Don't Let YouTube Algorithm Become Our Minister of Culture

As many non-essential business are barred from operating during this pandemic, arts & culture will be the last thing on people's mind. Spending any goverment money on this will be seen as gross mismanagement or a frivolous expense at best.

Even if there's private money, allowing shooting and production will be deeply unpopular as long as many more sector that is deemed more essential are not allowed to operate. Such reaction is understandable as many are struggling to put food on the table.

However, this means YouTube practically became the sole patron of the arts. Everyone eking any living from performing arts need to pander to the black box of YouTube algorithm.

Since it is built to have as many people as people watching as many minutes as possible, it will certainly have bias towards the banal and the crass. Just look at the trending tab on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.

If this situation drags on, it will inflict an irreperable damage to our cultural collective.