Why Are So Many People Quitting YouTube?

[@SecondThought]

Howdy, friends! I hope you enjoy the slight departure from our normal style of video. I watched a bunch of those "goodbye" videos and felt compelled to give my two cents as someone who's been running a KZbin channel for almost a decade. If you'd like to support my work, please consider becoming a patron! All patrons get early access to videos, as well as access to our Discord server, where I try to do a live Q&A every month or so patreon.com/secondthought

[@GeoBlits]

moment

[@gnomechump-stiny7128]

Yea people acclimate to their privileged situation. This is the human condition. If we worked 4 hours people would feel the same way .

[@gnomechump-stiny7128]

KZbinrs could retire n be fine stop tryna relate with the common worker . It's more than cringe.

[@vijaydizzle]

Much love, thanks and respect for your work bro!

[@elliot_729]

I like your comments when they are about important information or something like Patreon or directly supports you.

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

Imagine if KZbin actually suffered when a ton of creators left.

[@agustin__]

There is a youtuber in Argentina who once told the idea to build a chamber of commerce for youtubers in a series of interviews, he was joking about it as a dream, but it is a real possibility. Just imagine a whole country withdrawing every content from Spotify in order to get more royalties. Freedom of market means freedom of association.

[@down-to-earth-mystery-school]

KZbin Union has a good ring to it

[@athena2824]

Nebula ftw

[@eyespy3001]

@@down-to-earth-mystery-schoolA Union against who, or what? The algorithm? KZbin creators are their own bosses for the most part. KZbin is just the platform. It’s just public access television but online.

[@virtualgambit577]

@@eyespy3001I think forcing KZbin to answer to its biggest creators when false strikes and claims are made against them would be a start. Or forcing KZbin to uphold its TOS equally, like in the case of a certain YYKZbinr…

[@1Dimee]

A big problem that I’ve noticed with youtube is the pressure to succumb to standardization. I have a video called “The Culture Industry” on the law of Standardization in the music & entertainment industry at large and how the capitalist market forces art become a mass produced cultural commodity. I think those same dynamics apply to KZbin. Experimenting with something artistically new for each video is not well received by the algorithm, which demands predictable output and a predictable audience. Doesn’t help that for political channels, it is impossible for your video to rank high in search if other media channels have covered the topic, as youtube prioritizes “authoritative” content (media from established news outlets).

[@LennyComments]

great video check it out if you haven‘t seen it!

[@Matrix2Strata017]

I can very much agree to that. As far as the YT dynamics, it does remind me of how many channel growth tips by experts also help push out that methodology. This is also something I see grow in the "anime" industry as well. As for music, I have noticed that certain "templates" are used to keep a redundancy to keep people addicted. Movies, I'd imagine it's a similar scenario, using "templates".

[@atlaskomaneri8708]

Yes! Creator @berrysoffice put together an AMAZING project that should be studied and talked about in film schools and film magazines all over the world, and yet he has an average of 10k views. Of course he created it for posterity, but it wasn't the algorythm that recommended it to me, although it probably knows I am a cinema academic.

[@generator6946]

Honestly, what do we expect. KZbin is for KZbin and no one else! Enjoy blowing your time here! Have a good good day!

[@thecrimsondragon9744]

I hate that YT prioritises MSM videos over others, what’s the point of Social Media if you’re just gonna put BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera etc over others anyway…

[@PrOpoRa8r1Br0]

9:56 this kind of search also happened to KZbin and I dislike it so much. KZbin used to work as some kind of archive of so many stuff, but they messed up their searching tools and now if you wanna find a video from 15 years ago you'll never find it and you'll get thousands of 'sugested' videos that don't even relate to the topic you were searching in the first place

[@im_avg_joe]

The REAL problem is Google wants complete control. Creators want the freedom to post what they want WITHOUT copyright strikes and requirements to monetize

[@AntonioPeralesdelHierro]

Google is an ignorant, greedy, repressive and neurotically defensive pig with the power to censor. I have a paid "Trust Agent" expected to keep me politically "in line." I am not alone.

[@reactionqueenboss2001]

Oh psh ur comment is nonsense drop uploading other people music it’s not as bad as a whole STRIKE! There’s copyright claim and there’s worse, the big strike strike one strike two strike three ur out

[@SolisGaming]

no, the problem is people get lazy when the newness wears off. has not one damn thing to do with the algorythm , its there for you to help it help you.

[@VictheChick]

💯 YES!

[@VictheChick]

​@@SolisGaming Try again. The algorithm is there to help _KZbin._ Content creators are expendable.

[@JayPrice0057]

Man I’m not gonna lie here. Watching the supercut of all these people is way too relatable. I just found myself crying over my ironing board and realizing that I am 46 years old, and I spend 17 hours a day grinding away a job I don’t even remotely believe in. I have run car dealerships for nearly 30 years, and I would gladly take the bus if public transportation was worth a shit in Louisiana. Man I was not ready for this.

[@TheKnittedRaven]

I hear you. I quit a career in health care management in my early 50s to become a full-time craftsperson. After years of doing that job, I realized that just because you can do a job, doesn't mean you should. It's like wearing poorly fitting shoes - first you get blisters, then your feet bleed, eventually your knees, hips and low back start to be damaged - all because you keep wearing the poorly fitting shoes. Life is too short to be stuck in sh*tty shoes. Hang in there. You'll find your way.

[@Javdoc]

Wow, that "enshittification" thing is so elegantly simple and spot on.

[@Rick6767rick]

well i dont know.. none of those platforms he mentioned are dead or near dead.. they seem to be making crap loads of money.. maybe the closest would be facebook... and they still make crap loads... I dont how old you are but i was around when AOL started.. you cant get more dead that that platform.. and yet its still around.. you can still get an aol email acct if you want..lol.. its crzy ( oh i think myspace is actually dead ) :)

[@dragonstooth4223]

I thought so too. Its pretty much all the big social media platforms now but no one is bringing in something to pull users and creators away

[@edupunknoob]

Cory Doctorow has called a lot of recent trends. That track record makes his newest books _terrifying_

[@jeff__w]

I was happy to see that JT used the term in the specific technical sense that Cory Doctorow intended: pattern of decreasing quality of online platforms that act as intermediaries. There is a different and broader term, _crapification,_ often used by Yves Smith of _Naked Capitalism,_ that refers to the tendency of the quality of goods and services to decline over time (e.g., airline travel in the US) or become less attractive in some other way to those buying them (e.g., the imposition of a non-optional “subscription” model for software).

[@noahboucher125]

The best way to guarantee a paycheck is to make yourself a middleman. Anyone who's ever sold drugs knows this.

[@FateWorseThanDeath]

It always continues to blow my mind that someone can show a compilation of KZbinrs with millions of subscribers and I've never heard of any of them

[@aar0n709]

They have their audience. They upload for them not everybody

[@scb-z9u]

Same

[@sentientflower7891]

You would be amazed at how many things you don't know and haven't encountered yet but still is famous within its own context.

[@FateWorseThanDeath]

@sentientflower7891 For sure. There are so many different genres and niches, not just on YT, but in the world. It constantly amazes me. One minute the world feels so small, the next if feels infinite. Fun!

[@sentientflower7891]

@@FateWorseThanDeath very true, this discovery happens in music all the time. You notice that a musician you never heard of fills an entire stadium and the audience knows all the songs. There's too much information to keep up with everything.

[@Reformatt]

I felt so much better once I stopped doing weekly uploads, it is absolutely draining. I just release an episode when I feel the quality is good enough for a release. I wish the algorithm could appreciate that.

