@jwcph @eniko Okay yes, people do literally read them, but it is literally 100 to 20,000+ difference in clicks between the garbage and good stuff. I literally get to see the numbers for the job.
I just want to make it clear I absolutely agree with you that doing things this way is horrendous. Suggesting things are done differently just tends to get people fired.
I don't know how to fix this problem outside of honestly no longer having capitalism in any capacity. Until then, folks who need food on their tables, especially disabled and marginalized people in most of these low paying writing jobs because they can't do much else are trapped to keep making it worse. When freelancers have to put out countless articles a day just to barely get by they're going to take the easy route every time and I get why. They don't want to end up homeless.
That or perhaps we need to make some laws regulating these things again like we used to have in the US again. I would welcome that with open arms.
@literalgrill @eniko I know people have to eat, and while I did blame journos in my original post (for not understanding the point Eniko made) I don't blame them for the business bullshit - that's a systemic problem.
The good news is, we don't need to dismantle *all* of capitalism to make it better; just dropping surveillance capitalism would take down the entire digital ad market rigamarole. Remember, well over 90% of those clicks are fraudulent; this isn't about advertising to begin with.
@jwcph @eniko Oh gosh yeah it's very true. And some clicks "aren't as good as others." Even if sometimes an honestly amazing piece goes out that's well researched and hard hitting, tons of people read it, even if it isn't just aggregated right for ads these bosses get mad.
It's baffling beyond all reason. It's not why I joined the profession and there are people trying to push back. Just hoping the big freelance writing union I keep hearing rumblings about comes to fruition.
@eniko Not only are they not bothered by this, they expect it. Some anti critical race theory group was punished for not dropping their anti CRT stuff and going all in on the new satanic panic.
E: Hell even Trump knows his followers are like this : https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1667695593433571332
"I talk about cutting taxes, people [clap weakly], I talk about transgender everybody goes crazy. Five years ago you didn't know what the hell it was"
“Trump notes his crowd is more enthused about bigotry than they are for tax cuts: "It's amazing how strongly people feel about that. I talk about cutting taxes, people go like that, I talk about transgender everybody goes crazy. Five years ago you didn't know what the hell it was"”
Rachel Maddow says "Ignore what they say. Look at what they do."
Fascists engage in an endless search for ways to end democracy and enrich themselves.
Attacks on reproductive & trans rights is to buy the Catholic & evangelical vote.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-is-the-gop-escalating-attacks-on-trans-rights-experts-say-the-goal-is-to-make-sure-evangelicals-vote
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/08/05/catholics-kansas-abortion-vote/
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/17/935910276/the-white-elephants-in-the-room
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/christian-right-worships-donald-trump-915381/
Corrupting SCOTUS & attacks on the EPA are to keep the oil industry frying the planet.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zqxm/how-koch-industries-fake-scientists-and-rush-limbaugh-invented-climate-denial
https://theintercept.com/2023/05/26/supreme-court-sackett-epa-clean-water-act/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/30/us-supreme-court-epa-decision-devastating-humanity
Especially if engagement boosts their YouTube rankings!!