Youtube Manipulates Stats of Videos, Technical Problems, or Incompetence?

Recently there has been widespread complaints throughout the youtube community by its users that videos are not recording view counts properly.  Initially a counter glitch that would correct itself as views cached, the system would reload in a matter of hours.  However this is not the case anymore.  Today thousands of videos of regular youtubers-those who are not partners of youtube and have not monetized their accounts for ads-are receiving incorrect, artificially lower statistics on their videos. 

This is how it happens.  Regular youtubers upload their videos, their viewer count gets to somewhere around 300 views and then it is stuck…FOR DAYS.  Viewers watching can “like” the video, and many times the like count will out-pace the view count.  Then when the view count reloads, it updates the count by a few hundred and is stuck again.

Why is this important?  It’s important because the statistical data for videos is what drives viewership.  If regular videos stats’ are skewed, then they cannot compete to be highlighted on certain channel categories. “Most Viewed” channels and videos are now called into question.  Oddly enough, those videos that make the “most viewed” areas are Youtube partners-it seems as if they are getting accurate service-I call that preferred service. 

Many might raise the argument, well, it’s Youtube’s broadcasting site they can do as they please.  Sure, they can do as they please however it is called YOUtube, and the expectation is that its basic functions are operating for all patrons equally.  A business that enjoys such patronage has an image of expectation to basic operating procedures that are fair and honest.  If the view counter is not accurately counting views, how does anyone know they are getting the “most viewed” video and not the video that has scored the ”most ad clicks”?

Once I witnessed someone belittled over the fact that they vote (in elections).  The response by the ridiculed voter resonates with me today.  It was this:  we all vote…we vote with our wallets, our time, our feet, and with our patronage.  If people are dissatisfied with the services of Youtube, maybe it’s time to seek out other video publishers. Vimeo, DailyMotion, there are several from which to choose. The main complaint seems to be that there is not enough traffic.  I would remind youtubers of the mass exodus from MySpace to Facebook.  People are not powerless-you vote with your participation!  Another complaint I hear is that  you have to pay a yearly subscription to get “preferred service”.  Maybe that’s true, but at least with those video publishers they are up front with their preferential treatment, and you know what you are getting. 

Established Youtuber Alex Jones explains what’s going on.