[@wankertanker1813]

So, like, the algorithm let's you go if you don't produce on a regular pattern? Bogus

[@Reformatt]

@@wankertanker1813 it is one of the key factors

[@SerpentineDeity]

Yes. It's like indirect slavery to give them a steady advertiser revenue flow. They need to be more flexible and allow them to pause their personal algorithm. Vacations are important.

[@Matthew.E.Kelly.]

11:39 This is being a musician. It's why I turned down several chances to "go pro", sign to big labels, & have industry backers. I wanted my music/art to mean something & not be a product. Every chance I turned down was the best decision I ever made for myself, as a musician.

[@wankertanker1813]

"Go pro" for music just sounds so odd.

[@Matthew.E.Kelly.]

@@wankertanker1813it does until you realize that the music industry relies on "professionalism" & production rather than artistry & creativity. It's about cranking out consistently mediocre product, as opposed to crafting & honing talent. Music production as an industry has practically killed common understanding of the arts, check out Adorno & Horkheimer's _The Culture Industry_ in "Dialectics Of Enlightenment" -- they wrote about it almost 100 years ago & predicted exactly where we'd end up. Cookie cutter nursery rhyme pop songs with vapid, infantile, plastic pop stars.

[@EmelieWaldken]

Relating so much to your mindset. I was pro, freelancing 100%, then got a part-time unrelated job to give me financial stability. Now I can do what I WANT in music and keep creativity and quality. I so much agree that the industry has killed artistry. It's scary as heck when you think about it.

[@Matthew.E.Kelly.]

@@EmelieWaldkenCapitalism leaves *nothing* for us to pursue freely. Everything must be streamlined, monetized, & mass-produced. Nothing is allowed to actually _grow_ under capitalism except profit & production capability, & only those for the ruling class who own everything. Workers, creators, visionaries, innovators -- we're only allowed to make our footprint smaller, to enjoy less as we sacrifice more at the altar of shareholder value, to take up less space & utilize less resources to be more efficient & independent & individual. It's bull$hit & I'm glad you can enjoy creating again!

[@wankertanker1813]

@@Matthew.E.Kelly. exactly why I try to avoid it

[@LeejaMiller]

Thanks for making this and starting this conversation!

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

i love u and ur content pls collab

[@trasda2475]

JT's love for cameras and editing really shines through the selection of KZbinrs in this video

[@SecondThought]

Been watching some of these guys for years 🥲

[@Blastnet_DanHarris]

But @@SecondThought do you watch Linus Tech Tips? 🤣

[@theanimationcritictaylorri1264]

@@Blastnet_DanHarrisI watched LTT off & on some for a number of years. But not as of recently although there was something about he was making questionable reviews on products and intentionally trying to undermine his sponsors or employees or something? I didn’t go too deep into it. I think the most infamous one was something about a Bluetooth accessory?

[@calicomorgan2408]

Two major things lately. One was employees saying they aren't allowed to discuss their wage with coworkers. After this, I pulled out of my Float plane support. Then they ripped apart a small company that made a very niche cooler, saying nobody should ever buy it, but they installed it in a system which the company directly said it shouldn't be used in. This small company put everything into this prototype, and because Linus didn't bother to read the included information, they may go under. Linus doubled down on this, and the whole thing has been absolute shit. I stopped watching all of their content several months ago now. It's such a shame, but this shit matters. ​@@theanimationcritictaylorri1264

[@Blastnet_DanHarris]

LTT definitely stepped in a giant pile of self-inflicted manure last year@@theanimationcritictaylorri1264 . Some serious deficiencies in their testing was discovered and I hope properly addressed by them. The entire idea of the labs as an independent tester is an interesting one. I was asking the question to JT becaause he made a comment about LTT in the video.

[@ツッ]

I can definitely relate to the burnout that comes from turning something fun into a job, It's important to find a balance and prioritize self-care 🙏

[@singloc3021]

True story, I quit being a teacher to work in the mailroom of a corporation. I make so much less money but I no longer have stress (at least in terms of output-results) and no homework, everyday. I miss the classroom but my happiness counts too.

[@o_q]

bot

[@timop6340]

Constantly trying to outpace evolving black box recommendation algorithm is like a n:th circle of Dante's hell

[@Bookish1995]

Why does it take some so long?

[@Bookish1995]

​@singloc3021 not every school is like that...

[@Matok1]

I don't think humans were ever meant to constantly do the same thing for decades on end, especially something they are not particularly passionate about. Yeah some can do it, but they seem to be the exception rather than the rule. The biggest problem is a lot of people are so close to the edge of starvation/homelessness that they like feel they have no choice but to continue doing what they're doing for their meager income for fear of going over that edge if they dare to take a break. People should be able to take a break without facing financial ruin.

[@paulszki]

I mean I share the sentiment that doing the same for decades not being very appealing but I think that for tens of thousands of years, thats how humans lived. You went hunting and gathering and that was it. And with the dawn of Civilization for a while not much changed. everyone was a farmer now, day in day out.

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

i think it’s driving ppl insane

[@rising_crust]

In April 2020 I started working two full-time jobs. One was 5 days a week and the other 7 days a week. After about 3 years, the second job became unprofitable and I reached the point where my financial hemorrhaging had stopped, so I quit my second job. After about 2 weeks, I fell into the deepest depression I could have never imagined. And it’s been about a year and I am just now crawling out of the depression. Be diligent about your personal financial responsibilities, but don’t drive yourself nuts with work like I did. I hear these creators who are quitting loud and clear and I hope that they recover.

[@fractalfae5418]

This is one of those rare moments that an upload immediately feels extremely important and deserving of front and centre recommendation. Pretty much everyone on the platform should watch this.

[@digitalreject3233]

Book I read in 2013 called "In Praise Of Slowness." when I was 55 years old working 2 jobs 7 days a week. In it the autor quoted a labor statistic: if the average European worker were to match hour for hour the average USA worker, starting on January 1st, the average European worker would be done with their work year by October 23rd. Now, I realize that has probably changed for the worse for Europeans and Americans, but it just illustrates how unjust the system is.

[@TomiThemself]

Respectfully asking (as a European), when would an American end (as "by October 23rd" sounds like a lot of working hours)?

[@randomtinypotatocried]

@@TomiThemselfI'm wondering that one as an American

[@digitalreject3233]

@@TomiThemself I think it assumes that the American worker would still have the rest of October, November and December to go. I had a conversation with an American engineer who was hired by a German company and lived there for a decade with his wife. I told him about this quote. He told me the German company gave him six weeks paid vacation per year.

[@ravenandstar]

​@@TomiThemself I've google. The USA is the most overworked nation. Minus some off the record stuff (or second jobs), but I also think it doesn't factor in second jobs in the USA. According to some studies. You can take some of these numbers with a grain of salt. But studies have shown the average US worker works about 400 more hours than Germany. Developed Europe seemed to fall between 200-500 less hours a year. Let's just use Germany here. If an American worker and Germany worker worked the average, with taking 0 days off, no time off for doctors/vacations/emergencies. Both get the weekend off. So with 8 hours a day, that's 50 extra days off. In 2023 there last day of work would be October 23rd (2024 would be the 22nd, because Leap Day). The German worker would be done for the year, ONLY if you took the average. The USA work needs to finish off those 400 extra hours.. So they go to December 31st. The other way really doesn't convert as well. Now imagine if you worked by German standards, but had to do the American average hours. Now nothing changes for Germany, their work year ends December 31st. But if they had to the American working schedule. they would need 70 extra calendar days to finish the American work year. The best way to think of it is this way. If you work a full time job you are pretty close to 2,100 hours a year. Now that Germany works 400 less hours a year. That would 1,700. Basically workers in Germany get an extra 400 hours of "free time" than the USA worker.

