[_xivi]

Well, cringe is subjective, especially when they've a different target audience. I can't blame them if it's working.

The fault here is on the platforms, they reward these practices, or maybe they just don't interfere and that content is really what drives people to interact with the content.

Either way, when you're playing a game, you reinforce what's working. When you watch your competitors eating your cake, unless you manage to come up with a strategy of your own, you end up going down that route sooner or later.

[bottled_poe]

Is there any data that this is “what’s working?”. Seems the most engaged are the least influential.

[_xivi]

Well, in my case, just some personal observation from competitors. I know that can be a bit biased but it's also real world.