Jackasses making millions on YouTube for their "job", how do you feel about it?

AustriaBargain on 04/08/2022 - 14:43
Last edited 04/08/2022 - 22:22

Teenagers making millions just from recording themselves playing video games and trash talking other YouTubers, people just "reacting" to videos and shilling Nord VPN every single video making millions every year, it feels so strange to me. And then there's millions of YouTubers who wish they could become popular and wealthy, pumping out daily videos that no one watches. And there must be plenty of people hustling on YouTube who are coming away with an average income of like 60k a year or so.

Personally it grinds my gears, because I'm not attractive or charismatic enough for it to be me. But really it seems wild to me that there are teenagers out there making millions doing something that they would probably be happy to do for free anyway.

Maybe relevant, but many years ago I did upload a video to YouTube, a recording of an amateur skit at a local convention, which got about 250,000 views and was offered monetisation by YouTube. I accepted it because why not, but I didn't really get many more views after that so never made money. And I didn't have any more content to upload, it was just a random thing I recorded and uploaded, roughly edited with Windows Movie Maker. I guess I had zero motivation or desire to get into that kind of thing.

Education & Work

Comments

  • DarkOz on 04/08/2022 - 16:05
    +2

    Good on them and good for them. They have a talent that you obviously don’t have.

  • outlander on 04/08/2022 - 16:06
    +4

    There are people who make a lot more, and do a lot less. At least these people are doing some work for what they get, unlike say the 10,000s of entitled trustfund jackoffs

  • Jimmycfc on 04/08/2022 - 16:10
    +4

    At least they are working for it…
    Are you jealous of the queen also?

    • orangetrain on 04/08/2022 - 16:34
      +1

      How do I take over the kingdom? Go around lakes to find a nice lady willing to give me a big knife?

      • snapper on 07/08/2022 - 15:33
        +2

        Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

  • orangetrain on 04/08/2022 - 16:32
    +4

    You can look up nikovacado(?) guy to see an example of unhealthy obsession with getting views. Started with a violin years ago to today where hes eating 50 happy meals?

    • whatwasherproblem on 04/08/2022 - 16:48
      +8

      Nikocado seems like the sort of guy that thought he'd cracked the code to infinite fame and money by giving off the appearance of being a macabre laughing stock that's eating himself to an early grave, and then at some point forgot that the whole thing was supposed to be a larp and now he legitimately is a macabre laughing stock eating himself to an early grave.

      • Gervais fanboy on 04/08/2022 - 22:32
        +1

        Damn, you summed him up perfectly…

    • spackbace on 04/08/2022 - 17:01

      Only know about him through Isaac Butterfield. Kinda wish I didn't know about Niko

    • dimes on 06/08/2022 - 20:36
      -2

      Channels like that should be de-monisted. Not only is he endangering his own health, but it also encourages others to do the same. If youtube can de-monetise videos for political content, then they should do the same for these types of videos.

      • Gervais fanboy on 06/08/2022 - 20:38

        Here comes the cancel mob with all their ‘virtues’

        What YT guideline has he violated, in your opinion ?

        He’s a degenerate imo but he’s got the right to be a degenerate, that’s how a free society is designed to function.

        • dimes on 06/08/2022 - 20:41
          -1

          "However, we do not allow content on YouTube that promotes suicide, self-harm, that is intended to shock or disgust, or poses a considerable risk to viewers."

          • Gervais fanboy on 06/08/2022 - 21:05

            @dimes:

            promotes suicide, self-harm

            Between you and me, his content is literally the embodiment of self-harm. But the majority of the population wouldn’t say that, the Yt mods wouldn’t say that. It’s only you and me bud.

            Also, there’s a lot of compulsive fatties out there and they derive their happiness/satisfaction from that lifestyle. Plus, given our current climate and political atmosphere, they won’t take it down and tbh I don’t want him taken down.
            Ideally, people like him should be the example of what not to be.

            • dimes on 06/08/2022 - 21:08
              -1

              @Gervais fanboy: Not asking for him to be taken down, I just think he should be de-monetised because I don't think this type of behaviour should be encouraged or glorified.

              • Gervais fanboy on 06/08/2022 - 22:11

                @dimes:

                Not asking for him to be taken down, I just think he should be de-monetised

                No, you didn’t. I mistakenly suggested that. My apologies but in its core it’s pretty much the same as being suspended/deplatformed isn’t it ?
                Because you take away the financial incentive, he’ll eventually stop anyways.
                Regardless, I am strongly against the corporate sector/establishment policing content, as i have learnt in these last 2-3 years.
                Let the market decide, is my opinion.
                Also again, arguing the case that he’s indulging in ‘self harm’ wouldn’t go too far anyways.

