title Factor

Starts with Formal Title

Whether the title begins with the politician's formal title — 'Rep.,' 'Sen.,' 'Congressman,' 'Governor.' This is a hallmark of official government channel style and signals institutional content.

Leading with a formal title tells the viewer 'this is official government content' before they even read the rest. On YouTube, that framing competes against creator content that leads with hooks. The formal title wastes the most valuable real estate in the title — the first few words.

Regular Videos
-26%
not significant · p = 0.152
Shorts
+10%
not significant · p = 0.710
Top 10% Video
-47%
statistically significant · p < 0.001

Average Video shows the effect on a typical video. Top 10% Video shows the effect on videos in the top 10% of views — estimated via quantile regression, so you can see whether a factor helps most videos a little, or pushes the top performers much higher.

When present

The title leads with a formal government title, signaling official institutional content.

Videos with this factor

When absent

The title leads with a hook, topic, or action verb rather than the politician's formal title.

Videos without this factor

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