The Marxist Lens: Burnout and the Algorithm 

im a simple man, I see a new marxist project video on my recommended and I click it

this really feels like a marxist analysis of the novel ways in which capital's influence alienates us from production in the 21st century. I really appreciate that you made this video. there is so much for us to analyze and understand these days, I'm glad you're attempting to present your own analysis and understanding.

We getting out of burnout with this one bois 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The RU-vid algorithm is bad. Because it makes it difficult for content creators to get monetized (It doesn't Help that the requirements to get monetized are also unreasonably steep). This is why we should help content creators who are not yet monetized (a.k.a. They don't have 1000 Subscribers & 4000 Watch Time or 10 Million Shorts Views)

Explains why internet search engines are complete garbage now as well

leaving a comment for „The Algotithm“

Keep up the good work. Your channel is one of the best I can find in this god damn website/app. Even when you don't have many views, the quality is top notch. Very concise and thoughtful explanations.

I recommend a collection of (free) essays by Sebastian Berger on *The Social Costs of Neoliberalism: Essays on the economics of K. William Kapp.* Kapp's focus is mostly on the non-comprehensive nature of price signals, profits as value measurement, and cost-shifting in the formal rationality of orthodox liberal economics. He, like Marx, advocates for social production for need/use values rather than exchange values. Kapp, like Karl Polanyi, developed his critique during and immediately after WW2.

Excellent Marxist analysis. Truly adapting theory to modern conditions

Thanks for solid Marxist analysis of hyper capitalist social media which relies on parasocial relationships

All well and good. But I cannot help to wonder how we would shape platforms like youtube under a socialist paradigm. Would the totality of users be able to vote on specific modifications of the algorithm? I could imagine a referendum every year where people could vote on whether the algorithm should recommend more or less similar videos, or more or less long videos, etc. Or should every user be able to modify how the algorithm works for them individually in a settings page? There could be a whole discussion about this, so I would like to read the thoughts of others on this topic

Not sure why you kinda walked it back at the end, you were right to begin with. As for "the internet not being real" its affects on the people around me seem pretty damn real to me. There are people whose literal job is this and people who are so alienated from human beings that consuming this stuff is the closest they get to socializing. I think it's actually incredibly difficult to overstate how real world and capitalist this is. We almost don't want to admit that it has that kind of power and so we say "oh, it's not real like what happens in your workplace" when increasingly this is just another workplace.

It is interesting that the algorithm is analogized to the market. It mirrors an early capital consolidation process, but without a meaningful sense of economizing (even though the algorithm is just the economizing preferences of the user base, it isn't about making a commodity that is less expensive and more preferable). In the early developing capitalist market, the reduction of socially necessary labour time squeezes out independent artisans in favour of industrial combines who are about to meet preferences more specifically with less net effort. This is a determinant to the independent artisan class, since they are economically squeezed out of the process. However, the lowering of the cost of commodities is also good for the working class consumer, allowing more of their needs and want to be satisfied with less of their time, the basis of their wages. Also, workers non-owners are able to exert more leverage over production in larger groups, since the group is harder to replace than the individual. Marxism, as I understand it, is not about undoing the artificiality of the capital consolidation process, which determines what broad preferences are among the consuming public, it is about the workers in the industrial combines exerting power over these more efficient operations more broadly in their interests, above the more narrow interests of capital. It is not the efforts to nostalgically restore artisan production due to the corrupting influence of the market. This latter form is right wing anti-capitalism which sees bourgeois freedom to buy and sell leading to monopoly as a form of corruption and some sense of a foreign intervention (the view of many right libertarians like Rothbard) , rather than the outcome of the previous system itself, as an emergent outcome of its own process, which is based on greater freedom. I feel this nostalgic rejection of capital consolidation has confused left ideas with right ones. Capital consolidation is not bad, it is the basis of the potential for greater power and living standards of the working class and society in general. Labour and Luddism are at odds. This is true even though many forms of work gain a higher barrier to entry, thereby reallocation labour to other forms. What often goes undertheorized is that if the market is rejected, how are consumer preferences determined? I have studied the socialist calculation debate fairly thoroughly, but what often is not understood is that the socialist aim is often to take over the economized production form which are produced in the capitalist market. Without the market, it is hard to determine, with the same degree of specificity, which production methods are socially preferable to others. There are efforts at ex ante calculation but these are best with some sort of ex post feedback from consumers like Cybersyn. The algorithm for RU-vid, is similar to its equivalent in Amazon and Walmart as the recent book 'The People's Republic of Walmart' clarified, which is, in a way, a development of the previous socialist attempts to plan, anticipate, and potentially to direct the market, like Cybersyn, administratively. We are often left in a pure negation, which is insufficiently dialectical. We have to see beyond this for a more positive politics, which doesn't just land in nostalgia for what generated the present moment.