  • Richmond Tigers on 04/08/2022 - 16:36
    -2

    No different to those jackasses who purchased 5 properties back in the 70's and 80's and now have the audacity to bitch about how they had to pay a squillion percent interest on their 50K home loan in an era of no internet, no mobile phones, utilities still owned by state or federal governments, low insurance premiums and generally not having to pay bugger all for anything other than food, petrol and mortgage.

    I hate that they have a bloody easy retirement, lots of disposable income and a pretty easy life, but still find plenty to bitch about how everyone else except them is shit.

    Youtubers>>>>>>>>>>>> boomers.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 04/08/2022 - 16:40
    +3

    Fame seems easy but I'm glad my income doesn't rely on staying culturally relevant, it must be hell.

  • tallkid123 on 04/08/2022 - 16:44

    OP, you may as well be a hater in their Youtube comment sections. No point complaining here.

    I personally would never want to be a Twitch streamer though. Can't even enjoy gaming when you have to constantly say shit to an invisible audience and forever thank them for Twitch subs (whatever they are…)

  • TheBilly on 04/08/2022 - 16:51
    +1

    I actually enjoy seeing people do well on these platforms.

    Good on them !

  • onetwothreefour on 04/08/2022 - 16:55
    +1

    I thought this was going to be about the movie, Jackass.

    Similar point though I guess? If they've found a way to make money and it's entertaining to some people then good on them.

  • whatwasherproblem on 04/08/2022 - 16:55
    +1

    Personally it grinds my gears, because I'm not attractive or charismatic enough for it to be me.

    I feel ya OP. I too hate that they're able to earn money that way because there's no way in hell that I ever would be able to be as hot/famous/charismatic and I am mad jelly about it.

    On the other hand: lol, cope and seethe m8.

  • ForkSnorter on 04/08/2022 - 16:55
    +2

    I don’t really mind because some of them are actually worth watching. I follow about 50 channels on YouTube. They entertain me, enable me to learn new things, and experience places and things I otherwise wouldn’t.

  • silenthillrocks on 04/08/2022 - 16:58
    +2

    Why complain when you could be doing the same yourself?

    • Ghost47 on 04/08/2022 - 18:16

      Because OP just can’t.

      Personally it grinds my gears, because I'm not attractive or charismatic enough for it to be me.

      • silenthillrocks on 05/08/2022 - 05:53
        +5

        Charisma can be trained and attractiveness is not necessary. Sounds like op just doesn't want to put in the effort.

        • Ghost47 on 05/08/2022 - 14:43
          +2

          Definitely not with that attitude anyway.

  • Cluster on 04/08/2022 - 17:09
    +2

    Youtube is infested with clickbait and reaction videos, but you have a simple option: Don't watch them.

    There, problem solved.

    There are about 15 channels I follow because they create content I enjoy. I'm sure those creators, most of whom have 50K or more subscribers, worked their arse off to get where they are today. Good on them. I hope they make a decent income. Remember that these people need to grind out a video every few days to keep the income stream going. There is no slacking off.

    As for millions who try and fail in becoming popular enough to earn decent money through Youtube, that's the same with every profession that relies on both performance and good luck. How many guitar players make a good living from their skills? Maybe 0.01%?

  • whatwasherproblem on 04/08/2022 - 17:20
    +1

    Youtube is infested with clickbait and reaction videos, but you have a simple option: Don't watch them.

    Agreed. Tyler's almighty wisdom applies to a great many things, including one's Youtube watching habits.

  • shaybisc on 04/08/2022 - 17:28
    +3

    Could be worse. Could be Alex Jones making over US$800,000 per day peddling big lies to morons on Infowars.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alex-jones-lawyers-acci…

    • Bullion78 on 07/08/2022 - 02:50

      You should see what CNN makes!

  • bmxr on 04/08/2022 - 17:40
    +4

    Million dollar idea.

    You create your own YouTube channel reviewing and complaining about all these other videos and make millions from all the like-minded individuals who support your opinion.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/08/2022 - 18:30
      +1

      H3H3 has already made those millions.

  • ode1online on 04/08/2022 - 18:00

    Ok

  • ECE on 04/08/2022 - 18:03

    Mind your life 🤣😷

  • WreckTangle on 04/08/2022 - 18:08
    +1

    Idiots, sure. But no worse than tv contestants that have gone on MAFS/big brother/ ninja warrior etc simply for their looks

  • TEER3X on 04/08/2022 - 18:11

    I'm definitely funding some of these videos by watching the commercials in between (on Facebook)..

