But these videos are just the latest news in the pitfalls that a brand as massive as Buzzfeed has and will continue to fall for. Here’s a quick, non-comprehensive rundown: Reddit user TheKoG posted a warning to others about the event on January 2013, according to Petapixel. The user mentioned his conversation with the site’s CFO: Photographer Dan Catt’s photo went viral before he knew it was being used in a listicle, he explained to Slate: USC film student Savannah Hemmig submitted a short film about her struggles with depression to Buzzfeed as a summer internship application, and found a similar one online later. She posted examples of the similarities to her blog, finishing with this thought: So will any of those 4 million possible click-throughs count as views on my Flickr page? No. Will they see the other photos on either side of my photo in context, the tags used, the sets I’ve put it in? The description, notes on the photo, and comments added to the page, even my icon and details about me? Nope.” From Gawker in 2012: Here’s the recent news, from YouTuber Akilah Hughes. She outlines several more examples, but her comparison of her video “How to Be an Introvert” with BuzzFeed’s “A Perfect Weekend for Introverts” is particularly convincing: Hughes started a petition to address the problem, saying that “the era of BuzzFeed thriving on the backs of uncompensated, young talent is over.” But the worst is yet to come: This isn’t parody. This isn’t homage. This isn’t a coincidence. This is a deliberate initiative on BuzzFeed’s behalf to undermine the hard work of independent comedians, creators, and innovators in the online space.”
— J. Kenji López-Alt (@TheFoodLab) July 4, 2016
— J. Kenji López-Alt (@TheFoodLab) July 4, 2016
— J. Kenji López-Alt (@TheFoodLab) July 4, 2016 Stealing a butter garlic steak technique? That’s low, BuzzFeed. That’s low.
