Famous Youtubers getting bitten by the famous money bug? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 06:15:28 pm
content: We all know these famous youtubers (Kipkay, householdhacker, etc.) and if you have been on youtube since 2008 you'll know that they've changed drastically over the years. Here's few phenomena that I've noticed:- These famous youtubers are now increasingly uploading really USELESS videos. What they are trying to do is earn money from sponsors from the amount of videos they make. If you compare their current videos and their "old" videos, you will see a difference. For them, money had become #1 priority, not content nor education.- After the sh*t update on google comments, the "important comments" (that is, in youtube logic, comments from users who have at least 1 billion subs) floats up to the very top of the comment section. These "famous" youtubers" are using this bullsh*t update to their advantage and comments on EVERY DAMN VIDEOS LIKE ROBOTS. Those comments are stale like "cool" or "awesome". Why the f are they doing this? Well, through this technique, they can increase their popularity, and thus, MORE INCOME.Sorry for ranting about this. I really was pissed off at their behaviors. I know this stuff does not matter to any of us. But I personally think that for educational videos, content is what matters the most. But to them, unfortunately, popularity and income is the most important. I may be wrong here, since I cannot read minds, but others have been complaining about the same things as well.This is why I'm currently only subscribed to EEVBlog and other channels like penguinz0 (). Regardless of how much they earn, their first priority is content, or education. And plus, Their comments actually teaches us something useful, not random comments like "cool".And Dave, keep up the good work! Don't let the youtube bug bite you!

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 06:18:45 pm
content: To be honest, never heard of them?

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 06:52:02 pm
content: I never heard of them either.And, I would hope that if anyone feels that the content in my channel is beginning to degrade - that they would let me know! I put my channel together to share good, useful, interesting and hopefully educational content - please let me know if I stray too far!Over 10,000 subs and 1,000,000 views now - wow!

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 06:58:45 pm
content: HouseHold Hacker was originally a troll channel. Remember the levitation boots, and the styrofoam plate hi-fi speakers? Then the channel died for a year or so. The current guy bought it (or a company he works for did) and used the existing subscriber base to jump start his videos, which were actual useful tips. However, he had very little original content, and mostly repackages tips that are already on Youtube from other channels, or that he got from users (often without testing). The current iteration of Household Hacker is, and has always been, about money.If you want real edutainment videos, try CrashCourse, CGP Grey, Periodic Videos, Computerphile, Veritasium, Minute Physics, SciShow, Vihart, SmarterEveryDay, etc.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 07:04:50 pm
content: Quote from: Phaedrus on January 15, 2014, 06:58:45 pmI'm a big fan of Periodic Videos and Vi Hart. (also Minute Physics and SmarterEveryDay)Brady Haran, the videographer/producer of Periodic Videos and many others, does great work. I recommend ALL of his channels. His philosophy is different in that he is the expert on making videos, and relies on others who are experts in their fields to supply the knowledge - such as professor Poliakof or that guy who's name I can't remember that does the numberphile videos - he has his own channel "SingingBanana."

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 07:27:31 pm
content: Famous youtubers? As if they are of any relevance. Maybe if you make Youtube the center of your life and dance around it like around the golden calf. But otherwise? As interesting as the Kardushians.

author: Forser
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 08:16:27 pm
content: Are there any other good youtube channels, similar to Dave´s EEVblog or General about Electrics?

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 08:27:36 pm
content: Quote from: Forser on January 15, 2014, 08:16:27 pmHumbly, might I suggest you check out my channel. Mostly videos about basic electronics, tutorials, circuit analysis, test & measurement techniques, electronics troubleshooting and repair, ham radio, and a few high-end test & measurement videos every once in a while.https://www.youtube.com/w2aew

author: Forser
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 08:35:29 pm
content: w2aew, Yeah found that when i was on the eevblog youtube page. Showing other channels about electronics so subbed

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 08:52:54 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on January 15, 2014, 07:27:31 pmYes. Actually you can say that youtube has greatly influenced my life. Without it, I wouldn't have been watching educational content like EEVBlog (since 2010! Originally steered well clear from him because of his voice, but now, it's second nature)and cultivating my EE hobby. There are also a lot of tutorials on Physics, Maths... You name it!People think of youtube as an entertainment site. Well,if you look in a certain light, it is. But there are also other valuable content too. When I say that I learn through youtube to people, they look really surprised.However, I don't dance around it like a religion though. But I avoid facebook like a religion

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 09:04:55 pm
content: There are videos that are intended to be "entertainment" on Youtube, many of which are equal to or even worse than the worst of "reality" TV. (Kartrashians, etc.)However, there are many educational videos that are at least one or two, and often several orders of magnitude better than educational television. Brady Haran's "Periodic videos" for example, teaches more chemistry than I learned in the basic classes required at my university for an engineering degree. We all know of Dave's electronics videos. (and other members here as well)There are some youtube video makers, that do seem to attract an idolization that is a bit much, however.