    I mainly watch fart prank videos…. yeah I'm easily amused.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/08/2022 - 18:29
      -2

      I don't know about Facebook, but I think on YouTube the video creator only gets money if you actually click on the ad. if you just watch it but don't click on it then the creator gets nothing.

      • spackbace on 04/08/2022 - 18:45

        if you just watch it but don't click on it then the creator gets nothing.

        Wrong, there's more to the algorithm than that. Same as they get paid from Premium members viewing the video, even though we don't see ads

        • AustriaBargain on 04/08/2022 - 19:46
          -2

          Well if premium members don't get ads at all, then the creators definitely don't get paid for those members viewing ads.

          • spackbace on 04/08/2022 - 19:47
            +1

            @AustriaBargain: Yes, but they still get paid from it

            LTT did a good video on it recently showing how much revenue they got and from where

  • Benoffie on 04/08/2022 - 18:38
    +1

    I just think tax the daylights out of them like everyone else.

    • TilacVIP on 05/08/2022 - 08:10
      +1

      They [tax authories ] are.

      No different then the average Joe being taxed working for the average employer.

    • skittlebrau on 05/08/2022 - 16:07

      I agree, Google/Alphabet and other tech giants should be paying way more tax.

  • toogoodtobetrue on 04/08/2022 - 20:02

    wait till you get into crypto and meet the influencers

  • [Deactivated] on 04/08/2022 - 20:15
    +3

    If it makes you feel better, for every one that succeeds, many more fail.

  • Vote for Pedro on 04/08/2022 - 20:21
    +3

    Of course I’m jealous but bloody well good on ‘em.

  • Nugs on 04/08/2022 - 20:34

    "how do you feel about it?"
    A fool and his money are soon parted
    .

  • felipe1982 on 05/08/2022 - 07:18

    . It's not tax payer's money and it wasn't acquired illegally - so why do you care?

  • 900dollaridoos on 05/08/2022 - 08:10
    +3

    I'm not skilled enough to make millions playing IPL cricket, I'm also not smart enough to make millions as oil tycoon.
    But, the rules for 'the game' are mostly laid out for us and aren't going to change. Pick your poison and lean in to it. Ugly and dumb but want money? Go work in the mines and learn how to invest. Lazy and artistic and just want to chill? Go work in a sleepy beach town and learn how to save and lower spending. Want to be like everyone else and balance the two with a focus on socialisation? Get a city appropriate trade or qualification for office work like 95% of people haha.

    Also, your missing a big aspect of all this which is risk appetite. For every successful youtuber there's tens of thousands of failures. Going into that 'profession' takes grind and if you fail the risk is not pretty as you'll basically be the epitome of a loser..
    It's like getting mad at crypto millionaires. I don't feel bad for the ones that lost their life savings and I'm not jealous of the ones that 1000x their life savings, neither were playing a game I ever would.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2022 - 13:33
      +2

      This is one of my favourite replies on the topic. Very practical approach to asking what the goal is in life and how to achieve it. Also pointing out the survivor bias.

  • TrumpisKing on 05/08/2022 - 08:11
    +1

    Salty much? 😂. If you don't like it then either go and make your own videos and make the millions or shut up about it……

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/08/2022 - 08:30
    +7

    Old Man Yells At Cloud

  • Kayrhcp on 05/08/2022 - 08:38
    +3

    If the idea of teenagers doing something dynamic, creative and unique doesn’t get your approval as a “job”, then what does?

    When I was growing up, I basically had two options: study, or work at maccas. Good on them for doing something they enjoy and doing it well.

    Whether they would ‘probably do it for free’ is irrelevant. You’re valuing their work that way, not the market. Obviously there is value to what they do and they deserve to make money off it if they can.

    My advice? Move on from getting salty whenever you see people make more money than you think they should. Because if you don’t, you’re gonna live an extremely sad life.

  • Commander Shepard on 05/08/2022 - 08:47
    +4

    I am sure 95 percent of streamers and youtubers worked hard to build up their audience to where they can make a good living.

    Yes some just fell into it. Or were in the right place at the right time. But that applies to everything in life.

    The trashy youtube content and the hot girls on only fans/twitch milking whales is just one part of it. Quality content creators whether they are niche or mainstream shouldn't be lumped in that same basket.

  • reactor-au on 05/08/2022 - 09:06

    Even if there are a billion youtubers, 1% get 99% of the views.
    I've tried explaining this to my nephew who wants to be a YouTuber as a career. I bet half the gen z and laters are this deluded about half the upcoming population making a living playing games for others to watch.

