The extension that will banish ‘YouTube face’ from your browser

Have you ever really examined YouTube thumbnails? They're strangely intense.

Someone discovered that videos with human faces, especially those showing strong emotions, get more clicks. This led to a proliferation of such thumbnails, creating a feedback loop where more clicks encouraged more intense expressions. This evolved into what's now known as "YouTube Face." You've seen it, even if you don't know the term. MrBeast is a prime example:

Imagine that expression on public transport! Joel Veix of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art aptly described YouTube Face as "clickbait in human form." These thumbnails exploit our subconscious attraction to faces, enticing clicks on videos we might otherwise ignore.

Feeling overwhelmed? A free browser extension, DeArrow, offers a solution. It replaces YouTube thumbnails with video stills and removes excessive capitalization from titles, creating a calmer viewing experience. Here's how the same MrBeast videos look with DeArrow:

DeArrow works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera (and other browsers supporting Chrome extensions). Just install it; no configuration is needed.

However, customization options are available. Right-click the extension icon and select "Settings."

You can disable thumbnail or title replacements, or adjust title capitalization (Title Case or Sentence Case – Sentence Case is recommended for a calmer feel). A "Channel Allowlist" lets you keep original thumbnails and titles for specific channels.

After using DeArrow for a couple of weeks, I've noticed a significant reduction in wasted YouTube time. Fewer eye-catching thumbnails mean I'm more likely to leave after watching my intended video. While this might not benefit YouTube's bottom line, it's greatly improved my productivity.

[Related: 3 ways to avoid falling down a YouTube rabbit hole]

YouTube Face highlights how algorithms can distort human behavior. It started subtly a decade ago, but gradually escalated. The strange part is the widespread acceptance. The algorithm demands distorted expressions, and users comply. As DeArrow's website states: "It's no one's fault. It's a system that creates a race to the bottom." DeArrow helps us climb out.

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