Youtube Gold Rush?

Youtube Gold Rush?

A-List celebrities are all heading to Youtube to cash in on the action, but some YouTubers believe this change will not be positive for smaller content creators. With the new coppa laws, more restrictions, and an A-List takeover, what does this all mean for the regular folks?

Youtube was launched in 2005 and quickly became the number one video platform online. There was a shift in how we were choosing to consume content and Youtube fitted in perfectly – quenching net user’s thirst for new and exiting content. Over the years we have seen examples of how Youtube can change people’s lives in an instant. Some lucky users have become millionaires through endorsements and other lucrative deals because of their successful channels. Youtube is content creators heaven providing’ how to’s, tutorials, reaction videos, and so much more. You cannot deny the large contribution regular folks have made to Youtube. They are instrumental in making it the most viewed social media platform online today.

Over the past few months, there has been a massive exodus online to Youtube. Yes, you heard me right – every A-list celeb and their grandma is heading to the social platform. I’m convinced there was a secret memo sent to all in Hollywood saying “Youtube is the platform for 2020”.

Although celebs have always used Youtube they mainly used it to promote their visual releases. A large number of celebrities have now started vlogging. Sharing their make-up tutorials, learning new languages, doing q&a’s and more…all the things regular Youtubers made popular to do.

Its been reported that celebs are even promoting their youtube channels on their tv shows – telling viewers to head over to youtube and subscribe.

Now some celebs such as Kandi, Kylie Jenner and a few other have always vlogged and this article is in no way refering to them.

Word in these Youtube streets

Since the celeb takeover of Youtube some of the platforms regular content creators are not happy with the sudden over saturation.

Content creators have been experiencing weird actions from the platform. Some have even accused Youtube of shady tactics by unsubscribing people from channels or manipulating the algorithms pushing the celebrity videos to the forefront while phasing out the regular YouTube vloggers.

This sparked a discussion on twitter which then prompted popular YouTuber Lovelyti to make a video sharing her opinion on the matter.

In the 17-minute vlog, Lovelyti’ who has an impressive 800,000+ subscribers said – “to me youtube was created for regular people like me and you. it was not created for celebrities, celebrities look down on YouTubers – talk sh** about the Youtube community. You know we were the bottom of the barrel and now their all running here”.

Lovelyti is a fantastic content creator & presenter who always gives factual information to her subscribers. What makes her even more pleasant to watch, and unique is that her predictions on pop culture are often eerily on point.

Watch Lovelyti’s Video here

Subscribe to Lovelyti’s Youtube channel.

Money to be made

Brands and influencers have always been intertwined. In the 80’s Hip-Hop royalty Run DMC regularly rocked the stage donning Kangol hats and Adidas trainers without the laces. Their edgy music, influence, and image catapulted the young & talented New Yorkers to superstardom while effortlessly developing a cult following along the way. The group loved the sports brand so much they released a single called “My Adidas” which was released on 29 May 1986. Because of their star power and influence, Adidas’s sales and popularity went through the roof, reaping the company millions in profits. By the time Run DMC stopped making music, their legacy with Adidas was cemented in history.

It’s easy to see why brands love to team up with celebs and influencers – after all, it is just good business. But part of the issue is that smaller vloggers will now have fewer chances of making money on the channels that they grafted hard to build up. I guess the business/brand perspective is – why pay a regular YouTuber to promote their brand if they can pay an A-list celebrity to promote their brand or services to a larger audience?

Now, business is business and everyone has to do what is best for them, but we can see why this is yet another cause for concern for content creators on Youtube.

So what will happen next?

With celebs rushing to get a piece of the pie, does the Youtube Gold Rush mark the end of an era for regular vloggers?

Do you think big brands and businesses will stop doing business with the smaller channels in favour of the A-List celebs? We can only hope not.

Share your thoughts with us online.

Leave a Reply

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)