[hanbura]

This was a big problem on YouTube too. Their solution wasn't to find a better thumbnail, but to change the incentives. Basically they now promote videos based on minutes watched instead of clicks (also factoring in subsequent videos watched). If the thumbnail is misleading many users will quickly stop watching, leading YouTube to stop suggesting the video.

YouTube now even allows uploaders to upload any preview image. The result are attention grabbing and sensationalising, but rarely outright misleading

[pishpash]

They should have never done that, and instead worked on better video summarization.