Finally a marxist video talking about this.

This is an excellent example that I think many people could understand, even if it is not perfectly applicable to the material relations of the real world. I hear way more people in my day-to0day life talk about "The Algorithm" and the alienation of online content creation than of the market and the real world. This may be because the internet is much newer/more novel and doesn't seem as omnipresent/omnipotent as the market, _and_ is still more controllable by the global proletariat than the global market (though not nearly enough-- capitalists certainly have a very strong hold on much of the internet, unfortunately). Great video.

Ive searched far and wide, I can't find any good videos on the "Sino Soviet Split" on any Marxist/Communist RU-vid channels. You should do one, please?!

The algorithm is definitely a source of alienation but I feel like the role of commodifying RU-vid has played a larger role in many ways. The 'careerification' of youtube definitely drove creators to enslave themselves to the algorithm and create videos for clicks and views instead of producing something personally fulfilling to them for it's own sake.

I have published two videos on this topic if anyone would like to hear (about an hours worth) of how it feels directly from an artist's point of view (in particular one who tried to "re join" the "artist workforce" in 2020). I also discuss Patreon. I do not normally advertise but the video speaks to me and I'm so happy to see further discussion of it. Thanks for the video 😮‍💨💗 I also come from a disabled point of view and uhhh the algorithms are basically doing soft eugenics via economic sorting based on ethno nationalist values as a direct result of policy (imbalanced policy application, prefers media conglomerates and those with connections/cash/social capital), algorithmic suppression, and social stigma

Hi man, good to see you still well. Nice video 👍!

Thank you so much for making this video! Recently I have become kinda obsessive about prefacing our need to conduct this exact kind if analysis! It needs to be done for other platforms too! For me the reasons for this are twofold: 1. This content makes Marxism relatable and understandable to modern and online audiences. Which of course increases class consciousness. 2. I feel if anything our lack of or lack of mass proliferation of such information is in a way hindering Marxist organisation. I personally have thought that the only way to solve the current predicament is a more radical solution and that is for Marxists to create our own social platform. Which isn't just a clone of already existing platforms like Lemmygrad to Reddit, or ProleWiki to Wikipedia... (These are fine of course) But a new platform designed specifically with the intention of consolidating online theory into one place where it can mingle without... Alienation from each other. These discussions are happening all in tiby microcosms all around the internet. Sure if you go looking for it you will find it but the problem is in a way... Social platforms are alienated from each other with vastly different cultures and protocols, user interfaces and etc. The problem of all of this is that each of these social platforms are marketised and all of these works are in microcosms being viewed by only a microscopic amount of viewers... Because most others even interested parties are having their time sucked off into more neurochemically satasfatory content. Increasing alienation... Why does this mean Marxists need our own social platform? Because we have a lot to analyse but if we create a giant discussion space instead if being fragmented and hidden from each other we would have a space solely dedicated to our needs. With features intentionally designed to encourage users to collaborate and theorycraft and share news and information. In a way and form which really brings out the democratising elements of the internet without alienation and marketisation. How would such a thing come into existence? Thats why we need more analysis of other platforms. We need historical analysis to see what social platforms work and what ones don't. I would think that this would need a two pronged strategy. Much like the early internet this could be set up as a means for parties to communicate. Call it a new internationale even if you are especially into that. It would be an interparty dialogue which is run on infrastructure maintained by parties. This could be done via blockchain. The second prong on this after the infrastructure is established and being tested and utilised... Then we utilise the power of social media. Marxist content creators could put out a combined statement endorsing and encourage viewers to check it out. In essence popularising it. With the infrastructure already set up, and all of the testing done before hand, this stage of testing would be public testing. Sign up may require some kind of system to prevent bots and stuff. Bit that should be tested before hand. This would require some formal connection and consolidation of will on the part of content creatirs of various platforms. But the rewards for doing so would help make our propaganda more efficient and our theory more interconnected and seem more legitimate in the online space. Now, some may be skeptical that Marxists have the capacity to do this. But I posit this response to detractors... If we can't even organise a social platform, what chance do we have at organising a social revolution? We don't need more discord servers... We need to consolidate what we have and fully make use of our potential! I will continue doing what I can to argue this position because this is how we must adapt to the conditions of the 21st century. The internet is both superstructure and economic base. It may not take a physical form but it's power over reality is often understated. We cannot ignore this any longer.