[@yoonahkang7384]

They still dont work as much while gaining as little as a southamerican, probably because we southamericans have to feed you all whities from the north. Dont thank us

[@_Jaybefaunt]

I'm 3 years into my KZbin channel. My channel is tiny compared to others and I work every day that I'm not on dialysis. JT is speaking FACTS here. I see myself in this already.

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Yes, same here. Exactly the same except instead of dialysis, I work on my channel when I’m not at my regular full time job as a cook.

[@trasda2475]

just subsribed, keep up the good work

[@thatpandaz6094]

I hope you succeed

[@BRonSports]

As someone who has also been on KZbin for a little bit of time myself I feel this. I've got a sports gaming channel and I love what I do, but it's NOT easy at all. Especially because I'm still trying to "make it" out here in these KZbin streets 😅

[@Wynngrem]

​@@BRonSportsI like gaming content I subbed :)

[@bettemiddler7756]

Hustle culture? Constant work? The moment you turn Something fun into a job you quickly burn out. There's no reason people should be working multiple jobs 7 days a week. Things were not supposed to be like this.

[@hectorvega621]

No wonder I can't seem to learn to draw and try not to bother practicing my writing.

[@Maralien99]

@@hectorvega621 Maybe it's your mindset. Hustle culture doesn't have anything to do with creative work itself.

[@MajorHickE]

​@@hectorvega621 I know what you mean. I took up the same hobbies a few years ago. Put them away for months between work burnout and some of my family's only interest in either hobby being when I was going to make money off of them. The second I think about trying to monetize any hobby it turns into a nightmare of constantly having to do it.

[@maskingtables]

You can turn a fun thing into a job without burning out. I work as a musician in a bar since 2016 and it pays way better than online bs.

[@TomiThemself]

Probably were - it is exactly what capitalism would lead to. Every. Single. Time.

[@AlfoMedia]

felt incredibly validated by this. thank you for making it

[@wolframstahl1263]

Since you mentioned it in the episode: I've spent a lot of time watching yours and other content, learning and exploring where I stand. I am just now at the start of getting organized and getting more active. It's still a long journey, but the purely passive part of it is coming to an end. Second Thought didn't start this journey and Second Thought is not the only thing that kept it moving. But I can unequivocally say that ST was the biggest accelerant, led to the biggest and most rapid shifts in my understanding, and I don't know if my journey would have ever brought me to my current stage without this channel. Thank you, and I'm glad to hear that you'll be along for the ride a while longer.

[@strikeformatik]

It remains baffeling to me that the hunger for more more more always leads to decay and death. How have we still not learned how to say enough is enough and save something that works, accepting a steady revenue without constanly focussing on ever groing profit.

[@caleb_güero]

Well American "consumers" have been taught to do exactly that- consume no matter what. It's like they see it as a must. They're also fed the lie that if they "pull themselves up by the bootstraps" that they'll succeed which isn't true. Plus the rich have always operated on the principle of profit over people. They would watch you die of exhaustion on the work floor and be annoyed they have to hire someone else and pay out a life insurance policy, that is if they can't find a way to blame you and Weasle out of it.

[@adamkey1934]

The biggest thing about KZbin is the damn algorithm. If you don't have a set upload schedule the algorithm punishes you for this, and it's hard for any channel to even get off the ground. But if you have a set schedule and then build up a fanbase, they will get annoyed if their next vid doesn’t come out when expected. Creativity doesn't follow a set schedule. It's no surprise people get burnt out.

[@fmphotooffice5513]

This comment deserves to be highlighted. I see a bunch of suits at a conference table a few years ago, deciding the direction where KZbin should go. Someone got a round of applause when they said the simple solution is to let the algorithm hold the whip. The creators' schedule will be the sword above their head, and all that is left is to sit back and watch the money roll in.

[@adamkey1934]

@fmphotooffice5513 there's one channel I've followed for years, fairly successful now at just under 200k subs and many more who watch but aren't subbed. He has a very strict 2 vids a day, 7 days a week upload schedule. He was off sick with Covid for a few days and missed uploads. After looking at the KZbin analytics when he came back he said it took months before new (as in people stumbling across his vids who aren't yet subscribed) channel views were at the same level as before. Years of work for the algorithm to punish him for having the audacity to be ill. Last year he had his first weekend off since starting the channel, but because of what happened before he made vids beforehand and scheduled them to be released at the usual times. I admire his work ethic, but it's not healthy. KZbin just wants you to grind, and grind consistently.

[@TirnanHealy]

@@adamkey1934it’s more likely people just got burnout from watching him. The algorithm is literally just a reflection of people’s viewing habits.

[@darkpixel1128]

@@adamkey1934 Are you talking about Mr Streamer (roll1d2 games)? Its really sad actually how he HAS to upload, he's talked multiple times that you need to keep the schedule or your channel just falls off.

[@Supernimo735]

Yeah and all the ads. And the moderation sucks cuz it's full of bots

[@weirdfish1216]

my absolute favorite youtuber is ethoslab. no sponsors, no flashy thumbnails, no screaming, just a genuine guy playing video games (mainly minecraft) for an audience that’s mostly watched him for years, if not over a decade. hell, we haven’t even seen the man’s face yet. and he has over 2 million of the most loyal subscribers i’ve ever seen

[@rickb3650]

Which relates to this, how?

[@CatTheLegendary]

This is how I feel about Rad Brad. Just a really chill gaming youtuber, tons of loyal followers and he's just a genuine guy!

[@Robert0Pirie]

Etho is awesome.

[@weirdfish1216]

@@rickb3650 i’m just surprised how etho hasn’t gotten burned out by youtube and has stayed true to himself after so long

[@rickb3650]

@@weirdfish1216 TY. I think the most significant factor is that he doesn't need the money, so he does what he wants, when he wants.

[@marknonnenmacher1918]

Thank you for this! I can relate so much. I worked in the entertainment industry (TV, Film etc.) for over 25 years. The industry slowly blead the creative joy right out of me, I.e. needles high pressure, abusive people and homogenized creativity, instability. I felt I was knocking myself out for nothing. All of this and more took its toll and finally cost me my mental and physical health. Even though I was never a KZbinr, All that's been discussed could be my own former life. Work/life really is a major issue. Living life is what matters most. Again thank you for your commentary.

[@ArtakaWorksStudio]

I'm not a KZbinr, but being a content creator in general (doing this like creating art, webcomics, short stories, commissions etc.) I can definitely relate to the feeling of burnout. Sadly [and I'm sure other creators can relate], a huge portion of my time is spent trying to game the algorithm to get as much exposure as possible. It wastes so much time and you feel more like a marketer and less like a creator. While I'm always sad to see people go, I don't blame them one bit. People should be able to pursue their passions without having to deal with the grindset BS.

[@Matrix2Strata017]

Much appreciated, it's like I'm writing a novel, and I want to get people interested and reading it, but it's also incredibly hard to get anyone interested. I have been to a few conventions, specifically one I remember strongly was a comic-con. A man was, not selling, but rather offering his short mini-series of books for free! That's right, for absolutely free, and nobody bothered to take one the entire day. And you realize this man had to spend money to get his book printed, adding more to his loss of, not only monetary loss, but loss of time.

[@matthewfusaro2590]

I feel like I missed the golden age of KZbin. I tried to start my own channel and just adding a couple of videos seems like a chore. I've got few views which was expected. I can't imagine the amount of work it take just to get monetized. And of course there is always the possibility to uploading videos that KZbin doesn't like, which seems to get worse by the day. Why would anyone want to put up with all these hassles?

