Probably something to do with YT algorithm and/or guidelines. YT definitely pushes certain length videos, not sure if it's 5 or 10min for example. Then youtubers min/max the algorithm so it becomes a trend.

This would be a perfect use for AI — summarise a video in a minute or two!

Don’t they get paid by time engaged.

It reminds me of padding out essays at school to meet the length requirement, which makes me feel bad.

Life is short, and in some ways these expanded essays are taking your most precious thing, time.

Is YouTube cold turkey a thing?

Ask gemini to summarize. Its pretty great actually, it gives you bullet points, each with a link to its timestamp

From my experience of working with YT influencers in tech/ software development: many of their audience do prefer watching longer videos on YT.

They go to tiktok/ instagram/ YT shorts to binge-watch short videos. And come to YT either to have learn something from longform content (e.g. deeper tutorials), or find the interesting parts on their own, or just to have something longer to run in the background. Most Youtubers worth their salt would have fairly impressive engagement on their longer videos.

Algorithm/ad tuning and for the sake of giving it a personality or creative mark to differentiate it. You know, how recipe sites ended up in a similar state.

Longer videos have longer watch time and so make more money. Essay style videos are an easy low effort way to make long form content. It’s really as simple as that.