# Facebook Reels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576 "2025-01-05T04:48:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/21 "2025-01-05T23:42:44Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > How else am I going to get my fill of sloth, capybara and Cavalier King Charles spaniel videos? I think that _all_ Reels should have the Capybara song in the background. _Capy_bara. Capybara capybara capybara capybara _capy_bara. Capybara! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/22 "2025-01-06T00:41:13Z")
I am one that refuses to watch them. I can’t figure how watching them helps FB, but it must, so I won’t. I find it really annoying that you as a user can’t block them. I AM NOT INTERESTED, FB! Since i don;t do much on FB, its algorithm defaults to “male” so they used to be all scantiy clad buxom females (and all the “people you may know” were obvious Russian sex workers.). But, to my shame, I did watch one with a model railroad. now EVERY REEL is about model trains. Stupid algorithm! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/23 "2025-01-06T01:04:09Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But, to my shame, I did watch one with a model railroad. now EVERY REEL is about model trains. Stupid algorithm! Just like with youtube, if you want to watch something without it affecting what it shows you, use a private window. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/24 "2025-01-06T01:08:46Z")
I click on Reels where people grind vases made of colored pencils and plastic, or pour aluminum into sand molds. Then that’s what I get, not buxom anyone. An occasional click keeps these choices active and drastically decreases the stupid and offensive ones in my feed. I may switch to just clicking maps of Gondwana and Pangaea. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/25 "2025-01-06T01:15:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I can’t figure how watching them helps FB, but it must My understanding is that FB makes money through the ads that appear on Reels. And, if they can get people accustomed to scrolling through Reel after Reel, that’s more ads, and more money. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/26 "2025-01-06T01:23:18Z")
I hate Facebook reels. The ones I see seem to be mostly a mix of clickbaity stories, stuff I’m not interested in, gross stuff, and AI crap. My friend said there’s an app called WallHabit that can help with that, though I haven’t checked it out. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/27 "2025-01-06T01:32:42Z")
The Reels I see are home fixit tips, Amazon products I supposedly can’t live without, and cute cats. I feel like I’m missing one - I’m sure FB will remind me. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/28 "2025-01-06T03:35:38Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > My friend said there’s an app called WallHabit that can help with that, though I haven’t checked it out. Interesting. I just did briefly. It says it’s designed to help you break time-wasting habits by putting distractions behind a wall that you have to solve a challenge to unlock. You choose the distractions you want to block. It says it can block Reels (among other things) by putting them behind this wall. I’m going to dig further, this could be very useful. edited to add: rats, it’s for Android phones, not for computers. Makes sense, there’s where the action is, but it doesn’t do me any good. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/29 "2025-01-06T15:07:56Z")
You guys getting hot chix and clickbait…the algorithm is telling on you! For some reason FB decided I like cake decorating, furniture restoration and extreme hair makeovers. I finally started clicking on them and that’s all I get. I think it’s kind of funny, as I have no real interest in those things, but they are interesting videos to watch. Facebook is mighty pleased with itself. I definitely avoided them for a long time and am kind of horrified at myself for watching them but it could be worse, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/30 "2025-01-06T15:25:54Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You guys getting hot chix and clickbait…the algorithm is telling on you! FB algorithm is on drugs. It spent three months convinced that I really wanted to see vintage Beetle Bailey comic strips. Also, there’s a weirdly high number of groups out there feeding them to people. Worse was a week ago when I fired up my Meta Oculus VR thingie for the first time in forever. It suggested a few people I should connect with. Most were people from my friends list and one was a young woman I didn’t recognize. I sort of thought I knew the last name from an out-of-state friend and assumed he had given his daughter the device. But I looked and, no, wrong name and this was just some high school girl two towns over with no shared friends and no connection to me at all. Pretty sure she doesn’t need some rando middle-aged guy hitting her up to play Beat Saber with me. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/31 "2025-01-06T15:53:25Z")
My main problem with reels is the choice of volume settings: either _ **LOUD** _ or 🔇. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/32 "2025-01-06T17:04:17Z")
Lately Facebook’s algorithm has been recommending posts from a group called the Dull Men’s Club. I’m not sure if I should feel insulted by that. As for Facebook Reels, mine are mostly videos of trains and classic cars. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/33 "2025-01-06T17:06:32Z")
Dull Men’s Club is a good companion to SDMB. I enjoy most of the posts. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/34 "2025-01-06T18:43:02Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You guys getting hot chix and clickbait…the algorithm is telling on you! > > For some reason FB decided I like cake decorating, furniture restoration and extreme hair makeovers. I finally started clicking on them and that’s all I get. > > I think it’s kind of funny, as I have no real interest in those things, but they are interesting videos to watch. Facebook is mighty pleased with itself. > > I definitely avoided them for a long time and am kind of horrified at myself for watching them but it could be worse, I guess. Facebook decided I need more dachshund, golden retriever, baby and Graham Norton clips. I’m not complaining. For some reason it also wants me to watch _Grey’s Anatomy_ clips. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/35 "2025-01-06T19:13:18Z")
I get cats, capyberas, TV bloopers, things being crushed in a hydrolic press, things being burned by a red-hot copper ball… I’m not complaining. > **[1K views · 19K reactions | Almost seems like how "life" be toying with me...](https://www.facebook.com/share/r/185uRH3W6u/?mibextid=D5vuiz)** > > Almost seems like how "life" be toying with me some days 🤣🤣🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤣🤣😹😹. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/36 "2025-01-06T20:01:43Z")
Take out the capybaras and substitute “Friends” clips, and that’s what I get. I also occasionally get QI and some British talk show. It introduced me to Lateral, so I’m happy ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/37 "2025-01-06T22:08:13Z")
One thing I just noticed is, you can’t hover over them to see what they are about. Not even a title. Nor even how long they are. I fond that to be another negative. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/38 "2025-01-08T15:10:48Z")
Today I was reminded me of the OTHER option Facebook gives me for Reels: Reddit glurge cropped so you have to click it to find out the shocking twist. _My sister was getting married to a guy we all hated. At the wedding, when the priest asked for objections, my mother stood up. That’s when my sister got a cruel look and said…_ No, I’m not going to click on that to see the rest of the made-up clickbait story. At least the Pretty Girl Reels put a pretty girl on my screen as I scroll past. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/39 "2025-01-08T16:33:30Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Today I was reminded me of the OTHER option Facebook gives me for Reels: Reddit glurge cropped so you have to click it to find out the shocking twist. > > _My sister was getting married to a guy we all hated. At the wedding, when the priest asked for objections, my mother stood up. That’s when my sister got a cruel look and said…_ > > No, I’m not going to click on that to see the rest of the made-up clickbait story. At least the Pretty Girl Reels put a pretty girl on my screen as I scroll past. There is a guy on social media named timesaver9000 who watches long clickbaity videos and gives a one or two sentence recap so you don’t have to watch. Good gimmick. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576/40 "2025-01-08T16:34:24Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Take out the capybaras and substitute “Friends” clips, and that’s what I get. I also occasionally get QI and some British talk show. > > It introduced me to Lateral, so I’m happy I used to get a lot of clips of British panel shows. Now I don’t. No idea what changed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-reels/1012576.md?page=3)