The Cyberpunk Hell of React Content
We're making it easier for algorithms to feed us simulacrum, if we're not there already
Today, we're diving into the next layer down of the cyberpunk hellscape we find ourselves living in and taking a closer look at a concerning trend that's been brewing under the radar—the complex issue of content freebooting.
In the midst of theSSSniperwolf and Jacksfilms controversy, a new type of freebooting has surfaced: enter channels like @nxs.9x.office, seemingly fan pages of creators like Adam Rose, but with a dubious twist.
Adam Rose is an actor-comedian hyphenate who rose to internet popularity by making deadpan reacts to bizarre social and fail video clips. His modus operandi is to paste a clip of himself green-screened into the context of the clip that he’s reacting to. That alone brings up the ethical question of whether it’s right that he takes content that isn’t his, barely adds any new creativity to it, and garners all the following and most likely revenue from it.
But today’s next layer of hell goes a bit deeper. Here are two videos to consider:
Original Adam Rose Video
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@nxs.9x.office Version
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Channels like @nxs.9x.office compile (read: steal) construction fail videos, seemingly unrelated to Adam Rose, and intercut his reactions to accompany these clips (most likely also stolen), presenting them as original content. If you happen to stumble upon these videos, you might assume Adam is genuinely reacting to these construction fails. However, upon closer inspection, it's evident that the same reactions are reused across multiple videos, creating a misleading narrative.
What's particularly concerning is the lack of awareness among users. Comments primarily focus on the fails themselves, with seemingly no reactions about the recycled content or the misuse of the creator's reactions. And it’s far from just one user doing this:
https://www.tiktok.com/@respect.adam6
https://www.tiktok.com/@roseconstruction
https://www.tiktok.com/@bingfan.realadamrose
https://www.tiktok.com/@misswdvt
This type of freebooting, although generating seemingly new content by making apparently new video-reaction combinations, raises serious ethical questions. We used to debate if making reaction videos was original enough to not be ripping off the creator whose content was being reacted to, to now which has devolved into fake reaction content. Tomorrow, you really could just have an AI algorithm spit out a “fail video” + “react clip” combo into the end of time. What genuine content will be left?
With the frequency of posts (often daily) and substantial viewership (averaging 1M views per video), these channels likely profit from ad revenue, all while potentially infringing on creators' rights. Moreover, this format's simplicity suggests that it could be replicated with any content creator, amplifying the risk of further misappropriation within the platform.
As a community, it's crucial to be vigilant about content ethics and copyright, especially when the boundaries of fair use and freebooting blur. If unaddressed, it could discourage creators from sharing genuine reactions, impacting the creative environment across social media platforms.
Stay tuned for more insights and discussions on the evolving facets of digital content. Until next time, let’s do our best to stay sane in the AI dominated hellhole the internet is becoming!