[@hectorvega621]

I miss my chance in 2018, and second chance in 2020.

[@BZ.design]

@@hectorvega621 there is still a chance now don't lose hope, youtubbers quitting has a bright side, new youtubers can fiill their void

[@hectorvega621]

@@BZ.design True, I just can't help, but want to be a Vtuber, since I don't want to show my face. Just don't have money to get it drawn and model into a 3d character, but I can at least try with videos.

[@brighampitts]

As someone in the same spot as you, the 2nd best time to plant a tree is always right now. Don't think about what could've been. Think about what could be :)

[@tfkdandsvkc]

I missed my chance in 2014-2018 before mr.beast came and ruined youtube it's been a capitalistic hell hole since he to took over I used to upload but my videos were poor quality compared to ksi and pewds at the time now they are very wealthy it's unbelievable,,but I have a successful channel -i won't say the name- and been grinding though it has taken me so many trials

[@raymondbyczko]

Second Thought, for me, is a rational, well done, informative, and enjoyable channel to watch! Thank you!

[@zlpatriot11]

A concrete factor in helping me become a socialist. I always look forward to a Second Thought video.

[@virtualgambit577]

I had started making content on a channel a few years ago and my social life took a major hit. I was constantly working on it and checking on it and started hating doing it. I left the grind and completely understand anyone else wanting to leave as well, the experience definitely made me more sympathetic to creators as a whole.

[@silvervixen007]

Same! I think about quitting too!

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

Did the "Australian Aboriginals, or any of the worlds' cave (paintings?) communicators self agonize like post-partum separations or cognize a evolutionary gift it forward?

[@LuxuryRumble]

did you make any money?

[@reporeport]

you''re an EXCELLENT communicator. One of the best i've ever heard.

[@Skovgaard1975]

So was Hitler apparently - This does not mean he is correct or has good arguments. His videos are usually full of non arguments and straw men.

[@sambeawesome]

I don't necessarily regret trying to make a job from YT and really pushing myself to produce as much as I could, but at the same time, I kind of do. It's a mixed bag. I've lost contact with a lot of friends I've made over the years who quit and just disappeared. There's all these big creators quitting or slowing down now, but as you mentioned, so many more of us smaller folks who've been dropping like flies too. This system as is isn't sustainable. If I knew then what I knew now, I definitely would've done things differently. To anyone starting now, don't be discouraged, but do listen to these stories and learn from our mistakes. Be very careful if you want to turn your passion into a career.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Love you, dude. Felt every iota of this. Thank you for putting it so succinctly.

[@Death_By_Media]

Good to see you here comrade RedMeansSolidarity !

[@thelifewithnate]

This is disheartening to hear for a newbie like myself that just started last weekend! I always envisioned making KZbin more of a part-time gig with just speaking on different topics and providing value to a growing audience. But to make it full-time is another story altogether entirely! Growing on any platform is tough, it is three times harder on KZbin I would imagine. To all the small creators out there, just don't quit! We got this.

[@SilverionX]

As long as you're having fun, you don't compare yourself to others and you keep a consistent schedule, you'll be all right. When you're first starting out, you don't have any demands and you can just try everything and see what you like. What you're seeing in these decade old channels is people who are trapped by the algorithm to make more of the same stuff that was successful before, if they want to keep being successful. Just make sure you aren't overdoing it and recognize it will take time. I believe in you. :)

[@vindex7309]

No need to put yourself down so fast. It’s a different beast entirely when you’re starting out to when you’re established. You don’t start something expecting the end result. Do what you can, make what you want to and if you decide to grow, do so intentionally. Now you know what it looks like behind the scenes. Is that what you want for yourself?

[@memyselfandi8544]

Google will destroy whatever you create. Family is more important.

[@johnbees4443]

I think everyone is quitting because the economy is finally at a breaking point and zoomers now are finally in the real world. I think before this point, you had a decent economy thought bounce pretty well back in 2014 and then a boom in 2016-2019 and now we are still recovering from Covid lockdowns and all the businesses it destroyed to the recent leaps of inflation. I think before alot of zoomers donated with money they had from living at home and working or money from their parents. Well now zoomers are in the same boat as millennials, where you need to decide how to best spend your money that's rapidly being destroyed by inflation. Not to mention this whole woke revolution, went from cancel culture to a persistent buzzing fly that keeps the creative community scared 😱

[@waltermennekens1503]

Don't worry, it's still better than 99% of real jobs

[@WildShiversASMR]

I love your channel. I’m so glad you exist! I ran an ASMR channel for a few years and it was exhausting to try and make what people wanted and fit it to my “audience.” I wanna start a podcast instead that doesn’t drain me.

[@soulstrong]

Thank you for sharing this. I've often found it hard to actually follow or find those whose channels have gone silent.

[@CalliNightmare]

KZbin: "Your age restricted/demonotized because its not advertiser friendly." Also KZbin: puts those same advertisements on the video anyways...

[@Matt_Mosley1983]

KZbin only pays attention to your monetized content if you have a large following. If you have 1K subscribers and barely qualify to make money from it, they ignore all reports on your channels (see: Tyree Sneed's I AM THE ONLY REAL BATMAN and LORD FRIEZA DRAGONBALL Z channels. Racist hate full of swearing... but monetized.)

[@Matrix2Strata017]

even those who have not reached monetization they can slap an ad on it....

[@mklinger23]

We went from an entire production studio making one episode of a show every week to a single person or small team producing the same. And the channels don't get paid nearly as much as a TV studio. There are some differences, but its crazy to think about.

[@tw8464]

Yeah everything had turned into "spotify"

[@jenesoleil3922]

Its like that day when you’re on your way to work, you see a guy literally shoveling sh**, and you’re like, “I’d rather have his job than do my job another day.” Yeah, it’s like that. Been there.

[@kswager2217]

I currently have that job and still want to give yt a try. More as a hobby but if it brings in some money or fulfillment that’s a side bonus

[@TomiThemself]

@@kswager2217 It starts as a side bonus, but believe me, at some point when you'll start to see the numbers, you'll (sadly) see it more as a job than a hobby...

[@africaart]

I want to be a soldier abandoned in no man's land (not barracks))(

[@redgreen2453]

@@Livingoffgridinbabylonsolution: every couple of months, we switch jobs with our neighbors and pass ours down the line

[@lordchaa1598]

As a farmer, I occasionally have to shovel 💩. The grass always looks greener on the other side. The truth is, work is work. I only get paid for my finished product, just like a KZbinrs. All the hard work that goes into creating that product is rarely seen and even rarer to be recognized for how much you do. They’re years that drought or weather will destroy or heavily reduce my yields. The only difference is I have crop insurance. Perhaps it’s time for KZbinrs to unionize and get some job security, while simultaneously getting credit for how hard they work.

[@OliverEvergreen]

a comment for the altar of youtube algorithm. love your channel, don't stop.

[@jadorejoe]

I’m a creative and I work on the administrative side of one of my creative passions. This is something I think about all day, everyday and how it effects more traditional disciplines of creativity as well. This is a MUCH larger conversation we NEED to be having and I thank you for sharing your perspective ❤

[@jok3r1981]

"Since the first caveman enslaved his neighbor" I don't typically laugh out loud at informative videos, but that joke landed. Well played sir!

[@Ailasher]

Well, that's a bit historically inaccurate. Cavemen didn't enslave "neighbors". They ate them. The only people they would take in were women and small children, for obvious reasons. Slavery began with the Neolithic: the process of working the land, when more constant daily labor was needed than picking berries or hunting animals i.e. "findings". But his point is clear, nonetheless.

[@prozacdick]

@@Ailashercould you send me the source of this information? i would love to read more about this historical period!