author: Dongulus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 09:55:35 pm
content: Quote from: Forser on January 15, 2014, 08:16:27 pmI'm not sure what exactly you are looking for, but you might also look at these: The Ben Heck Show, Ben Krasnow, mikeselectricstuff, Jeri Ellsworth, Hak5, mjlorton, and According to Pete! on Sparkfun's channel. These are widely different as far as informative vs. entertaining. Not all of them update as frequently as Dave, but there's probably enough existing content to keep you satisfied for a while.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 01:10:10 am
content: Quote from: Dongulus on January 15, 2014, 09:55:35 pmI have to question the suitability of "Hak5" as a source for electronics knowledge. They are good with software, Linux and hacking in the digital domain, but... electronics? Barely. I cannot remember EVER seeing them build a circuit, let alone show a schematic or solder anything.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:02:50 am
content: Quote from: SolarSunrise on January 15, 2014, 06:15:28 pmSorry but I will always have to jump to the defence of the content producers.There are a few simple facts at play here:- Channels change over time, that's natural.- You can't make videos to please everyone, or even a majority, it's impossible.- Continuing to create content week after week, year after year is a LOT of work, and it can get very tedious.- The bigger your audience gets the harder it is to maintain and the more time you have to spend on managing the whole shebang. That leaves less time for content.If a channels content changes in a direction you don't like, juts tell them so, and then unsubscribe. But don't go around flat out accusing them of not caring about the content and only caring about the money. That's a) not cool, and b) very likely wrong.How do you know the change in content is not because that's what the audience wants? and/or because that's what the content producer wants? - You can't.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:11:06 am
content: Quote from: SolarSunrise on January 15, 2014, 06:15:28 pmReally?I don't follow KipKay, but I just check out a latest videoand one from 5 years:How has it "drastically changed"?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 07:12:26 am
content: Kipkay has been doing a lot of mini hacks recently. One where he cuts the end off an SLR lens and fills it with vodka so you can sneak alcohol into a sporting event. Everyone trashed him in the comments for ruining a camera lens.

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 11:43:52 am
content: I've seen various channels (on various subjects) which would appear to just about money. However, as Dave says, it could just be what most of the audience wants, and so we won't know for sure.

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 04:28:58 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 16, 2014, 02:02:50 am- Channels change over time, that's natural.=> Very true. You are absolutely right.- You can't make videos to please everyone, or even a majority, it's impossible.=> I don't think I agree with you on this one. The youtube "like bar" indicates how much people "liked" the video. And if we look at good quality videos, like yours as an example, their like bar is mostly 90% green. So I believe you can indeed please the majority. If you couldn't, then the video will never have 90% green, it will have 50% green and 50% red.- Continuing to create content week after week, year after year is a LOT of work, and it can get very tedious.=> You are right again. I appreciate all of the content producers who make videos. For Kipkay, he has been making videos for almost 6 years. (From around 2007 starting on metacafe) He got so famous he got interviewed for Fox 2 news in 2009 (Source:). So yeah, hats off to Kipkay for making videos for 6 years as best as he can!- The bigger your audience gets the harder it is to maintain and the more time you have to spend on managing the whole shebang. That leaves less time for content.=> That is true once again. The bigger the audience gets, harder it is. However, they can then be a producer and devote your full time to video-making. Even if the audience becomes, lets say, more than a million, they can still produce the same quality content they were producing like 3 years ago. People are watching their videos because they like how they make videos (video style?), the producers does not have to change how they make their videos because their audience increased. (Example: penguinz0, his videos are same as like 5 years ago. His audience is now over 1 million)If a channels content changes in a direction you don't like, juts tell them so, and then unsubscribe. But don't go around flat out accusing them of not caring about the content and only caring about the money. That's a) not cool, and b) very likely wrong.=> This is my opinion, you are right about that. But many people do say/said the same thing I have said here. Many people had commented, emailed, PM'ed him about their opinion about the decreased quality of their videos. But they do the same thing Google has always done: ignore. No matter the backlash, the complaints, they don't have to change. People will still watch his videos even if the content degrades. This is also the reason why I don't like how Youtube manages updates, they ignore criticisms. I wouldn't ordinarily criticize people, heck Kipkay actually introduced me to Electronics with his old 2007 metacafe videos, so I thank him for that. Also, in the old days, kipkay did actually listen to criticisms of his videos and very often replied. That changed all of a sudden though...How do you know the change in content is not because that's what the audience wants? and/or because that's what the content producer wants?=> Like I said above, others had commented/emailed him about this. I'm not the only one who thinks he has been bitten by the "youtube money bug" (it is quite a famous term).Sorry sounding a little bit offensive. I'm not really serious here though, I'm just defending the audience.

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 04:47:53 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 16, 2014, 02:11:06 amBefore this video, he never had 50% dislikes:But after this video, he started to have an increased amount of dislikes. He sometimes make good videos, but most of the time:The like bar suggests that at least half of the audience did not like the video, which is a lot.This is one of his old videos. This video is actually really useful for force opening jammed zippers:My math says at least 95% of people enjoyed the video. Which is no surprise... Sighs.PS: Sorry for the long post. I just realized how long it was.