> Everyone who consumes these systems has the same thoughts.

Do they?

From what I can tell most people using these apps seem pretty fine with having their algorithm determine everything they consume. You must remember, a majority of US teenagers went out of their way to download TikTok, before short-form content was forced into the existing platforms.

I think we can boil this down to a single question: If tomorrow, YouTube offered a toggle to all users to completely remove shorts from every feed in the app, what would most people do?

I think many here on HN would immediately choose to disable shorts. But what about the majority? Would they disable?

I think the answer is so obviously no. Despite all the disdain and regard for short form content as slop by the mainstream themselves.

I think your viewpoint is the correct default opinion to have. It prevents belittling thy neighbor & delusions of grandeur. But at a certain point you have to drop the optimism. These platforms do work for the masses. Unfortunately.