TikTok users who dislike the competing service YouTube Shorts are organizing a campaign to flood Shorts with so-called brain rot content. The peak of the campaign to «colonize» YouTube Shorts is scheduled for March 25.
TikTok users who dislike the competing service YouTube Shorts are organizing a campaign to flood Shorts with so-called brain rot content. The peak of the campaign to «colonize» YouTube Shorts is scheduled for March 25.
As TikTok has faced restrictions and litigation in the United States, YouTube has become more popular than ever as a potential alternative for content creators hoping to expand their operations in the event of the app being banned.
Meanwhile, YouTube is making significant efforts to promote its short videos to TikTok’s audience, and has even created a dedicated tab in the app for scrolling Shorts, similar to TikTok’s For You Page.
But TikTok users aren’t convinced that Shorts can compete, Dexerto reports. What’s more, they’ve decided to organize a campaign to draw attention to the numerous bots and AI-generated comments that TikTokers say are flooding YouTube Shorts.
According to TikToker privden2, YouTube Shorts is «filled with horrible videos and dead internet theory kids,» as well as «dead memes from months ago.»
«We can change that. We can turn YouTube Shorts into a really good platform. The first thing we have to do is make YouTube Shorts silly again. We just need to infuse YouTube Shorts with relevant brainstorming, and then eventually everyone will pick up on it», — he said.
Brainrot literally translates as «brain rot» — it is a colloquial term to describe internet content that is of low quality or value, or causes a negative psychological impact.
It can serve as a way to relieve the brain and relax, but excessive consumption can lead to decreased concentration and a habit of superficial perception of information.
Many users have responded to this call; the YouTube Shorts campaign is gaining followers and generating numerous memes. The so-called «colonization» of the platform is scheduled for March 25, when TikTokers plan to fill YouTube Shorts with a stream of low-quality videos. The first of them, with appropriate titles and hashtags, are already starting to appear on the platform, which is causing criticism from YouTube Shorts users.
@cevapi I want YOU for ts TikTok army #fyp #youtubeshorts #youtubeshortscolonization#funny #tiktokarmy ♬ original sound — cevapi
«TikTok is acting like 50% of its content isn’t AI anymore,» one wrote. «You’re saying it like YouTube Shorts isn’t completely stolen TikTok content,» another replied.
This isn’t the first time TikTok users have banded together for a common cause: in May 2023, users of the app attempted to make YouTube star MrBeast the most popular creator on TikTok. And while they failed, he currently ranks 3rd in the rankings.
Previously, the famous author of memes that saved Ukrainians from the first days of the war and which are already being shared by the hundreds on social networks, Dima Kovalenko, shared his attitude towards TikTok, and also told which social network, in his opinion, is the freest for spreading memes.
«I want TikTok to be shut down, it’s a dump,» he said. In his opinion, 90% of the content posted on the social network is «stupid challenges,» often very dangerous, which end up in hospitals for children.
Recently, a representative of the Information Security Department of the SBU, Oleksandr Melnychenko, stated that TikTok is being actively used by attackers to disrupt mobilization in Ukraine. He noted that communication has already been established with representatives of the social network, in particular, through the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.
