This document contains an investigation by Dr. Augustine Fou into suspected fake video views on YouTube. It analyzes various metrics like watch time, view counts, shares, and search trends for 56 popular music videos. It finds anomalies in the viewing patterns of some videos compared to others and signs of artificially inflated traffic for certain songs. The document aims to determine which music video views may have been improperly boosted.

1. Augustine Fou- 1 -
Fake Video Views
Investigation
Dr. Augustine Fou
http://linkd.in/augustinefou
acfou @mktsci .com
June 2014

2. Augustine Fou- 2 -
Lorde - Royals
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,304 yrs / 1,759 yrs = 74%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 277.3M / 640.1k = 433
View Velocity (views /days since posting): 277.3M / 351 days = 790k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc

3. Augustine Fou- 3 -
Lorde - Royals
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “lorde royals”

4. Augustine Fou- 4 -
Anna Kendrick – Cups
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 848 yrs /1,122 yrs = 76%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 135.6M / 250.9k = 540
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 135.6M / 418 days = 324.4k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmSbXsFE3l8

5. Augustine Fou- 5 -
Anna Kendrick – Cups
Daily views on Youtube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “anna kendrick cups”

6. Augustine Fou- 6 -
Lady Gaga – Applause
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 931 yrs /1,119 yrs = 84%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 165M / 268.8k = 614
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 165M / 289 days = 570.9k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ

7. Augustine Fou- 7 -
Lady Gaga – Applause
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “lady gaga applause”

8. Augustine Fou- 8 -
Drake – Hold On, We’re Going Home
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 399 yrs / 711 yrs = 56.1%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 53.3M / 127.7k = 417.4
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 53.3M / 302 days = 17.6k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxgqpCdOKak

9. Augustine Fou- 9 -
Drake – Hold On, We’re Going Home
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “drake hold on”

10. Augustine Fou- 10 -
Britney Spears – Work B**tch
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 583 yrs / 814 yrs = 71.6%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 109.8M / 279.6k = 392.7
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 109.8M / 246 days = 446.3k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8VYOfr8To

11. Augustine Fou- 11 -
Britney Spears – Work B**tch
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “britney work bitch”

12. Augustine Fou- 12 -
Bruno Mars – Treasure
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 638 yrs / 799.9 yrs = 79.8%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 132.1M / 327.4k = 403
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 132.1M / 355 days = 372.1k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvuNsRccVw

13. Augustine Fou- 13 -
Bruno Mars – Treasure
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “bruno mars treasure”

14. Augustine Fou- 14 -
Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 2,004 yrs / 3,066.7 yrs = 65.4%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 193.4M / 624.6k = 309.6
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 193.4M / 442 days = 437.6k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZE_IRwLNI

15. Augustine Fou- 15 -
Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “mirrors justin timberlake”

16. Augustine Fou- 16 -
Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 2,305 yrs / 2,740 yrs = 84%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 407.6M / 418.8k = 971.8
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 407.6M / 350 days = 1.16M/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrUvu1mlWco

17. Augustine Fou- 17 -
Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “we can’t stop”

18. Augustine Fou- 18 -
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,138yrs / 1514.6 yrs = 75%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 183.7M / 496.9k = 369.7
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 183.7M / 541 days = 339.6k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU

19. Augustine Fou- 19 -
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “imagine dragons radioactive”

20. Augustine Fou- 20 -
Macklemore – Can’t Hold Us
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,944 yrs / 2,979yrs = 65%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 222.1M / 448.5k = 495.2
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 221M / 413 days = 535.1k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM

21. Augustine Fou- 21 -
Macklemore – Can’t Hold Us
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “can’t hold us”

22. Augustine Fou- 22 -
Macklemore – Same Love
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 943 yrs / 1,606 yrs = 58.7%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 119.7M / 335.7k = 356.6
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 119.7M / 610 days = 196.2k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

23. Augustine Fou- 23 -
Macklemore – Same Love
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “macklemore same love”

24. Augustine Fou- 24 -
Taylor Swift – Trouble
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,287 yrs / 2014 yrs = 64%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 177.9M / 283.8k = 415.4
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 117.9M / 537 days = 219.6k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNoKguSdy4Y

25. Augustine Fou- 25 -
Taylor Swift – Trouble
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “taylor swift trouble”

26. Augustine Fou- 26 -
Best Song Ever – One Direction
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,924 yrs / 2,930.2 yrs = 65.7%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 248.4M / 385k = 645
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 248.4M / 317 days = 783.6k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_v9MY_FMcw

27. Augustine Fou- 27 -
Best Song Ever – One Direction
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “best song ever”

28. Augustine Fou- 28 -
Fifth Harmony – Miss Movin’ On
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 136 yrs / 159.4 yrs = 85.3%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 25.2M / 40k = 630
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 25.2M / 324 days = 77.8k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qti2X20w_gA

29. Augustine Fou- 29 -
Fifth Harmony – Miss Movin’ On
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “miss movin on”

30. Augustine Fou- 30 -
Eminem – Berzerk
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 551 yrs / 834 yrs = 66%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 101.6M / 232k = 438
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 101.6M / 268 days = 379.1k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab9176Srb5Y

