I’m looking for some small content creators who’s content has not been influenced by the potential of making money. In the early days of YouTube there was mostly trash, but then a few small channels started using formats, using specific styles and actually standing out above a pile shit.
I used to love how these creators made their content for their viewers, they were so very different from anything we had in those days. Things have changed, I get it, everybody and their dog are trying to make money on the internet. Content creators need to pay bills, feed families and maintain/improve their quality. Honestly, I get it. But it sucks, I feel like 90% of the content I come across are contractually based to release at a specific time or interval. Meaning content creators are just milking their audience and sponsors. I’m not saying this type of content isn’t good, it’s just how it feels 10x less genuine and from the heart of the creator. (I feel LTT belongs in this category as well) It feels like cable television with extra steps and a personal algorithmic touch.
What people tend to forget is how little resources you need to make good quality content on youtube. It’s never been easier to just start recording on our 4K+ smartphones. Yet, it’s never been this hard to consistently find early internet ethos content creators.
So Lemmy, can you tell me about some small content creators whichhave the passion and drive we used to see?
I’ll leave a few channels here which I enjoyed the most this past month.
Nokeric - Of the rails sketches
Joel Haver - Short sketches but also long form deep thought (Larger channel)
He has a patreon now but still no ads:
https://youtube.com/@primitivetechnology9550?si=lBWNPNLZowdKKR6i
Just a guy in the woods building shit from nothing, without tools. It kicked off a lot of similar channels that were obviously using tools.
I love these videos so much and cannot recommend them enough. No narrative, no music, no ads, just well placed camera shots to make the whole thing self explanatitory. I feel like I have learned so much from him and I have never heard his voice.
Yeah, he’s really good. He’s an Aussie fella, named (funnily enough) John Plant, although I guess that could be a pseudonym. I like his content and style so much, I really wanted to somehow pay him for the hours of enjoyment I’ve gotten, so I bought his book. Really good read.
I sort of like Mr. Chickadee for the same reason. No talking or flashy gimmicks, just hand tools and the sounds of nature.
No sponsored ads in his content - he can’t control if YouTube shows you an ad.
I mean he can, anyone can choose to not have their videos monetized on YouTube. I assumed that’s what that whole point was in reference to.
If you’re at all into Minecraft, EthosLab is the gold standard for low-key, super interesting, and not driven by money videos. He’s not small, but he’s worth mentioning in case anyone hasn’t heard of him.
I was going to suggest Direwolf20 for the exact same reasoning
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/channel/UC_ViSsVg_3JUDyLS3E2Un5g
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source, check me out at GitHub.
My channel is not very good 😅 but I make videos just because I love talking about old video games and want an excuse to talk about them more. New videos come out every Tuesday and Saturday because that’s when my co-host is off of work and can watch them with her mom. 🙂
Louis Rossman. Right to repair is great
Beau of the fifth column does 3-10 minute videos doing political analysis in what looks like a garage.
He said on a longer FAQ video that he’s set things up to hide his channel’s income from himself. He draws a salary that’s enough to take care of his family, but he doesn’t know how much more the channel earns – he doesn’t want his content to be influenced even unconsciously by which videos The Algorithm say paid better.
