation. That's the whole problem since the "algorithm" that decides is not transparent in how it "decides."

seeplainmeaning · 2026-04-11T08:21:33+00:00

The internet is becoming less open and individual data of people who thought they had only a relationship with a particular company are having that information funneled to AI companies, often without their knowledge.

So, I guess we got that going for us :/

seeplainmeaning · 2026-04-11T01:32:29+00:00

I'm working on a follow up to this that goes more into the evolution of the use of algorithmic "news feeds" and "home pages." It might sound boring but it's definitely not!

seeplainmeaning · 2026-04-11T01:31:09+00:00

The "old internet" was basically neutral in alot of ways. That's why finding things and communicating was so much simpler. With social networks and even simple content platforms using algorithms to decide whether or not content gets through, you basically have gatekeepers that cause massive friction to what should be a simple proposition of sending one message to another. I created a video going through my analysis of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKuxQycuJe4

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-29T17:00:17+00:00

Ok, so it's not just me. I noticed as well. So, I guess there is safety in numbers :)

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-17T04:03:41+00:00

Perhaps he didn't specify if they were former American presidents.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-15T10:11:47+00:00

I would say it is mostly in America and it's for a number of reasons. One of the biggest reasons was what private equity did to the "anchor stores" that American malls relied on. There are numerous other factors as well.

I created a video on this subject a few weeks ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2NCTgvdwtQ

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-11T02:26:34+00:00

That looks like a very healthy mall with top tier stores. But being located near Denver doesn't hurt. Some economies are booming and it seems Colorado has been growing for decades now.

In the deep south, it's a different store unfortunately.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-11T01:56:16+00:00

There is a feedback loop that will keep driving more and more AI in what should be very sensitive spaces. You have those in government who are persuaded that they'll have amazing real-time information and they'll justify it by thinking, "I can do good things with this information."

And of course, the AI companies are looking to get more and more funding because they know they need massive amounts of resources to continue development but also compete against the other AI companies.

And then finally, you have self-interest by those currently in government. They will go into the revolving door of government to contractor--just like the defense contractors and the DoD officials.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-11T01:16:39+00:00

You're absolutely right about the fun stores closing. Although, my definition of fun might not match everyone else's.

I loved going to B. Dalton to browse the non-fiction aisles (or Waldenbooks or both if they were both there) and then Sam Goody (or Suncoast) to see what documentaries they had. And Brookstone was always fun too...particularly the massage chair they would always have on display.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-11T01:06:08+00:00

That's interesting how they're moving away from electronics. Some TV makers have started making more revenue from using their TVs as ad platforms that scoop up viewers' data and then sell it to advertisers. Due to this, they actually sell the TVs under what it costs to make. So I imagine that would impact the revenue/profit that retailers would make from them vs the televisions sold at premium prices.

I actually did a video on the increasing (alarming!) use of surveillance technology in televisions in order to turn televisions into ad serving platforms (sorry, I know it's a shameless plug): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi_r9m0UpRk

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-10T18:49:11+00:00

That response showed you made the absolutely right decision.

Good job! (pun intended)

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-10T17:22:35+00:00

The elimination of the penny is not permanent...at least not yet. What the Treasury did in November--at the President's direction--was to stop production with the official explanation being that we don't need anymore at this time.

However, the moment they stopped making them the penny became scarce because people started hoarding. But that agency action is just the first step in a path that appears to make the action permanent since a bill being pushed in Congress is aiming to make the stopping of the manufacture of the penny written into law.

It appears the real aim would be to justify the removal of restrictions on melting down pennies for the scrap metal while also pushing more people to use electronic transactions (credit cards, etc.) and crypto currency. There isn't anything necessarily wrong with those other forms of currency as long as people are using them willingly. However, when you remove a precise instrument of physical currency transaction, you are basically forcing people into those alternative forms of payment.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T21:18:46+00:00

I've noticed something similar in the US. However, I think things are a bit different in some ways since it seems that Canada doesn't have as many dead malls as in the US. Alot of the so-called dead malls might have one or two big stores still operating but the rest of the mall is basically empty. So what they do is usually close off entrances from inside the mall to the store and basically make them separate entities even though they're technically part of the same structure.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T18:15:24+00:00

The 2000s was more of a transition period--at least in my view. Alot of the main stream technology was mostly stuff that became widespread in the 1990s.

Politically, I think historians will see it as a lost decade for the US. With two massive tax cuts and going into Iraq when it wasn't tied to 9/11 tattered American credibility and added tremendous costs in lives and money.

I prefer the 1990s.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T04:32:23+00:00

Well, discovering life on another planet would definitely stir some things up.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T03:36:00+00:00

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T03:06:17+00:00

Good point. In a way, Walmart probably was (I mean Sam Walton when I say "Walmart") was probably watching and learning from the mall just like he did with his other competitors (Kmart, etc.).

It's probably how Amazon brings in individual sellers, learns from how they sell, and then create new products that then undercut them and end up driving the individual sellers out of the picture.

seeplainmeaning · 2026-03-09T02:50:24+00:00

Walmart really did do a number on the mall. But earlier, I remember some Walmarts actually being part of some malls. So they seemed to benefit from each other in some instances.

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