  • HangryCakeStore on 05/08/2022 - 09:08
    -3

    To be on top you also need to be the right coloured skin, kids aren’t racist but they like watching people that talk and look like them, and you’ll see what race majority top YouTubers are.
    Privilege still exists.
    Edit: they are more likely to get sponsored too

  • jaimex2 on 05/08/2022 - 09:12
    +6

    They won the Youtube algorithm lottery. For every unworthy channel making bank there's 50,000 that didn't.

    Also keep in mind the algorithm giveth and the algorithm taketh, one day it changes and they're never seen again.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2022 - 09:14
    +1

    Me? Don't care, all the more power to them. I sub to youtube premium now so i don't have the deal with the ads that feed them.

    I would challenge your reasons for not getting into youtube. It's not easy (You've got to slug away for years before it becomes a good income), but i follow plenty of youtubers who look like dogshit, but have great content that keeps me coming back.

  • miicah on 05/08/2022 - 09:36

    Depends, some of the 4WD related channels I watch on YouTube have a niche (like Fire to Fork, one of the first fire only cooking channels) which is cool.

    The thousands of derivative channels that are the same content as everyone else won't ever make it and I don't think the creators always understand that.

  • trapper on 05/08/2022 - 09:43

    Teenagers making millions just from recording themselves playing video games and trash talking other YouTubers, people just "reacting" to videos and shilling Nord VPN every single video making millions every year, it feels so strange to me.

    Good on them, don't downplay their achievements. They are not 'just' doing anything.

  • Herbse on 05/08/2022 - 10:01

    Talented and charismatic people have been acting for over a hundred years and are millionaires. Why is this a problem now?

    If your complaint is that they are not trained actors with any talent. Then you should be able to do what they do and make money without being jealous of them.

  • noshopping on 05/08/2022 - 10:05

    "Jackasses making millions on YouTube for their "job", how do you feel about it?"

    Nothing stops you from doing the same thing as them?

    You have an internet connection.
    You can buy a cheap webcam for $20.

  • knasty on 05/08/2022 - 10:05

    There are plenty of jackasses on TV making millions too - is there a difference?

  • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 05/08/2022 - 10:10
    +1

    Go listen to Joe Rogan interview Mr. Beast. That will give you some insight into just what goes into becoming successful as a youtube creator. It's far from what you are describing. If you're just a jackass with an iPhone it's doubtful you would get all that far.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/08/2022 - 10:33
      +2

      The problem with your suggestion is that you have to listen to Joe Rogan…

      • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 06/08/2022 - 08:21

        I'm not sure what that means? I'm detecting some hate for Joe Rogan on this forum but I'm not sure why that is.

        • reactor-au on 06/08/2022 - 09:17

          Because he makes millions just talking on YouTube/Spotify.
          See OP for explanation.

  • CocaKoala on 05/08/2022 - 10:22
    +1

    I had zero motivation or desire to get into that kind of thing.

    And you call people who have the motivation and desire to do that as Jackasses? It simply looks like you cannot do something, and are jealous of people who can do it.

    • AustriaBargain on 05/08/2022 - 10:38
      -2

      Of course I am jealous of some of them, but some of them are still jackasses. You can't tell me that Leafyishere wasn't a jackass.

      • CocaKoala on 05/08/2022 - 10:46
        +1

        You don't get to decide who is a jackass and who is not. If there's enough people to consume a certain kind of content, it will sell. Why do you think kim kardishain is rich? Your energies are better spent looking at what you could do to improve your own income, rather than being jealous of someone who you think is undeserved to earn a certain income in your personal opinion.

        • AustriaBargain on 05/08/2022 - 10:49
          -1

          “Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbor to have them through envy.” - Aristotle

          • CocaKoala on 05/08/2022 - 11:03

            @AustriaBargain: Yeah, I really didn't think we need Aristotle for that one.

            But if Aristotle is the one you will follow, then I suggested you be the former man he describes and make yourself get good things by jealousy rather than calling the person you're jealous of as jackasses. What you have seems to be envy, therefore.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2022 - 10:25
    +2

    It's more effort than 99% of girls spreading their ass cheeks on Onlyfans making 5k a week.

    • Mr Haj on 05/08/2022 - 10:50
      +1

      How dare you insult OP like that

  • pformag on 05/08/2022 - 10:37

    Found this gem of a channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK289ct_4fw

  • iTaco on 05/08/2022 - 10:46

    Wish I was female and could just stream myself in a hot tub on Twitch writing names on parts of my body.