This was an amazing analysis, I have a question though. Would people say that the problem is the actual monetisation of youtube? Does this mean that content creators should not be paid for putting in the time to create good videos? For many youtubers, releasing content regularly takes more time than a full time job. What are your thoughts on the socialist way to go about this?

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Excellent analysis! Love it! ❤

Topical! Good job!

masterpiece video. I would love more vids on alienation.

Excelent work! Leaving my clouth token here. Cheers!

The project continues...

Thank you

The RU-vid algorithm has gotten worse and worse over time. All I ever see on my feed is BS. You have to really go looking for the interesting stuff.

Awesome 😊

Instalike. Excellent content, as always.

i got here right on time

Great!

One question that comes to mind is whether it is possible to create an algorithm that is actually beneficial to creators and viewers. What such an algorithm would look like, if it is possible? 🤔

Hello, interesting vid. Could you tell more about forms of bourgeoisie dictatorship and who's fascist out there?

banger

This reminds me of cybernetic socialism, where a algorithm or a set of computers replace the law of value in capitalist society and become aa subjectified object, guiding the direction of social production.

All the more reason to vote socialist 2024

I've noticed this. I'm a pain in the a$$ of the RU-vid algorithm 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I watch only what i want. I search what i want and learn about what i want. This channel is a prime example of a good quality content. I can learn without much effort.

discord link plz

That's why i keep seeing alt right content despite never asking for them

The algorithm is garbage.

Ironically I feel like the algo killed the views on this video

In my opinion the algorithm it's not that similar to the capitalism, if you don't like what it's showing you, you can stop using it and start checking the subscriptions menu and check for interesting videos. If people don't like the changes in the algorithm and keep using the same way, I think that the problem it's mainly the people and the educative system

Capital subsumed YT which was never anything but a capitalist venture. Shocker! How about capital subsuming Communism itself, or at least its shell, by some content creators? That's way funnier. Those who make a living off the "read theory", "USSR memorabilia", books, speeches and fake debates. Much harder to identify and isolate from the genuine articles.

Make a video explaining the intrecacies of the Holodomor.

Like and all that.

I mean, if you want to make profit from your videos then you will have to produce stuff that people want to watch. But the algoritm is kinda stupid idea bc there is no way it can predict what I wish to watch next, just bc I watch commie videos very often it doesn't mean I want my feed to be filled with them.

im exchanging my attention for your content. Let us consider attention power, the abstractified ability to give attention.

I control the algorithm by clicking on "Not interested" or "Do not show this channel again" on recommendations I don't like.

@cj cala did this 2 years ago better ;p

Nothing anti american is allowed on youtube Try searching it

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