Depends what kind of stuff you are trying to learn. If it's tech related, then you probably want text docs. Most of the stuff I want to learn about is physical like cooking or crafts which make video content vastly superior.

It's also not realistically possible to auto generate spam video content like you can for blog posts.

> It's also not realistically possible to auto generate spam video content like you can for blog posts.

It definitely is. If you look for videos just a bit longer then 10 minutes (something to do with YouTube recommendation algorithm) you will notice how much unnatural en spammy conversation and “information” is being told (backed by meme or stock images or just a talking head) before getting to the point of the video (which often is barely 1min of content). Sure it takes more time to actually speak the text and edit the video. But it really feels like generated garbage to fill time which can be easily churned out. Now with the dawn of AI I can only image this getting worse and worse.

Ugh I hate the "obviously padding time with rambling to meet X minutes long" where X = some arbitrary number the YouTube algorithm is prioritizing this quarter. Some things are worth a deep dive with pitfalls laid out in a methodical way. Most things are not.

> X = some arbitrary number the YouTube algorithm is prioritizing

This thing about video length is mostly a myth. "The algorithm" juggles many variables but I've seen no evidence content length is one of them.

There was a very common pattern of rambling to meet the 10m mark because this was a threshold to add a midroll ad to your video and thus make more money.

So your point still applies, it's just purely out of creator greed and not chasing youtube's heuristics.

I believe creators get paid by watch time, so they are incentivised to make videos as long as possible

If the algorithm preferred long videos, you'd be better off with one 10m video as opposed to two 5m videos as it would be pushed harder. Whereas if it was agnostic to video length, the latter would be OK.

Regardless, you're correct that watch time may be a motivating factor in making them stretch content longer than it needs to be though. I don't think they get paid for watch time (it's all about ad impressions or CPMs) but it would positively impact their channel statistics.

Ah you're right. There was a change a while ago that did seem to favour creators that made longer videos over shorter ones, but it's not as cut and dry as watch time = more money

Just skip to the main part of the video and watch on 2x then.

Because not all content creators pad their videos. They often provide links to documentation. You can easily skip through the video and you have the option to watch them on 2x speed which is what I often do.

Beggars can't be choosers.

I don't want, too. but author can get more money.