Hey there! Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today, I want to talk about something important that my friend’s dad mentioned: “It’s important to not lose your voice.” At first, it might sound simple, but it has a deeper meaning. In today’s world, where we create and share so much content online, it’s easy to lose sight of who we really are.
Every content creator faces a big question: Should I make videos that truly reflect who I am, or should I change them to get more views? I recently looked at all my Smarter Every Day episodes, comparing how long they are and when I uploaded them. Each video is like a special memory for me. I noticed that my early videos were more about my curiosity, but over time, they’ve become more polished.
Interestingly, shorter videos don’t seem to do as well because watch time is important for the algorithm. The easy choice would be to make my videos longer to get more attention, but I’ve decided not to do that. I want to keep my true voice and not let outside pressures change my content.
These videos are like my memories. If we start changing our lives based on what we think will get the most likes or views, we might lose our authenticity. This is especially important for future generations to understand.
I recently read about the restoration of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which has been ongoing since it was completed in 1345. After the fire in 2019, a lot of money was raised for its restoration. Some articles criticized the plans to change the cathedral to suit modern tourists. While I respect the decisions of the Catholic Church, I think the desire to change something so historic is similar to the pressure I feel to change my content for better reception.
It’s crucial to remember who you are and not change yourself just to please others. This idea connects to my growing appreciation for physical objects, like a box of slides from Paris in the 1960s. These items represent a time and place that can’t be changed or edited.
I talked with Mathieu Stern, a photographer in Paris, about capturing memories. I showed him some glass plate negatives I found, and he helped identify the locations and significance of the images. We discussed how these negatives capture incredible detail and the humanity of moments that can’t be replicated today.
As we explored these ideas, we realized the importance of preserving memories and understanding our voices in a world that often pressures us to conform. This discussion led us to think about how we can recreate historical moments and what they mean for our understanding of the past.
Ultimately, it’s about capturing the essence of experiences and sharing them authentically. I appreciate you joining me on this journey, and I hope you find value in preserving your own voice and memories.
This episode is sponsored by Raycon, which offers high-quality earbuds at an affordable price. They provide great sound quality and comfort, making them a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enhance their audio experience.
Thank you for supporting the channel, and if you enjoyed this video, consider checking out the rest of the content. A special thanks to my patrons for making this possible. I’m Destin, and I hope you continue to get smarter every day. Have a great one!
Think about a topic that you are passionate about and create a short video (under 60 seconds) that reflects your true self. Focus on authenticity rather than trying to appeal to a wide audience. Share your video with the class and discuss the challenges and rewards of staying true to your voice.
Watch a selection of YouTube videos from different creators. Identify elements that seem authentic and those that appear to be influenced by trends or audience expectations. Discuss with your classmates how these elements affect your perception of the content and the creator.
Choose a personal memory or moment that is important to you. Create a physical or digital representation of this memory, such as a scrapbook page, a photo collage, or a digital story. Present your project to the class and explain why preserving this memory is significant to you.
Engage in a classroom debate about the restoration of historical sites like the Notre-Dame Cathedral. One side will argue for modernization to attract tourists, while the other will argue for preserving the original design. Use examples from the article to support your arguments.
Reach out to a local content creator or someone you know who creates online content. Conduct an interview to learn about their experiences with maintaining authenticity while facing external pressures. Share your findings with the class and discuss how their insights relate to the concepts in the article.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, it’s me, Dustin. Welcome back to Smarter Every Day! Today, I want to share something that my friend’s dad said recently: “It’s important to not lose your voice.” It sounds simple, but it carries a lot of depth. He wasn’t talking about being silenced; he meant that in today’s internet age, where we create and share content, it’s easy to forget who we truly are.
Every content creator faces this dilemma: when making a video, do I create something that genuinely reflects my voice, or do I give in to the temptation to alter it for better performance? Recently, I graphed every Smarter Every Day episode, comparing video length to upload dates. Each bubble on the graph represents a significant moment for me, and I noticed that while my early videos were more about my curiosity, they’ve become more polished over time.
Interestingly, I’ve observed that shorter videos tend to perform worse, likely due to watch time being a key factor in the algorithm. The obvious choice would be to extend my videos to gain algorithmic favor, but I’ve chosen not to do that. I want to maintain my voice and not let external pressures dictate my content.
These videos are my memories, and if we curate our lives based on what we think will get the most likes or views, we risk losing our authenticity. This is especially important for future generations.
I recently read about the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which has been ongoing since its completion in 1345. After the fire in 2019, there was a significant amount of money raised for its restoration. Many articles criticized the plans to modify the cathedral to accommodate modern tourists. While I respect the decisions of the Catholic Church regarding their cathedral, I find the desire to change something so historic to be similar to the pressure I feel to alter my content for better reception.
It’s crucial to remember who you are and not modify yourself to please others. This ties into my growing appreciation for physical objects, like a box of slides from Paris in the 1960s. These tangible items represent a time and place that can’t be altered or edited.
I had a conversation with Mathieu Stern, a photographer in Paris, about capturing memories. I showed him some glass plate negatives I acquired, and he helped identify the locations and significance of the images. We discussed how these negatives capture incredible detail and the humanity of moments that can’t be replicated today.
As we explored these themes, we realized the importance of preserving memories and understanding our voices in a world that often pressures us to conform. This discussion led us to consider how we can recreate historical moments and what they mean for our understanding of the past.
Ultimately, it’s about capturing the essence of experiences and sharing them authentically. I appreciate you joining me on this journey, and I hope you find value in preserving your own voice and memories.
This episode is sponsored by Raycon, which offers high-quality earbuds at an affordable price. They provide great sound quality and comfort, making them a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enhance their audio experience.
Thank you for supporting the channel, and if you enjoyed this video, consider checking out the rest of the content. A special thanks to my patrons for making this possible. I’m Destin, and I hope you continue to get smarter every day. Have a great one!
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This version maintains the core message while removing any unnecessary or informal language.
Content – The information or topics that are contained in a book, document, or speech. – The content of the history textbook includes detailed chapters on ancient civilizations.
Authenticity – The quality of being genuine or real. – Historians often verify the authenticity of documents to ensure they are studying accurate sources.
Memories – The mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, or impressions. – The museum’s exhibits helped students create vivid memories of historical events.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the causes and effects of the American Revolution.
Videos – Recordings of moving visual images made digitally or on videotape. – The teacher showed videos of historical reenactments to make the lesson more engaging.
Pressure – The use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone do something. – There was significant pressure on the government to change its policies during the civil rights movement.
Restoration – The action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition. – The restoration of the ancient castle took several years to complete.
Cathedral – A large and important church that is the central church of a diocese. – The cathedral in the city center is known for its stunning Gothic architecture.
Understanding – The ability to comprehend or grasp the meaning of something. – A deep understanding of history helps us learn from past mistakes.
Voice – The sound produced in a person’s larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song. – Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice was powerful in advocating for civil rights.