I'll try to keep the description brief - as you'll be able to test this yourself and determine your own theories for the cause of this.

So I'm browsing YouTube and come across one of a zillion channels that looks clickbaity - 'Hook Global'. (This is NOT a promotion for it. In fact, I'm suspicious they're apart of what I've discovered.) Out of curiosity, I do on a rare occasion go to a channel's page and read their Description. As expected, this one has the atypical droll self-promotion.

I wanted to find out more about them, so a typical Google search I did. Down the rabbit-hole we go...

I had to do query:

> `"Hook Global" -site:youtube.com`

being they're a YT channel. My first search result showed a Linkedin item, which I later learned is their company page on LI. Skipping that! - for now.

Curiously, my second result was exactly this: https://www.hoover.org/research/michael-mcfaul-whether-us-helps-ukraine-comes-down-idiosyncrasies-mad-king

The only reason I clicked this link is that in GSearch's (what is it called - 'result summary'?), part of the "intext" is -

> "Go to channel Hook Global"

More on this in a moment.

For me, clicking on that link redirects IMMEDIATELY to a Youtube vid, even though the url is what you see above. The redirect is not even a channel for the link's host-site; instead to another channel.

(FYI I'm using Firefox with DoH configured, on Windows, and uBlock (the Manifest v2 version) with a ton of filter subscriptions - one or two of which remove tracking parameters.)

I thought this redirect must be a fluke, so I opened the link in a private window...Same redirect, to the same vid.

Okay, you might be thinking 'So what?'

Well, I did more gsearch queries (too much to describe here - except one, the LI page confirms 'Hook Global' webpage as 'hook.online' which redirects to 'hooknews.com', site for "Hook Media Network")

but ultimately this query is what I really want to report:

> `"Go to channel Hook Global" -site:youtube.com`

And this is what's stunning: (nearly) every search result is a hard-redirect to a Youtube video.

Not even to the Hook Global channel. Seems the videos are related to the search-result's Title, or to the site's owner. (I haven't done enough test to be conclusive.)

Try it yourself, to really appreciate what I'm describing. Here are some search results that came up on just Page 1:

https://cew.georgetown.edu/about-cew/

https://www.uticaschools.org/news/1822826/a-special-message-from-dr-spence-reflecting-on-black-history-month-2026

https://www.hoover.org/research/trumps-latest-bomb-watch-stanford-professors-blunt-take-sumit-ganguly-exclusive-h1-b

http://dartgo.org/250blackhawklive

https://z.umn.edu/ug-livestream26

https://www.jesuitnola.org/2026/02/27/dear-blue-jay-welcome-to-jesuit/

https://on.nyc.gov/44wHbdO

Finally, I did switch over to Chrome, which also has uBlock, and a different DoH server configured - same effect. (Curiously most of the results had '/link/' in their URL path.)

I also went to my phone and ran the query via Chrome (yes, I'm bad, I need to disable/hide it and use Firefox Mobile. Sorry!), passing thru an on-device VPN - same effect.

So... What? How? Why? Anyone else seeing the same effect? Is it some kind of SEO blackhat/darkweb at play?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48878919

Points: 4

# Comments: 3

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48811108

Points: 6

# Comments: 4

> 80% of CEOs say their role is at risk if they fail to deliver results by the end of 2026.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48611406

Points: 4

# Comments: 1

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48453260

Points: 5

# Comments: 1

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48161420

Points: 5

# Comments: 1

> The draft regulations would also ban the use of other people's personal information to create digital humans without consent, or using virtual humans to bypass identity verification systems.

Fair enough. Many can agree with that.

> Digital humans are also prohibited from disseminating content that endangers national security, inciting subversion of state power, promoting secession or undermining national unity.

Now you're asking too much!

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48130044

Points: 3

# Comments: 2

Coincidentally, same day as your post, Forbes published an article stating the same: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48128765

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43282379

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48128765

Points: 4

# Comments: 2

https://github.com/shgysk8zer0/awesome-rss

https://github.com/aureliendavid/rsspreview

HN is 'good' {not 'very good'} for civil discourse.

I would suggest forums - yes, the good ole forum groups - and specific redds, that focus on broader but specific topics that you enjoy - and staying away from those that you don't.

I also suggest building a personalized network of RSS feeds to content that you like, and interacting the writers and other commenters.

> Is there a sane place on the web left?

Yes. But they're 'boring' compared to rage/race-baiting, pseudo-politicized gated media with masked--and often open--agendas to keep you continuously riled-up to keep feeding The Age of Stupidity.

Opinion piece by Thomas Friedman, author of "The World is Flat"