[@GhostSamaritan]

​@@AilasherNomads and monkeys aren't usually cannibals so I call cap.

[@redgreen2453]

@@AilasherAlex Jones approved lifestyle

[@Ailasher]

@@redgreen2453 I'd bet that the rise of neo-liberalism has something in common with post-apocalyptic power fantasy. Where, "Yep, I'm the strongest bunker dweller with the biggest pile of pre-war cans and ammo. This new world of total anarchy is mine!"

[@CynUnion-ji9uj]

You know, i was one of those kids who really wanted to be a youtuber. In high school some of my friends and I got together and made a little gaming channel. Brainstormed a terrible name at 3am, thought up quasi-personas, made crummy art for our pfp and banner. We didn't know what we were doing, but we were having a ball playing the games we already played(none of which were very popular at the time) and sharing the result with all 7 people who would watch. I used to look back at that short time and cringe because it was "bad content". But lately, with all these youtubers who i love moving away from the platform I think about that short experiment and remember the fun we had making those silly videos, the lessons I learned editing most of it, and the dreaming we did. These days, some of us lovestream, i still practice my video editing, but its all hobby.

[@TarboxArt]

Really appreciate the video. I’m a full time freelance artist and in 2022 I decided I wanted to try KZbin as a way to earn money without depending on sales. Once it became clear what the trade was - I realized it wasn’t for me. After a year it just totally drained me. My duplex burned down that year and I “took a break”. And I’ve been happier since

[@afterglow1478]

That sucks dude. I think this is the most tragic part of youtube that few people even think about. Putting so much time and effort and passion into something, only for nobody to even see it, because the algorithm never picked it up. I just had a look at your page and it looks just as good as any other big artist/creator channel out there. Great thumbnails, intros and it's clear there's talent and passion there. Only to notice the sub 1000 views on most of the videos, and then feel the crushing sensation of how it must've felt for you to live through it Fuck youtube, it's all a lottery, it says nothing about you or your art, you just didn't pick the lucky number. Keep creating!

[@TarboxArt]

@@afterglow1478 thanks man! I’m grateful I was able to see how long it would take to move forward and made the trade. I decided it wasn’t worth it for what I was doing. Still making art full time though! 🙏

[@Matrix2Strata017]

Yes, very draining especially when you're just starting out. Reminds me of when a house I was staying at burned down because one of the roommates decided to cook something, but also took a nap, eventually catching the house on fire. Lost a bunch of antiques, especially old kimonos from WWII Japan. Never recovered from that. Also, the amount of hard drive failures, my recent one came Jan 13 this year. Lost so much data over the years, so much stuff I've never been able to show people. Other than that, YT itself may not be the best path in the long run for anyone, it's a rabbit hole.

[@brainbenderNo1]

Beautiful video, I can feel how personal it is to you and the care you put into every one of your videos is fantastic!

[@rickeybernard8156]

Definitely going to be sad when you retire. It's so rare to see somebody that actually cares. I learned so much truth here, and the illusions that me and others have been under. Thank you, and whatever you decide I support you man.

[@RetroidsMusic]

All good things must come to an end. Im glad more people are choosing to take care of themselves

[@cezarcatalin1406]

We could have good things more rarely but forever if the system didn’t make people abuse their own creativity.

[@marcriba7581]

Yyyyeah... let's remember that for most of history humanity has been living by doing the same stuff for generations without major upsets unless circumstances drastically worsened, like wars or drought. This modern capitalist BS of constant uncertainty, of all processes being self-terminating? This is new and human-made.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

@@cezarcatalin1406 Jeez, won't *anyone* please think of the poor billionaires? Are their yachts supposed to pay for themselves?

[@TheModdedwarfare3]

​@@CC3GROUNDZEROyes if they lease them out

[@justanothernick3984]

@@cezarcatalin1406 The dilemma is when people turn their creative hobbies into a profession. The "good things" cost time and people want compensation for time spent but in order to make money, people need to get some problem solved. KZbin is entertainment and there is only enough time for people to entertain themselves. That's why selling goods and services provide a useful source for income because it's something people continuously need. So KZbin is a stepping stone-platform for creators to move into the entertainment market and sell their stuff there. Working 9-5 is actually really an easy way of solving people's problems and getting resources for spent time even if you don't always do any productive work. It's a cycle of needs. Is it boring? Yes, but you get paid to do things someone else could do but choose to buy as a service instead. Working a gig work or as a freelancer is more exciting and creative but is also more volatile. And you need to provide some use, in the case of KZbin; sell ads or premium subscriptions. It's an economic dilemma and not capitalistic per se. In a socialist economy, someone would have to decide a few to make entertainment as professionals but this way, anyone can spend their free time making content and consumers choose where to direct their attention. Time=attention so no wonder every platform values people's time spent on theirs. So this is what I find puzzling and at the core of the economics that the finger pointing seems to overlook.

[@The_Reckoning_Is_Here]

I very much appreciated this video - most of us arent creators and don’t know what happens behind the scenes. It’s very honest and vulnerable. ❤

[@Factory400]

I was in the film business starting way before KZbin. It was an all consuming existence. Over time, KZbin created filmakers and it is all the same.....consuming. I switched careers a number of years ago to save myself. I took a huge paycut but gained a life. It was worth it.

[@mythicaljabroni1464]

I’m curious what you went into after quitting the film industry? Also what department were you in? The strike killed the momentum I had going for my career and I got working in restaurants again. I’d much rather be on set than working for tips however I do remember constantly thinking about getting out of film while I was working in it

[@hidicproductions4849]

Hm. I want to work in the film industry as a director and cutter. Should this be a warning? But what should I do instead?! Film is my life. Art is my life. I am so confused.

[@medium-unit-onbreak]

.

[@tranquility6789]

I can't stress this enough, but ive been watching you for the past 3 years, and you not only took me from being a liberal who recently stopped being a conservative into a socialist, but you've been so helpful in my life. I can't thank you enough for teaching and enlightening me. Now, I'm trying to teach my friends about socialism, and when i gey a job out of high school, i really want to try and spread the ideas of socialism, class consciousness, and potentially start a union one day. Thank you so much, JT.

[@koba2140]

That's awesome comrade! ✊

[@johnbees4443]

Poor kid. You have no idea what union means 😂. Thanks to NAFTA a union just mean Understand Now I Observe No more work. They move the job to Mexico, they move it South, they do all sorts of things. Then even if you keep a union. That's awesome...who's president? 😂Biden? Hope your job wasn't in pipefitting, welding, construction, heavy equipment/operational engineer, stationary or steam PowerPlant engineer, hazardous material trucker, railroad worker, railroad conduct/engineer/signal maintenance and more, cargo pilot and so much more cause they are unemployed 😉

[@johnbees4443]

The problem with a socialist economy is how to protect national products. Right now we are paying to patrol the seas for every single trade vessel in the world. The navy's sole purpose isn't to protect Americans, but to protect shipping lanes. The fucking French, Germans and all other Europoors get free military escorts by the US. Next issue is we are paying trillions since the 50s to keep Egypt, Isreal sure was a bad idea😅,Iran, Iraqi, Saudi Arabia and more from killing each other. Did you forget the over 30 years we spent in the sand box fighting goat farmers only to lose it all to the tailban? Seriously that's not counting the stupid Gulf War too. 30 plus years kicking sand and nothing to show for it. Not to mention we don't punish American businesses in the foreign market. In Europe they pay a fixed price for insulin and more, WHY THE FUCK ARE WE ALLOWING THAT?! We should have those europoors on a leash begging us not to allow Russia to smoke them into the ground. I have family losing their paycheck to insulin so some foreigner can get it at fixed price?! And not type two, type one, all healthy all in shape just poof it happened. Next problem is honestly the retirement home err I mean our government. We should have put an age limit and work limit years ago. The fact that those fossils still run the country since the dinosaurs is not just disgusting its a shame Americans didn't revolt. Seriously how are the Europoors revolting and we Americans sit like dogs?!

