I agree that a lot of "civilization is collapsing" is just nostalgia. BUT: What you are seeing on YT is not the real world... it's the view of the world that makes money for Google (which owns YT.) Very sophisticated algorithms are employed to make sure that everything that is presented to you keeps your eyeballs on the platform so your attention can be packaged and sold to serve the demands of global capitalism.
There's nothing especially new about this: during Don McCullin's heyday, gritty war photos were presented by print publications that wanted to generate engagement with young readers who tended to be very agitated about war (for the very good reason that they were the people most likely to be sent to die in one) and this helped create the marketable mythos of the haunted genius war photographer that helped keep McCullin employed. What's different now is simply that the exploitation process is more efficient.
Soon it will be even more efficient: the algorithms that tell the platforms what imagery will engage you most profitably will pass that information directly into AI neural networks that will generate the imagery to order without needing to bother with reality at all. One byproduct is that people who are forced to live in reality (e.g. poor people in conflict areas) will completely cease to exist in the minds of those who can opt out, so no effort at all will be made to alleviate their suffering. It might make sense to be nostalgic about that...
What I watch has nothing to do with algorithms for generating money.
I could easily find few hundreds views video on information I need. For example few days ago I watched train ride from Tongeren to Liege. It was just what I needed.
As for war. "Liberals" invoked war act on protesters. Local police did not wanted to be cowards.
I was watching live streams from just regular people walking with phones and showing what was going on for real. And talking to strangers who have came to support freedom.
It was very different from lies on subsidized by regime media. Those who where watching it became so hateful. Propaganda works. It is scary to see how it turns people here to similar we left our mother country.
Most of those bystanders, witnesses videos were deleted shortly after, btw.
And if you don't know, i'm one of pioneers of digital television.
I was at technical team for fist SDI based newsroom. Installed and supported different video servers in Europe, FSU and Canada. Those replaced VTRs and tape card machines.
Most of television contain makers whom I remember from nineties in Russia and who are still on bright side are on YT now and doing well.
Zero difference in the content quality, same equipment, same team. Just different content delivery platform.
Or just new kids of the block. They go solo to countries I'm interested to know. And they talk, ask, show real life.
All of this content is superior to traditional TV where I'm working since 1991.
Not only papers, magazines are dead, but traditional TV.
So, don't be manipulated by tinfoil hat wearers. Where are plenty of them on YT. And cowards with hundreds of thousands views as well.
Those are not only for money, they accepting dirty money for spreading of hate.