31. Augustine Fou- 31 -
Eminem – Berzerk
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “eminem berzerk”

32. Augustine Fou- 32 -
Maroon 5 – Love Somebody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 255 yrs / 347.3yrs = 73.4%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 46M / 147.1k = 312.7
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 46M / 379 days = 121.4k/day

33. Augustine Fou- 33 -
Maroon 5 – Love Somebody
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “maroon 5 love somebody”
Daily views on YouTube

34. Augustine Fou- 34 -
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 3,494 yrs / 4,594.4yrs = 76.5%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 655.6M / 967k = 678
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 655.6M / 268 days = 2.45M/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8

35. Augustine Fou- 35 -
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword - “wrecking ball”

36. Augustine Fou- 36 -
PSY – Gangnam Style
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 3,549 yrs / 5,102.5 yrs = 69.6%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 690.6M / 716.8k = 963.4
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 690.6M / 427 days = 1.62M/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASO_zypdnsQ

37. Augustine Fou- 37 -
PSY – Gangnam Style
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword - “gangname style”

38. Augustine Fou- 38 -
PSY – Gentleman
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 3,549 yrs / 5,102.5 yrs = 69.6%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 690.6M / 716.8k = 963.4
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 690.6M / 427 days = 1.62M/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASO_zypdnsQ

39. Augustine Fou- 39 -
PSY – Gentleman
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword - “psy gentleman”

40. Augustine Fou- 40 -
Assassins Creed Parkour
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 137 yrs / 184.5 yrs = 74.3%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 36.4M / 102.5k = 355
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 36.4M / 639 days = 60k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhPaiajwDY

41. Augustine Fou- 41 -
Assassins Creed Parkour
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “assassins creed parkour”

42. Augustine Fou- 42 -
Lady Gaga – Machete Kills
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 40 yrs / 63 yrs = 63.5%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 10.2M / 21.6k = 472.2
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 10.2M / 299 days = 34.1k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc

43. Augustine Fou- 43 -
Lady Gaga – Machete Kills
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “lady gaga machete kills”

44. Augustine Fou- 44 -
Ariana Grande- The Way
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 829 yrs / 1126.3 yrs = 73.6%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 153.8M / 156.6k = 982
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 153.8M / 433 days = 355.2k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sV0S8qWSy0

45. Augustine Fou- 45 -
Ariana Grande- The Way
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “ariana grande the way”

46. Augustine Fou- 46 -
Avicii – Wake Me Up
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 2,189 yrs / 3,117.6 yrs = 70.2%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 361.5M / 1.1M = 324.7
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 361.5M / 310 days = 1.17M/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrbM1l_BoI

47. Augustine Fou- 47 -
Avicii – Wake Me Up
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “avicii wake me up”

48. Augustine Fou- 48 -
Suspect Traffic / Views
(view pattern does not match search
pattern)

49. Augustine Fou- 49 -
Austin Mahone – What About Love
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 451 yrs / 597.9 yrs = 75%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 80.6M / 171.4k = 470
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 80.6M / 477 days = 168.9k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PEG82Udb90

50. Augustine Fou- 50 -
Austin Mahone – What About Love
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “austin mahone what about love”

51. Augustine Fou- 51 -
Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – Stay
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,817 yrs / 2,185.5 yrs = 83%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 279M / 664k = 420
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 279M / 477 days = 585k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF8BRvqGCNs

52. Augustine Fou- 52 -
Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – Stay
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “rihanna stay”
anomalous traffic pattern

53. Augustine Fou- 53 -
Ke$ha- TiK ToK
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: / = %
Ratio of Views to Shares: M / k =
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 174.9M / 1,673 days = 104.5k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6XpLQM2Cs

54. Augustine Fou- 54 -
Ke$ha- TiK ToK
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword - “tik tok”
propped up baseline

55. Augustine Fou- 55 -
Katie Perry – Roar
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 3,114 yrs / 4,402 yrs = 71%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 516M / 860.6k = 600
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 516M / 272 days = 189.7k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8

56. Augustine Fou- 56 -
Katie Perry – Roar
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Key word – “ katy perry roar”

57. Augustine Fou- 57 -
Selena Gomez – Come & Get It
Ratio of Total Watched Time to Total Time: 1,507 yrs / 2,259.3 yrs = 66.7%
Ratio of Views to Shares: 246.5M / 332.4k = 741.6
View Velocity (views / days since posting): 246.5M / 393 days = 627.2k/day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-D1EB74Ckg

58. Augustine Fou- 58 -
Selena Gomez – Come & Get It
Daily views on YouTube
Web Search (Google Trends)
Keyword – “come and get it”

59. Augustine Fou- 59 -
Dr. Augustine Fou – Digital Consigliere
“I study online advertising trends and
delve into ‘evidence based’analysis of
various forms of online ads so I can
advise clients on optimizing their ad
spending across channels and specifically
in digital.”
FORMER CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, HCG (OMNICOM)
MCKINSEY CONSULTANT
CLIENT SIDE / AGENCY SIDE EXPERIENCE
PROFESSOR AND COLUMNIST
ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
PHD MATERIALS SCIENCE (MIT '95) AT AGE 23
@acfou
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