[@deen2400]

I dislike socialism for the same reasons I don’t like pyramid schemes. I don’t see much difference between capitalism and socialism; both need a base of supporters, workers, contributors or whatever you want to call them, in order to function. It’s not evil in and of itself but being trapped in one or the other is the main problem. Eventually both only exist to keep the system in place and it’s to the detriment of all involved.

[@kainhall]

​@deen2400 a socalist capitalism is just about the best we got.....but repubs say socialism bad . Socialism is not communism It's public roads....grandma's social security....feeding people during a depression/recession

[@GroovyVideo2]

Yt deleted my anti corporation channel in 2006 and shadow banned me ever since then -

[@chuksamajor3020]

This is among the best videos I’ve seen on KZbin in quite some time. Or at least, It really resonated with me. As much as you said, I get that you would have said more if you weren’t constrained - though, that’s almost certainly just me projecting. For what it’s worth, I’m a fan of your work, and I hope you continue to thrive.

[@Wallnuts]

This was both fascinating and sobering for me; i feel a bit guilty as well for participating in this system as a consumer, too. Showing us more of the reality behind content creation really cements the fact that this lack of compensation for labor and being overworked has seeped into everything.

[@NovaSaber]

I hear the "you have to keep up a regular consistent schedule to be successful" thing so often, and it makes me wonder, how successful ARE the channels that upload very-high-effort videos very infrequently? Channels like Defunctland, TierZoo, Trey the Explainer, Philosophy Tube, , etc. do get a lot of views per video, and the algorithm actually does seem to promote their videos as much as those of frequent uploaders.

[@Sibylite]

I think the difference with some of those channels, especially Abigail for example, is that their channel isn’t the main thing but a component of a goal. For example i’m in the process of starting now and my goal is to use to channel alongside the academic career

[@Matrix2Strata017]

it's called creating an echo chamber. You don't have to in order to be successful. Because the internet is bloated with content, it is simply impossible to consume it all in a short period of time. I responded to someone above, please look for it for a more in-depth answer. To short answer your question. Imagine if everyone randomly decided to publish videos at a particular time (YT growth channels are guilty of this), 10 am, on Friday and Saturday because people's weekend start. You bloat YT on F and S at 10 am and those videos get lost in the mix until they finally show up. It's just like how you might finally get a recommended video from 4-5 years ago. And then another group picks Sunday, Monday, to upload, those videos from F and S will continue to get lost because of further bloat from Sunday and Monday uploads. Those from Sunday and Monday have to fight not only with themselves, but those from F and S. Then the cycle repeats. You see where this is going?

[@EmelieWaldken]

It's a bit niche but Bernadette Banner does get a lots of views and subscribers for something so specific as historical costuming, and she doesn't upload regularly, nor even so often. She has just found a superb balance of nerdiness, niche knowledge, buzz ideas, aesthetics and humor.

[@zsxander567]

I really appreciated this video, JT. I was also seeing a lot of goodbye videos going up and had similar thoughts about what's driving that.

[@TheCrazyCapMaster]

This burnout is happening in the VTuber industry too; several of the biggest names have recently started long breaks to try to deal with their mental health. Many of them have voiced feelings of having no time to themselves as their work expands and consumes their waking hours.

[@biohazardlnfS]

I would day good luck seems most have this issue but fortunately they made enough to retire early

[@TheCrazyCapMaster]

@@biohazardlnfS true, but they’re even deeper in the “KZbinr as a Business” concept than most of the mainstream KZbinrs; they’re not even running the business, they’re employees of Hololive or Nijisanji or whatnot. So while they still are allowed a fair bit of freedom in what they choose to record, they have to get approval for that chosen content from a manager and have a contract they have to abide by or be fired. And in Nijisanji’s case the “lots of money” appears to be something of an illusion, as some of the big names there have made offhanded remarks about not being able to pay bills. Nijisanji has been taking the vast majority of their KZbin and merch earnings for itself, while providing them with essentially no assistance in their work- one Nijisanji VTuber who left started a new role under VShojo was flabbergasted when they told their new manager they were starting a project and that manager asked them what they needed. That just wasn’t something Nijisanji did for them and they thought that lack of aid was normal. Hololive does seem to pay their VTubers a lot better though, we don’t know how much but most people suspect 6-figure salaries.

[@Matrix2Strata017]

However, it that is a double-edged sword space I would say. Are we talking agency-based? It's not much different from another job, you still get piled up with stipulations while working for someone, something, else. Then you have the fans who pile up expectations out of you. You just have to carry out those duties. Independents, they are hard to find, have less following, though they may have more freedom, they are still met with fan expectations. Though, it depends on the fandoms and their expectations. They also have to be concerned with doxxing and the crazies out there. Kizuna Ai should have been a lesson for most people when things suddenly turn south.

[@missZoey5387]

It is precisely because of this problem I hesitate getting into KZbin. Taking off on the platform is ridiculously difficult, and even if you do, you can easily end up being like these creators who are quitting.

[@randomtinypotatocried]

Same here. I don't want another art medium for myself to be ruined

[@tw8464]

Yeah it's easy to see working on KZbin is not straightforward at all and Alphabets algorithm enslaved you as bad as if you worked in an Amazon warehouse.

[@Diogo85]

What about KZbin as a hobby?

[@missZoey5387]

@@Diogo85 true

[@Andynonymous_music]

I think people need to recognize there is a big difference between content and art. safe to say KZbin greatly prioritizes the former

[@sotepniques]

its the isolation that done me in, I was raised being taught that univecity is a scam so went all in making content and setting up online businesses, im now 30 and gone back to univercity and its amazing, just having a place to go, be apart of something bigger then myself whilst learning has pulled me out the boring an isolating hole of youtube

[@koyzumie]

Thankyou for all your hard work over the years! your content has been very valuable to me and I'm sure so many others.

[@psychodad4434]

I know it’s a small consolation, but your videos are fantastic, educational, entertaining and have even helped me express these ideas to my kids in ways I never could articulate. So, thank you.

[@FacterinoCommenterino]

Today's Fact: In 1995, the first item ever sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer, which was purchased for 14.83 dollars.

[@st.altair4936]

Username checks out

[@jclau77]

​@@st.altair4936r/usernamechecksout r/ihavereddit

[@jclau77]

Thats cool but.... Who asked?

[@DJsocial7102]

​@@jclau77 people dont have to ask...

[@revupthosefryers9177]

yo momma was asking bout me lol

[@MYwinters1945]

This sounds like the kind of thing anyone would do if they have enough money to move to another thing. I hate my job, anybody hate their jobs, the ones that dont hate their jobs is because they havent been there long enough, but most of us cant just quit and do another thing without bankrupcy.

[@matthewhorrigan5848]

Preach

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

It's this. They can afford to quit. Ergo, they do.

[@jamesmyers8619]

If someone gave me a million dollars, I'd keep my job but I would put up with less 😂 Hopefully these guys have enough money to do the parts they love when they feel like it and not worry about the monetization. That doesn't help anyone else though.

[@maskingtables]

I would keep my job if I was rich. I would just reduce it to 6 hours a day. I like what I do, I hate the stupid system that forces me to pretend to work just for the formality of taking my time away. No extra work gets done cause we are so tired. They are paying people for hours of nothing for the simple pleasure of keeping us obedient.

