Without doubt, the entire nature of content is changing, as a result of mobile devices. Smartphone users would rather watch video than read text.

Personally, I feel ambivalent about it, BUT my level on engagement declines when I'm on my phone because I hate typing on that tiny screen. Sure, we have speech-to-text, but perfection of that technology remains a few years out.

Google has a huge amount of power and influence... I remember way-back-when working with Spam Czar Matt Cutts over there on ways to avoid having some of my online communities relegated to the garbage can in searches. That said, Google did manage to put a substantial dent in Black Hat SEO.

=^..=