Every week, our team watches dozens of hours of YouTube content. We dive into recommendation rabbit holes, explore niche channels, and constantly search for videos that truly deserve your attention. But how exactly do we decide what makes the cut?

The Reality of YouTube Today

Let's be honest: YouTube's recommendation algorithm is optimized for one thing—keeping you on the platform. That means it prioritizes videos with high click-through rates and long watch times, not necessarily the ones with the deepest insights or best storytelling.

"More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Finding quality content in that ocean is our job."

This creates a system where flashy thumbnails, sensational titles, and familiar faces dominate your homepage—while genuinely valuable content from smaller creators gets buried.

Our Curation Criteria

We've developed a rigorous set of criteria to evaluate every video we consider. Here's what we look for:

1. Depth Over Virality

We prioritize videos that explore topics with nuance and depth. A 45-minute documentary that changes your perspective is worth more than a 3-minute viral clip you'll forget in an hour.

We ask: Does this video teach me something new? Will I still remember this next week?

2. Originality and Insight

YouTube is full of copycat content—everyone covering the same topics in the same way. We seek out creators who bring unique perspectives, fresh research, or innovative storytelling techniques.

We ask: Is this saying something different? Does it challenge conventional thinking?

3. Production Quality (But Not Perfection)

Great content doesn't need a Hollywood budget. We value clear audio, thoughtful editing, and coherent storytelling—but we're not looking for perfect production. Some of the best videos we've featured were shot on smartphones.

We ask: Is the production quality good enough that it doesn't distract from the content?

4. Respect for Your Time

We hate padding and filler. If a video could have made its point in 10 minutes but stretches to 20 just to game the algorithm, it doesn't make our list.

We ask: Does this video respect the viewer's time? Is every minute justified?

5. Ethical and Factual Standards

We do our best to verify claims, check sources, and avoid recommending creators with problematic histories. While we can't fact-check everything, we prioritize creators who cite their sources and correct their mistakes.

The Process: How We Work

Here's what happens behind the scenes each week:

1. Discovery Phase (Monday-Tuesday): We explore YouTube using various search strategies, check recommendations from our community, and dive into niche topics.
2. Initial Screening (Wednesday): We create a long list of potential videos—usually 50-100 candidates for our 5-8 weekly picks.
3. Deep Evaluation (Thursday): We watch every candidate video fully, take notes, and discuss as a team.
4. Selection Meeting (Friday): We debate, argue, and ultimately choose the videos that make the cut.
5. Writing & Review (Weekend): We craft descriptions that capture why each video matters, without spoiling the experience.

Why We Say No to Most Videos

Even among good videos, we say no to about 99% of what we watch. Why? Because "good" isn't enough. We're looking for exceptional.

Common reasons we pass on videos:

• It's good, but similar videos have been featured recently
• The first half is great, but the second half loses focus
• It's well-made but doesn't offer anything new
• It's interesting to us personally but too niche for our broader audience
• The creator makes claims without adequate evidence

The Human Element

We believe curation requires human judgment. Algorithms can surface popular content, but they can't evaluate depth, originality, or ethical considerations. They can't recognize when a creator is exploiting their audience or spreading misinformation.

Every video in our newsletter is watched, evaluated, and selected by real people who care about quality content.

We're Always Learning

Our curation process isn't perfect, and it never will be. We miss great videos. We sometimes feature content that doesn't resonate with everyone. We're constantly refining our approach based on feedback and experience.

But we're committed to the mission: fighting clickbait, celebrating quality, and helping you discover YouTube content that's actually worth your time.

— The YouTube Highlights Team