[@MYwinters1945]

@@maskingtables I usted to like my job like 8 years ago, now I have a hard time standing it. Ive been putting so much hours for the glory of company profits that I cant enjoy it anymore.

[@politika8087]

In the past month, I emailed three KZbinrs who make very different content from each other. My inquiries were very different from the other, and none of them responded to me. I took it as: They're probably overburdened with online inquiries and are generally overworked and burned out. I think your video hits this problem right on the nail and confirms my hunch.

[@cartoonmaster2401]

Gee, thanks for reminding me of the pain. We'll miss you Mat. (Remembering myself having burning red eyes from bawling aside, I'm glad he's at peace in retirement and having fun doing whatever we wants to do now without KZbin on his back.)

[@malcolmmarson]

Thanks to All that provide You Tube content and the work and creativity that goes into them. Sure, makes this 76-year old's retirement years pleasant. I use it to do research on things that I wanted to know more about, from history to personalities, and war and peace issues.

[@magentatime]

Big respect for simply not being afraid to share your opinion on Mr. Beast. Seriously, people LOVE to ignore his contribution into enshitificating this platform because he did a couple objectively good things. edit: Please feel free to discuss your feelings with Mr. Beast below, as others have started to. It's such a welcome breath of fresh air on this platform to not see everyone immediately proverbially sucking Jimmy off in a comment reply section. I'm sure eventually there will be be BeastBots to report, but nevertheless.

[@banquetoftheleviathan1404]

I don't see mr beast as a guy with agency tbh. More a result of the algorithm

[@Praisethesunson]

​@@banquetoftheleviathan1404Mr. Beast is what I imagine an AI would make if asked to create a human brand.

[@aaliyahbeeby]

I just don’t buy into the whole genuinely want to help people thing because it’s still content first. If he wanted to help people he could have smaller prizes and better games to where it’s not just one big winner. Build a system that’s not about just throwing money and turning the other cheek but also educate. He could’ve built a community of people helping people. Given the success of gofundme and consumption I’m sure we could’ve been in a better position at least in america if we were worried about building each other up instead of trying to stunt on your neighbor.

[@JustSomeDinosaurPerson]

@@aaliyahbeeby It is honestly even worse. Some of the more deranged stuff he does qualifies as genuine psychological torture and is absolutely naive to tempt people into because "content", or more dubiously his charitable action actually has a major silver lining to it. Whenever a movement forms from outrage, one of the easiest ways to stifle and destroy the movement is to appease them. So when people got upset with how fucked up our healthcare system is that people who need life-changing procedures to cure blindness could not afford them, that was a good firestarter for potentially pressuring an industry towards meaningful change, so long as people stayed mad and continued to contribute to that social pressure. With Mr Beast being the one to step in and cover the costs of that procedure for one of the people who needed it, all without the any of the actual healthcare providers doing anything themselves, it appeased the outrage and snuffed out the movement. Leaving the larger systemic issues completely unresolved and unaffected.

[@TheModdedwarfare3]

Also his fans will ruin your life if you call him out.

[@chads.1726]

Great video. I streamed for about 5 years. I was bullied immediately after trying to basically do something similar there that you do here. I had far right jerks in every stream. Couldn't do public engagement after that. Can't take any days off ever. I love this video for how you deftly describe these issues I have been talking about since I quit a couple years ago.

[@thelifewithnate]

5 years of streaming? Mate, you are a legend. That is crazy, how do you deal with the issues of burnout when you're doing that full-time?

[@eges72]

I am a Visual Communication & Graphics Design student, and discovered your channel through my sociology and communication science course. Your content, like you mentioned, inspired me to organize and join a graphic designers guild in my home country, and I'd love to work for your animations and motion graphics in the future when I graduate. I If I were to work for my dream job, I'd do it for both the good of myself and the whole common society.

[@100KGNatty]

You don't even have a real job.

[@Dave_of_Mordor]

​@@100KGNattyaren't you a little too old to be thinking like this?

[@100KGNatty]

@@Dave_of_Mordor What do you do for a living then? Did I offend you over the fact that you work a BS job that's pretty much useless and worthless for society? Go work a trade.

[@Vaslof]

I was an early adopter to YT, back before Google bought it and 240p videos were normal. I had a successful channel with embarrasingly bad videos. I chose to focus on school instead. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been one of the big guys if I had stuck with it. Anyway my reasoning so many years ago was the same as what you're saying here, that as a career it would be tough. If you quit or can't make a living wage anymore, then you come out middle-aged without an education and a need to find a normal job for the rest of your life.

[@tomseidler7746]

I really appreciate your frank and brutally honest approach to this topic. And i hope you get all the support you need not only when you want to take a break but to stay healthly safe and have time to be with your family. I am one of those people as well. You helped me slide all the way to the left and to keep learning on how to be part of that change. Do what you need to do JT, i cant speak for anyone but myself but Id like to think youve inspired many people to be critial thinkers and compassionate.

[@Jeffdoeswhat]

Great points in this video. I try to catch every episode

[@SecondThought]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it

[@Tru1Tani]

I felt the work/life balance from MatPat because I've watched Film/Game/Food theory for as long as it's been out. We watched them grow together and he wants to enjoy the love they have. I get it

[@exoZelia]

All of this is also a very public example of why "follow (monetize) your passion" is generally not great advice. What you end up will certainly be better than a lot of terrible jobs out there, but at the cost of the passion itself. Tom said pretty much that, and I've experienced it with writing. Glad I can sell words to pay my bills but I don't even like writing this comment.

[@lourvenspierre4671]

You were the biggest influence to bring me out of being an “anarcho” capitalist

[@ClassicalTraining]

@lourvenspierre4671 Ok, now it's begging the question: Which video made you think of capitalism in a different way?

[@lourvenspierre4671]

@@ClassicalTraining I don’t remember, I switched over back in 2022, but it was more than one video.

[@thecountryboymack]

I appreciate the info youve shared with me. I used to be very right wing, but life experience and critical thinking has lead me to being the leftist in my family and friend group.

[@koba2140]

That's great comrade! ✊

[@AG-iu9lv]

Welcome to the dark side. We're a lot more fun, in addition to not being heartless tools.

[@thefirsttrillionaire2925]

@@AG-iu9lvehh I think it’s best to just listen to both sides and agree with what makes sense. Both are crazy and correct in some respects

[@_sealbro]

hell yeah

[@AG-iu9lv]

@@thefirsttrillionaire2925 spoken like a true WASP.

[@Quader417]

I want to do KZbin so bad(as a “side hustle” dont plan on making it a full career just something i actually enjoy while making money) but the last couple months have shown me it may not be profitable and i hate that every little thing we enjoy is being stolen from us

[@Aotearoa_Kiwi]

As a YT _Consumer_ I've been saying the same thing over the last few months, but you said it far more eloquently.

[@MrNEWDY]

I feel like genre of KZbin wise that music production and musician channels have one thing that keeps staying power. I notice a lot more collaboration and solidarity, lots of them are all friends and I think that can help with isolation.

[@unreleasedymb01]

another thing i feel is its too hard for any small creators of anything its too tough to be noticed nowadays, so many people are on the internet nowadays that only the top luckiest of people are the ones who make it because everyone else never shows up because everything is based off trends nowadays, i hate it and i wish everything could go back to normal, we’re in such an outta pocket era of the internet and even real life, its crazy

[@goosie8207]

Thank you for doing this video. Suris has been saying similar things about being on KZbin and feeling burnt out. It’s interesting to hear how many others are saying the same things.

[@TomiThemself]

Love your pfp!

