"Very dramatic shift" - Linus Tech Tips opens up about the channel's declining viewership
-
*the view/ like ratio
doubledhalvedwrote last edited by [email protected]The views halved, the likes stayed the same. So the ratio of likes to views is now higher.
-
Super deep dive into games and their lore mostly, although the super long ones tend to be named like, 'a quick retrospective of game'
I guess I'm not that into that so wouldn't find something to interest me on youtube. I probably don't bother watching 99% of my feed, and just use YouTube when I need to reference something these days.
Like finding out a location from a video game or looking up a recipe to cook. I don't find myself liking majority of the "big YouTube as a job" type channels, and videos I tend to view when searching has been more "this is my only upload because it seemed interesting" type videos.
-
Reasons I see:
a) the generation that grew up watching LTT is now at age where they don't watch as much YT as they did before
b) increasing amount of things happen which put viewers off
c) consumer technology peaked and is now "boring"
d) new generations don't have as much interest in technology altogetherLet's explain:
a + c) people watching LTT years ago were living in an exiting tech era where it boomed and you had mayor leaps in tech basically on a yearly basis. Moving from floppy disks to CD's to USB sticks. CRT to LCD displays. 16-bit to 32-bit color. Solitare and Minesweeper to Call of Duty 4 and Need for Speed. Symbian and Blackberry to Android and iOS. Tons of manufacturers, tons of competition, tons of new and exctiting stuff.
Let's observe the state today: iPhone looks the same for the past half decade. Android is basically just Google and Samsung. Storage is now all in cloud. New games are recycled and upscaled old games. Every new generation of hardware is same thing just 10% better/faster. New OS releases are just refinements without new features. Most changes are done just for the sake of change. Existing hardware can basically be enough for 5+ years. What is LTT realistically supposed to talk about that is interesting? There is simply no more interesting tech.
This ties in into d) - tech peaked, new generations "just use it as it is", there is no need to tinker with it, prebuilt PC's are more than fine for years to come. Since AI the IT job landscape seems to be in decline, both in demand and in pay. People do other stuff now that is more lucrative.
LTT is dependent on stuff happening so that they can make videos about it. But, stuff kinda just isn't happening. Or the stuff that happens is just not noteworthy news anymore.
It's not just ltt. Pretty much everyone I watch that talks about their metrics is complaining about the drop in views. Some also a loss in income.
-
I stopped watching LTT years ago. His channel is crap. He's a tech personality who seems to barely understand technology, so most of his videos are just over the top bullshit and stunts. Not to mention his awful annoying vocal fry. He's like the male Fran Drescher.
Plus, Linus has been a complete asshole to GamersNexus, one of the best channels for investigative journalism in tech. As far as I'm concerned, Linus is your typical business entity, and lacking ethics.
its that Nasal voice right? like lois from family guy
-
For example they found out one of their main sponsors Honey were scamming their viewers and essentially stealing from people, they just kept it quiet rather than owning it.
That's one of the things I was referring to. GamersNexus did an expose on the Honey thing and filed a class action suit over it because they were essentially stealing money from creators. Linus was complicit and aware and said nothing.
Let's also not forget the time Linus literally received a prototype cooler from Billet Labs for testing, was supposed to return it after review, and he not only reviewed it poorly (and used it for the wrong hardware), but then basically stole it and auctioned it off, later referring to this as "a small mistake." Supposedly he only offered to pay for the prototype after this was also exposed by GN.
Billet Labs' statement on the issue:
You, the PC community, are amazing. We'd like to thank you for your support, it means more than you can imagine.
Steve at Gamers Nexus has publicly shown his integrity, at the huge risk of backlash, and we have nothing but respect for him for how he's handled himself, both publicly and when speaking directly to us.
...
Regarding LTT, we are simply going to state the relevant facts:
On 10th August, we were told by LTT via email that the block had been sold at auction. There was no apology.
We replied on 10th August within 30 minutes, telling LTT that this wasn't okay, and that this was a £XXXX prototype, and we asked if they planned to reimburse us at all.
We received no reply and no offer of payment until 2 hours after the Gamers Nexus video went live on 14th August, at which point Linus himself emailed us directly.
The exact monetary value of the prototype was offered as reimbursement. We have not received, nor have we asked for any other form of compensation.
Dude's just scummy. I've no idea why people will defend him to the ends of the earth.
About the Billet Labs thing, they have shown, and Billet Labs verified it, that the original agreement was that LTT would keep the cooler.
It was only after the bad review they asked for it back, and at that point there was miss communication between the person Billet Labs talked to and the logistics department at LTT, so the cooler wasn't set aside as it should.
-
His complete lack of self awareness and ability to own up and apologise when they've dropped the ball put me off the channel entirely. For example they found out one of their main sponsors Honey were scamming their viewers and essentially stealing from people, they just kept it quiet rather than owning it.
That, and Emily was the best thing about the channel and she left so..
About Honey, they didn't find out that Honey was scamming viewers until everyone else did.
What they found out earlier, at the same time as many other youtubers, was that Honey was "scamming" the youtubers themselves by replacing the youtubers reference codes.
At the time they thought the viewers still got discounts, so they didn't announce anything about it since it would seem like they asked the viewers not to take the discounts so that LTT could make more money.
-
About the Billet Labs thing, they have shown, and Billet Labs verified it, that the original agreement was that LTT would keep the cooler.
It was only after the bad review they asked for it back, and at that point there was miss communication between the person Billet Labs talked to and the logistics department at LTT, so the cooler wasn't set aside as it should.
