production Factor

Text Overlays

Whether the video uses on-screen text overlays beyond just captions — lower thirds, pull quotes, labels, or graphics with text. These are deliberate production choices, not auto-captions.

Text overlays serve multiple functions: they reinforce key points for viewers with audio off (Shorts feed is largely sound-off), they emphasize specific moments, and they add production polish. On YouTube, text overlays are a strong signal that the video was edited with care.

Effect on views
+0%
trend only

When present

The video has deliberate on-screen text overlays — lower thirds, callouts, emphasis graphics, or labels — beyond just captions.

Videos with this factor

4K views

When absent

The video has no added text overlays. Any text on screen is just YouTube's auto-captions or original content.

Videos without this factor

385K views