    • capslock on 05/08/2022 - 10:48

      You don't need to be female to do that

      • CocaKoala on 05/08/2022 - 19:42
        +3

        Probably he also wants to make money doing that.

  • germaine on 05/08/2022 - 10:49
    +1

    No one tell OP about Onlyf@ns

  • afah0447 on 05/08/2022 - 10:52

    Be wary of the green monster.

    If you want something bad enough no matter what your situation (charisma, youth, looks, etc), every human being has such vast potential to achieve anything.

    Most people are either too lazy or too comfortable to even try.

    • AustriaBargain on 05/08/2022 - 10:53

      How do you achieve youth using human potential 🧐

      • FireRunner on 05/08/2022 - 12:56

        Snapchat has a “time machine” filter that can make you look young, lol

  • LFO on 05/08/2022 - 10:56
    -1

    Jackasses making millions on YouTube for their "job", how do you feel about it?

    Deepest admiration to them.

    Able to make money by just posting videos.

    I wish I could do the same, that $ucce$$fully that is.

  • Bid Sniper on 05/08/2022 - 11:10

    As long it taking money away from Rupert Murdoch, I'm all for it.

  • StalkingIbis on 05/08/2022 - 11:36
    +1

    The ones who watch videos and react to them are the leeches

  • Dowhatuwant on 05/08/2022 - 11:38

    I don't hate them or anything, it really does seem like a scam or bubble. It's like the dotnet bubble never really burst. Like where is all this money coming from to pay for all these "influencers" i've never even heard of.

    • AustriaBargain on 05/08/2022 - 12:06
      -1

      I think the first place the money comes from is advertisers, when people click an ad then the creator gets a cut of that ad money. For people paying for ad free YouTube they get a few cents of their YouTube subscription fee. If they don't click the ad then I guess maybe only YouTube/Google earns money.

      The second major place is paid promotion. When they spend three minutes talking about Nord VPN they get money just for shilling for Nord in the first place, or they get a percentage of the profits from each unique discount code their viewers use or unique landing page the viewers follow before subscribing to Nord.

      Plus there's more opportunities to make money when their fame brings them more followers on other social media platforms.

      I don't see how this money could ever go away. The only thing that could kill YouTube is YouTube not being popular anymore and not bringing in these kind of viewer numbers.

      • Dowhatuwant on 05/08/2022 - 13:35

        I get that, i think the amount paid is what's ridiculous and at some point there will be a market correction when it comes to advertising online in general. People underestimate how many views are fake due to bots and overestimate the impact of the legitimate views as well. The referal bonus from discount schemes like those mentioned is fair but i've never heard of that being the larger part of a revenue stream but more a small bonus.

    • FireRunner on 05/08/2022 - 12:43

      They make through
      1. YouTube ads (they get a cut)
      2. Paid sponsorships (mobile games, VPN, etc.)
      3. Affiliate links in description/comments
      4. Merchandise
      5. Patreon

      The first three are just advertisers like with TV/Radio broadcasts so nothing new. The other two are aimed at fans who want to pay to support the channel.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 05/08/2022 - 11:49

    People will make money from whatever other people will pay money for, either directly or indirectly (subscribing/following etc)

  • Willy Beamish on 05/08/2022 - 11:58
    +3

    Everything you described can be renamed to "TV".

    It's all entertainment nonsense, just like the news, that garbage show they call the project, etc.

    For the most part you have to be a real narcissistic scumbag doing extremely shady nonsense (Just like people on TV) like click baiting and misleading wherever you can to get views, which you'll realise that 90% of YT thumbnails share the same general format with text/arrow/sexually suggestive image/image not relating to the video at all.

  • 2esc on 05/08/2022 - 12:07

    Good on the youtubers that are having a go and making a living. Though I can't understand why some get so many followers.

  • Drakesy on 05/08/2022 - 12:26

    wait till you hear about what they get up to on onlyfans

  • OzBarAnon on 05/08/2022 - 12:28

    Kind of. The bigger problem is when some of them develop a devoted fanbase that will take their word as gospel and believe it, even when random gaming celeb is speaking about a topic that they know nothing about. They get an inflated ego and think they're hot stuff because they got famous playing video games and they have certain followers who worship them because of their celebrity status alone. In terms of earning success, I'd say 'react' channels and those get-rich ponzi type courses (your Tai Lopezes and Dan Loks) are worse. I have no issue in the base idea of someone making money as an internet entertainer, it's just that it so often leads to other problems.

    • FireRunner on 05/08/2022 - 12:48

      celebrities like movie actors or singers can often get a overly devoted fan base and develop an inflated ego. The problems describes aren’t just limited to Internet personalities

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