About the Billet Labs thing, they have shown, and Billet Labs verified it, that the original agreement was that LTT would keep the cooler.
Shown where? I’ve seen no evidence of that anywhere, and I was following that controversy when it happened.
-
I completely stopped watching him after the GPU fiasco. I always thought he might be super slimy, but I think I can reasonably say that he is.
what gpu fiasco are you referring to?
-
The views halved, the likes stayed the same. So the ratio of likes to views is now higher.
Yes, likes/views is higher but you originally said views/likes is higher.
-
About the Billet Labs thing, they have shown, and Billet Labs verified it, that the original agreement was that LTT would keep the cooler.
Shown where? I’ve seen no evidence of that anywhere, and I was following that controversy when it happened.
Here is the post from Billet Labs themselves where they verify that they only asked for the cooler back after the video had been released: https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/18d6m3u/deleted_by_user/kcfmcnz/
Now, i'm not saying that LTT didn't do Billet Lbs dirty in regards to this whole situation.
They did not test the cooler correctly, and Linus was less than resonable in regards to retesting and such (something he has adressed himself here: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/#comment-16078641 ).
But people keep hanging up that they sold when they were supposed to send it back, when there was no such agreement beforehand.
-
Here is the post from Billet Labs themselves where they verify that they only asked for the cooler back after the video had been released: https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/18d6m3u/deleted_by_user/kcfmcnz/
Now, i'm not saying that LTT didn't do Billet Lbs dirty in regards to this whole situation.
They did not test the cooler correctly, and Linus was less than resonable in regards to retesting and such (something he has adressed himself here: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/#comment-16078641 ).
But people keep hanging up that they sold when they were supposed to send it back, when there was no such agreement beforehand.
Thanks for that. Not entirely as bad as originally indicated, but still pretty shady on LTT’s part
With everything I know of it, Linus was just rug-sweeping it before the exposé. Feels like Billet Labs got screwed but took the high road to prevent drama because LTT has a big community.
-
I guess I'm not that into that so wouldn't find something to interest me on youtube. I probably don't bother watching 99% of my feed, and just use YouTube when I need to reference something these days.
Like finding out a location from a video game or looking up a recipe to cook. I don't find myself liking majority of the "big YouTube as a job" type channels, and videos I tend to view when searching has been more "this is my only upload because it seemed interesting" type videos.
I watch a huge range, from 100 subs to 20m. I've spent years making a decent sub list to watch so I avoid most issues about trash content.
-
Ok, is it possible if most people aren't blocking ads, then maybe it is the ads themselves?
There are so many and they are getting longer. I wouldnt sit around to watch videos if they are interrupted every minute. The average rando probably goes back to TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram if they have to wait for something. If I used any of those services, I know I would jump ship.
That‘s an interesting hypothesis. I‘ve also mentioned a shift in the algorithm that favors smaller channels a little more in another comment.
If we take into account that a lot more people also browse Youtube shorts now and older channels have been struggling with it then we have a good mix of things that drive potential viewers away from many channels.
-
what gpu fiasco are you referring to?
-
Also, probably a great time to turn updates to your OS off, as Google is taking away the ability to sideload (well, kinda). It's a whole story. Highly doubt that SmartTube Next is gonna get a licence to allow signing of their app.
How do I do that on my android tv?
-
A lot of Youtube channels are reporting declining viewership lately.
EX1: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cpVnx4_yqTo
EX2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF0tmhEtVJEFun times. Looks like a lot of channels are seeing a decline not just Linus. Hes just the latest to talk about it.
Then I saw this article as well and thought I would share.
Anyone here youtube creators? Are you seeing the same thing, a general downturn in viewership?
Because people wont stay 14 to 16 year olds for long
-
I watch a huge range, from 100 subs to 20m. I've spent years making a decent sub list to watch so I avoid most issues about trash content.
wrote last edited by [email protected]I cut my sub list down over the years to like 20.
I think I just don't typically like YouTube type content for entertainment compared to the average viewer.
It's use to me is more as a resource for when I need a video guide. So I'm more likely to get annoyed by videos that don't get to the point and seem drawn out and seem like informercials likely due to the reason I'm searching increasing the chances of that type of content.
My blocklist is more valuable than the subscription feed for that reason.
-
I stopped watching LTT years ago. His channel is crap. He's a tech personality who seems to barely understand technology, so most of his videos are just over the top bullshit and stunts. Not to mention his awful annoying vocal fry. He's like the male Fran Drescher.
Plus, Linus has been a complete asshole to GamersNexus, one of the best channels for investigative journalism in tech. As far as I'm concerned, Linus is your typical business entity, and lacking ethics.
I never watched that channel very much, but in the several videos I’ve seen (maybe 10-12 total?), he seemed to know exactly what he was talking about.
I’d be interested in hearing what specific complaints technical experts have with the channel.
-
Oh, so that is why Veritasium went to shit. That's such a shame. It was a great channel that I was excited about when a new video would drop. Then low quality videos started coming out and I don't watch them anymore. Haven't unsubscribe yet though, maybe I should get around to that.
Honestly
The PFAS and Monsanto videos were quite good in my opinion. -
Everyone here is speculating about their content, but the simple answer is YouTube just changed how they count the view number. The change basically happened overnight, so it's not some slow attrition of views. They said in the WAN Show that while the view count halved, the number of likes hasn't changed (the view/like ratio doubled), and the revenue they earned hasn't changed (CPM doubled). All of this points that the same number of humans are watching, but what counts as a view in the "views" number just changed.
Could back up that theory that it's autoplay views being reduced and they are not worth much anyway