[@goosie8207]

@@TomiThemself thank, I made it on picrew before the owl house finale.

[@Boredom_Incarnate]

5:12 the laugh in that "Work and you still starve" hits hard. that's the kind of laugh I'd have thinking about working at Starbucks and where my life was going. Hell, I'm in Data Engineering making more money than I thought I ever would and I still find myself feeling like that sometimes.

[@Zipshysa]

I saw this coming ever since Google bought KZbin. I'm honestly surprised the average creator hung on this long before realizing the "enshitification" epiphany that has escaped the zeitgeist until more recently.

[@thelifewithnate]

Google buying KZbin and then squeezing it for a lot of ad revenue makes sense. A little bit disheartening to hear as a complete beginner to the platform, but oh well so long as I have fun.

[@Zipshysa]

best of luck! I'm sure you know... it's a jungle out there.@@thelifewithnate

[@Matrix2Strata017]

seen it coming ages ago too. yet, some people think it's okay(?)....

[@EmelieWaldken]

What you say about passion becoming a job and then not feeling that great anymore is exactly what I experienced about being a pro musician. I LOVE music, it's my main outlet for my overflowing creativity and I could talk about nerdy bits of it for weeks (and I do, and that's why I started a channel). But in order to financially kindof manage (not even really), of course I had to take students. And I like to teach ! But when I HAVE to just in order to not starve, motivation goes out the window. So now I have another job, not related to music, to keep me just afloat financially, and my music is the extra. It's often frustrating to have to juggle with workdays when I'm motivated about a music project I'd like to do 100%. But at least I'm MOTIVATED again. I love music again. And I can be as picky as I want about it. And I'm VERY careful about KZbin. I started my channel just to talk about nerdy music things. It grew on its own. It's still super small in terms of this platform, but I quite own the niche I found. I never monetized it. My hate of ads decided that early on. I have a Patreon for people who are responsible enough to pay for what they consume (and many do, and it's a nice extra income). But even there, I try my best to balance staying interesting and relevant to my Patrons and not making it a career. I don't want to become a content creator. I'm a musician and I use the available platforms to get my music, ideas and knowledge to others.

[@joshbarker4953]

We appreciate your content! Incredibly insightful and educational

[@purplehaze2358]

These are also the same reasons why it's categorically a bad idea to use KZbin as a career in the first place, and why many people - me included - don't even bother trying.

[@Diogo85]

Yep. KZbin can be a hobby or a job. With some KZbinrs, it's both.

[@Caero_]

Honestly, as sad as it would be, I imagine you quitting would be inevitable JT I remember especially throughout the latter part of 2023, you were announcing to us in your discord server the worse video performance constantly. I unfortunately only imagine this'll continue, especially as the content continues to become more radical. But, best of luck, I certainly wouldn't want you to give up in the face of that sorta thing

[@st.altair4936]

Tbh I hope this channel doesn't get any more radical. It serves as a great pipeline for leftist thought as it is already, and is what radicalized me. Wouldn't like to see it get taken down by KZbin or something.

[@Caero_]

@@Jin420 He already does talk about socialism & promote it. But in his more recent videos, he's been going on about refuting anti-communist lies (e.g the black book of communism) & all that other jazz (especially in his video on authoritarianism)

[@drewm9903]

@@Jin420 I think people need to really know the truth of what's going on now. It's a bit late to be sugarcoat it now.

[@buckenfuzz]

Hopefully someday the cooperative movement goes mainstream and youtube becomes a "creator coop". In this scenario youtube creators would be electing the board of directors of youtube. This would give creators a measure of control over the platform. Edit: In the short term I would encourage JT to use his clout and speak with other content creators about forming a union. This, as he has so well articulated, is the first step when engaging in class struggle.

[@tw8464]

KZbin creators definitely need a union.

[@eges72]

Organization is the first step towards a socialist utopia. Content Creators of KZbin definitely need one.

[@black-nails]

​@@eges72honestly all media platforms. So many places are turning into unmoderated hostile environments with shitty algorithms and no costumer support, because they just need more profits.

[@liasonlee1248]

Might as well create a whole nation out of this, as long as commodification of every perceivable items persist, a "coop" can turn into "private", just like the same mistake USSR did long ago.

[@Matrix2Strata017]

Good luck trying to buy enough ownership to cede some control, don't think that's going to happen. At any rate, a whole entire new platform is better off. However, to keep people's greed out of it is another thing. And at that point, a CC on that platform would want funding. That funding is going to have to come from somewhere. It's not an easy situation at all when money becomes involved in about 99% of everything.

[@JohnClarkW]

I have seen a few of these, and the most consistent theme is that being on a schedule to make the algorithm happy seems to be burning people out.

[@laurawonka-hardisty83]

I have to say a LOT of what you're talking about can also be applied to having your own small business. As a small business for the last 27 years I have to say I am utterly exhausted and cry myself to sleep often. Especially of late... I find myself thinking about running away or sometimes what it would be like to be dead. It's awful and I have no idea how to escape it😢

[@FalconsEye58094]

It's very refreshing to see him so candid and what seems like he's just talking and not reading from a script, and this one hit close to home. These guys he talked about are all creators who were big and well known, what about the many more who you don't know?

[@Matrix2Strata017]

As one of them, I'm tired too, just that I never hit large. That's the only difference.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

I see the trend you are referring to. Channels reducing output or closing but the flip side is there are other channels where they double and quadruple the output. Shame, even those channels will get squeezed by the greed that is google and corporates in general. The deck of cards is teetering.

[@EdwardDanks009]

JT, my friend, you're a good man. I wish you nothing but the best.

[@wastepreserve]

this has comforting vibes thanks JT

[@maelrouge9103]

Thank you for all of your content - I can imagine it's a lonely, stressful and challenging job... Greetings from Germany 😊

[@PerfectPencil]

I tried making a youtube channel years ago and I would put in over 40 hours into each video... and all for almost no views. I did a few product review videos off the cuff and those videos exploded. I hated making them. After like 6 months i was done. The videos are still there. I still get views / comments every so often.. but .. ugh.. i dunno.

[@Thatonegirl989]

Most of these people have been doing this for well over 10 years, I can imagine getting burnt out or wanting something different. Edit: spelling

[@st.altair4936]

Can* you mean I think

[@Thatonegirl989]

@@st.altair4936 thanks

[@wariacix750]

They actually have a choice since their work made them literally millionaires. Most people would stop working in one proffession after that time IF they had a choice. But most workers don't.

[@Thatonegirl989]

@@wariacix750 thats true, it’s sad most people don’t have a choice.

[@TomiThemself]

Good for them - they have the privilege to have the profited money, to just quit. I can assure you, retail workers are also burnt out after 25 years of the same job (given that they probably didn't even want their in the first place, and thus don't see it as "creative"), but that's what capitalism leads to. I bet that these content creators, artists, writers, and anyone who started their job because they've seen it as an entertainment; would not get burnt out, if it weren't for the profit motive...

[@MrVoyager79]

I want to thank you for your work and efforts on this channel, 1st Thought, The Deprogram, etc. Your work has been helpful as I explore socialism and the various schools of thought, organizations, countries, and history. Thank you for everything you do!

[@hugotendam5349]

Well you did it. I became a Patron due to this video. You deserve it man. Excellent videos for years!

[@FransLibertson]

Thank you for yet another insightful video! Although not explicitly doing so, I think you relate quitting KZbin m to the negative effects of the attention economy, and in doing so you show that the attention economy not only pollutes the minds of the consumers but also the minds of the producers. Well done!

[@OctopusEight]

I LOVE WHEN SECOND THOUGHT UPLOADS