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After fighting at work for weeks to keep open captions on a vid I created, I've now removed them. Defeat 
. Despite providing stats & proof as to why captions & accessibility are important, the client pushback has been strong.
So, here are reasons why you should caption videos!
. Despite providing stats & proof as to why captions & accessibility are important, the client pushback has been strong.So, here are reasons why you should caption videos!
1) Technical content - The last thing you want is a technical product being misunderstood by thinking you offer something that you don't. Many technical products also use acronyms that would be ideal if spelled out for the viewer.
2) Content, anywhere - I never have sound on outside of YT or TikTok. If there aren't captions, I won't watch the video. 85% of FB videos are watched on silent & 80% of people using captions aren't d(D)eaf or HoH. Captions mean your audience can watch the vid anywhere they see it
3) Longer viewing time - Captions on videos have a longer watch time and increased engagement with your audience. Captions also increase comprehension of the video. Many social medias will also play ads silently by default.
4) Accessibility - There are about 3.2 mil 
and 38.2 mil 
with some hearing loss. Over 5% of the world's population (~half a billion) have hearing loss (expected to grow to nearly a billion by 2050). Also, 41% of videos on FB are incomprehensible without sound or captions.
and 38.2 mil with some hearing loss. Over 5% of the world's population (~half a billion) have hearing loss (expected to grow to nearly a billion by 2050). Also, 41% of videos on FB are incomprehensible without sound or captions.
5) Captions promote inclusion - Many think that communicating with someone who is d(D)eaf or HoH is "too much effort" and that is often due to ignorance. Captions start bridging the gap in terms of inclusion. This also applies to other content such as web design & colour (WCAG)
6) Captions are helpful for an array of other things - These include Dyslexia, Autism and ADHD, but also provide context for audience understanding: Those who mumble, are soft-spoken or have an accent. Also DO WE NOT REMEMBER THE YANNY/LAUREL dilemma?!?
7) Everyone's favourite - SEO - Captions that become transcripts are indexed which can boost your content. It also allows you to repurpose that content in blog posts, win-win!
8) NOT EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH - Captions help non-native English speakers understand your message. Your audience may even speak English fluently, but the use of slang & unfamiliar words may be lost on them (see point 1) Captions allow you the option to Google the word's meaning
8b) NOT EVERYONE LIVES IN CANADA/USA - Do you sell your product globally? Probably! Your future clients might speak English but might have better reading comprehension than audio comprehension.
Some of the pushback I received:
a) "Why should I care about accessibility?"
Because? If you can't hear, it's not a choice. Captions are inclusive for viewers and future clients instead of isolating them.
a) "Why should I care about accessibility?"
Because? If you can't hear, it's not a choice. Captions are inclusive for viewers and future clients instead of isolating them.
b) "This video (shows sample video) doesn't have them"
Great and don't you want to improve the equity, diversity and inclusion for people at your company? Clients? Break the cycle. Also compare apples to apples. If the video doesn't have a voiceover...how can you compare it?!
Great and don't you want to improve the equity, diversity and inclusion for people at your company? Clients? Break the cycle. Also compare apples to apples. If the video doesn't have a voiceover...how can you compare it?!
c) "Captions are blocking my product" "Captions are in the way" "Captions aren't necessary and are distracting"
Your product will be fine and um, if you have such a hard time focusing, I think you need captions!
Your product will be fine and um, if you have such a hard time focusing, I think you need captions!
d) "Our audience is technical and doesn't need them"
Great, well who's to say that everyone understands specific tech jargon related to your content? Your product is not as special as you think. Also, Netflix had revenues of $24.996 BILLION & has captions on all its content
Great, well who's to say that everyone understands specific tech jargon related to your content? Your product is not as special as you think. Also, Netflix had revenues of $24.996 BILLION & has captions on all its content
to note:
1) captions should assume viewer can't hear; include all sounds (such as bird chirping)
a) closed captions (CC) can be turned on/off
b) open captions are burned into the vid (permanent)
2) subtitles assume viewer doesn't understand the language
1) captions should assume viewer can't hear; include all sounds (such as bird chirping)
a) closed captions (CC) can be turned on/off
b) open captions are burned into the vid (permanent)
2) subtitles assume viewer doesn't understand the language
3) transcripts are text-based versions of material presented in a video/audio. Podcasts often have transcripts (but not limited to)
4) audio description: narrates what's happening in addition to whoever is speaking, should assume viewer can't see
4) audio description: narrates what's happening in addition to whoever is speaking, should assume viewer can't see
To conclude, I fought for something I believe in (accessibility) & it didn't amount to anything 
(even after I presented the vid with captions from the beginning aka at no extra cost or time to the client).
Captions are important! Especially permanent ones! Don't give up?
(even after I presented the vid with captions from the beginning aka at no extra cost or time to the client). Captions are important! Especially permanent ones! Don't give up?
