Breaking the Algorithm

An occasional list of my fav well-known, underrated and feel-good videos to defeat the slop of the modern algorithm

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Breaking the Algorithm #2 - Technology, Life Itself, 'Motivational' Speaking

BIG VIDEO

Drew Gooden's Technology isn't fun anymore is a video in a chunk of new videos from Drew where he sits and talks about the things we're all thinking about the modern world for 30 minutes, and this is a really good one to start with. It's an entertaining, realistic view of what our world looks like now and the direction its going that's perfect to watch in the background of just about anything. A good reminder of just how different things have gotten, and just how much the excitement for new tech rollouts has slowed down as its started to seem like we've 'done it all'.

INDIE VIBES VIDEO

Then Next Comes is my absolute favourite exurb1a poem. His poetry has a magic to it, a good mix of genuinely funny, dry humour, and stories that will really make you feel something, and give you a whole new perspective. This video in particular has a spark to it that I can't quite describe, but I cannot recommend it enough. Its outlook is life-changing and its delivery a complete work of art.

FUNSIES VIDEO

An Interview with a Very Important Motivational Speaker is Zac Oyama's first appearance on Dropout's Very Important People series, which is my personal favourite Dropout series. While I can't recommend getting a Dropout subscription enough, this is a great one to watch for free. Zac's character, Tommy Shriggly, is improvised so well, and his life stories and deliveries are absolutely hilarious. Very Important People is such a good show that will always crack a good laugh out of me, with host Vic Michaelis' characterisation and the variety of wild improv characters she's forced to face, and Tommy Shriggly is a great introduction.

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Breaking the Algorithm #1 - Plagiarism, GeoCities, SpongeBob Makeup

BIG TIME VIDEO:

Plagiarism and You(Tube) by Hbomberguy is a video I’ve watched countless times. A wonderfully crafted and edited, and most importantly human piece about the direction of modern (social) media with a perfect sense of humour that really allows you to follow Harris on his complete four hour downward spiral. Watch as he loses his mind over the sheer audacity of some of the money-makers on the platform, with an important message tied in throughout and a twist that sends the latter half of the video into a complete other dimension.

INDIE VIBES VIDEO:

The Internet Used to Be a Place, created by Sarah Davis Baker with 23.3k subscribers, is an immersive homage to the 90s internet that truly puts you into that room with the family computer — before it’s time to log off and move on. Sarah encapsulates that feeling, how it thrived, and how it died with unmatched elegance that leaves someone too young to remember (like myself) in complete awe at what once was. She demonstrates just how much replacing the door between you and the internet with the ‘infinite scroll’ changed the entire scope of the internet, leaving you wishing that door would come back.

FUNSIES VIDEO:

doing horrible Spongebob makeup with Trixie Mattel perfectly encapsulates the feel-good Brittany Broski vibe — my go-to vibe when I just need to sit there and be unproductive. No matter how many times I watch this video it will still make me cackle like an idiot every time. Their dynamic is so funny to watch each time they’re together and their witty back-and-forth deprecations of each other and themselves will never not crack me up.