Is YouTube Content improving or getting worse as a result?





Adpocalypse Origins





Adpocalypse has taken place, there's been a drastic change in content as a result. You won't find nearly as much raunchy content as you could in early 2016, which now seems like a distant memory given how much YouTube has changed since that time, but why exactly did this happen? Well, the Adpocalypse started in late 2016, in which many advertisers decided to pull their ads from YouTube videos that were less than family friendly or often times too controversial for their liking, which demonetized any videos that were deemed inappropriate for ads. As a result, many channels suffered which included channels like , h3h3 productions, and Pewdiepie that nearly were "controversial" because they covered sensitive topics to entertain and/or inform their audience. Since the so-calledhas taken place, there's been a drastic change in content as a result. You won't find nearly as much raunchy content as you could in early 2016, which now seems like a distant memory given how much YouTube has changed since that time, but why exactly did this happen? Well, thestarted in late 2016, in which many advertisers decided to pull their ads from YouTube videos that were less than family friendly or often times too controversial for their liking, which demonetized any videos that were deemed inappropriate for ads. As a result, many channels suffered which included channels like Philip Defranco that nearly were "controversial" because they covered sensitive topics to entertain and/or inform their audience.





Because many Youtubers have been demonetized because their content doesn't adhere to advertiser friendly guidelines, a majority of them have opted to seek other forms of gaining revenue, such as asking viewers on patreon to fund their video escapades, or seeking advertisers willing to sponsor less family friendly videos.





Adpocalypse, such as the channel , which went into detail about how content creators might eventually pull away from YouTube as their guidelines become more stringent and tiresome. Many YouTubers have been outspoken about the, such as the channel vlogbrothers which went into detail about how content creators might eventually pull away from YouTube as their guidelines become more stringent and tiresome.





and TVFlithyFrank were praised for. While there may have been channels that uploaded videos that were generally viewed as "toxic" or in other words encouraged a culture of bullying off putting YouTube creators, which channels like leafyishere was later criticized for doing, there are many channels that nearly just covered sensitive topics, or engaged in more bold humor to push the limits of what they could do on YouTube, such as iDubbbz were praised for.





YouTube is in their right to choose what type of content they want to upload to their platform, but are their policies neutering content creators to the point of censorship, and has content on YouTube gotten better or worse as a result?









The Invasion of Sponsors





h3h3 productions, Shane Dawson, Matthew Santoro, and countless others are at the mercy of sponsors to stay afloat financially on YouTube. The Youtuber Unfortunately for both viewers and Youtube content creators, sponsored content has become a very grave reality.and countless others are at the mercy of sponsors to stay afloat financially on YouTube. The Youtuber Turkey Tom made a video that has shows how big YouTubers promote products that they likely only used once or not at all like the mobile games that are shoved down viewer's throats, like Raiden Shadow Legends.





I understand that YouTubers are uploading videos for a living and need money to continue to make content, but often times when they sponsor content it takes up a considerable amount of time of the video and draws away from whatever their central message was. Not to mention there was the Better Help controversy, and this an example of a YouTuber promoting a product for the sake of generating revenue, without actually knowing anything about the company they sponsor.









Pandering Content





Jaylaw goes into detail how iDubbbz remains true to its true core without pandering to viewers or advertisers. If you want to see how YouTube content has suffered, go no further than YouTube's trending tab, which recommends videos that are mindless and numb as far as engaging their audience and challenging viewers expectations. Trending also promotes big corporations and organizations like Netflix, the NBA, and Fox Sports. These videos are safe and boring that pander to big advertisers and don't promote content that is actually creative. How do small up and coming YouTubers stand a chance of gaining exposure competing with these corporate giants? iDubbbz - The Last Remaining YouTuber made bygoes into detail howremains true to its true core without pandering to viewers or advertisers. If you want to see how YouTube content has suffered, go no further than YouTube's trending tab, which recommends videos that are mindless and numb as far as engaging their audience and challenging viewers expectations. Trending also promotes big corporations and organizations liketheThese videos are safe and boring that pander to big advertisers and don't promote content that is actually creative. How do small up and coming YouTubers stand a chance of gaining exposure competing with these corporate giants?













Where do we go from here?



YouTube's current state is a product of our times. While younger viewers that YouTube often targets get an abundance of content that is tailored to their needs, older viewers suffer in terms of the quality of content that doesn't engage them, that never forces them to look at things differently. Much of the content uploaded adheres to the status quo that YouTube has established. The viewers have the power to determine what becomes relevant and promoted on YouTube with their views. If viewers continue to promote these types of videos that pander to our lowest base instincts, nothing will change. I hope this blog at the very least helps people to consider alternatives. Thank you for reading!











