Chapters vs a tighter edit for retention

Chapters vs a tighter edit for retention
Heard this: adding chapters is the lazy 'retention fix' and it can cut both ways.
— Chapters help search and let viewers jump — great for a 20-minute reference video people scrub through
— But on an entertainment or hook-driven video, visible chapters HAND viewers the exit ramp, they skip to 'the good part' and bail early
Confidence: medium. Several creators noticed retention dips after adding chapters to non-reference content.
For a channel like yours: chapters belong on tutorials and long references where jumping is the point. On story or hook-driven content, ditch them — you want viewers riding the edit you built, not skipping it.