Today’s video creators often prioritize quantity over quality, churning out content that feels more like “5 pounds of stuff in a 20-pound bag” than a carefully crafted video experience. Long on fluff and short on substance, these videos lack genuine effort and meaningful content.
One glaring example of this “mindless composition” is the rampant use of vertical video. While vertical framing can be effective in photography, its dominance in video creation is both lazy and disconcerting. It’s as if creators prioritize convenience (avoiding the simple act of rotating their phones) over viewer experience.
The argument of “creative choice” rings hollow. We don’t watch television shows or movies on sideways screens, nor do we typically use our computer monitors vertically. This suggests that vertical video is not necessarily a superior format, but rather a consequence of laziness and a lack of consideration for the viewer. The cell phone has turned us into mindless creators and mindless consumers.
Many YouTubers have adopted a disturbing trend: using a standard horizontal format for their main content and relegating “shorts” to the vertical format. This suggests a conscious decision to prioritize quick, easily created content over a more thoughtful approach.
Social media platforms like YouTube are overflowing with these “mindless” creations – “funny” reels, hastily recorded messages, and an overwhelming number of brief vertical videos. Any claim that people “want” to watch videos this way is questionable. It’s more likely that convenience for the creator has trumped any genuine consideration for the viewer’s experience. It feels more as though pumping out something is better than doing nothing. We’ll do something more serious later.
I refuse to participate in this “mindless consumption.” I avoid watching videos in the vertical format as a conscious rejection of this lazy and inconsiderate approach to content creation.
Mindless composition, characterized by a lack of active engagement, a focus on quick entertainment, and a reduced attention span, has become a hallmark of the cell phone era. People constantly gaze at their phones, passively consuming a deluge of content without much critical thought.
Several factors contribute to the rise of this trend:
The Rise of Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram incentivize short, easily digestible content, often at the expense of artistic expression or making a concerted effort towards a semblance of production value.
The Creator Economy: The focus on building a following and monetizing content can overshadow the pursuit of genuine artistic expression.
The Algorithm: Social media algorithms favor easily consumed content, rewarding creators who prioritize engagement over depth.
The Short-Term Focus: The pressure to constantly produce new content can lead to a prioritization of quantity over quality.
These factors have created an environment where quick, easy, and often superficial content reigns supreme. While some passive consumption can be enjoyable, the current landscape is dominated by a culture of “mindless” creation and consumption.
I believe in creating content with care and intention. While I may not produce a lot of videos, I at least strive to make each one with some degree of artistic consideration. As for the Internet content creators, they should go on a diet and loose some weight. Stop taking the lazy way out and giving everyone a constant feeding of meaningless video for viewers to gorge on. Please turn your phone 90 degrees and make an effort to create something of miniscule meaning, even if it involves a little thought.
It might look better too.
