Does a high view count mean a video is good?

Quick answer

The claim: zero or low view videos are some of the best on YouTube. No clickbait thumbnails, no padding, just people who care.

A reply pushed back: most low-view videos are bad, and you only remember the gems. Both have a point.

What 125x is: 125x is a web app at 125x.app. You connect your YouTube subscriptions, and it gives you a feed of the latest videos from the channels you follow, each with a summary: a verdict, the 5 key takeaways, and the spoiler, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips. You read that and decide what's actually worth opening.

Open 125x

What studies found

In a study of physics explainer videos, views and likes were only weakly linked to how well a video explained the topic. The number of on-topic comments was a better signal.
In a 2026 study of nearly 4,000 health videos, more clickbait went with more daily views and lower information quality.

Why views mislead

Thumbnails and titles drive clicks.
Big channels get views on everything they post.
Older videos have had more time to collect views.

Better signals

Comments that discuss the content itself.
A clear title that matches what the video covers.
Chapters that show the structure.
See is this video worth watching.

FAQ: questions people ask

Do more views mean a better video?

Not reliably. Studies found views only weakly tracked explaining quality.

How can I tell if a tutorial is good before watching?

Check on-topic comments, chapters, and whether the title matches the content.

Are small YouTube channels better?

Some are excellent and get to the point fast. Many aren't. Judge each video.