10 Harsh Truths We Learned About YouTube From This Hashtag

11 May 2015, 12:53 | Updated: 8 May 2017, 17:09

By Liam Dryden

@LiamDrydenEtc

#YouTubeFandomHonestyHour served up some internet video REALNESS.

In every fandom or community, there are always going to be some issues that people don't like to talk about. But last night, YouTubers and fans alike decided to open up a big can of worms, and share some of their honest opinions about the platform.

#YouTubeFandomHonestyHour was trending on Twitter for, well, a lot longer than an hour (In fact, some people are still posting). And through the thousands of Tweets we've seen when perusing the hashtag, a lot of the same issues keep coming up.

Here are just ten different truths that people have to say about YouTube:

1) Numbers are a bad indicator of good videos.

I wish that 'success' on this platform wasn't defined solely by views and subscribers, but on the quality of content #youtubehonestyhour
— Hazel Hayes (@TheHazelHayes) May 10, 2015

#YouTubeHonestyHour last one. If you start making vids, do it for fun. Don't get wrapped up in numbers. You'll hate making vids in the end.
— Crash (@CrashDavus) May 11, 2015

So many YTers are obsessed with numbers. How many views? How many subs? Honestly WHO CARES?! Do it cause you love it #youtubehonestyhour
— Lindsey P Erstad (@lindseyerstad) May 10, 2015

2) Money isn't that bad a motivator.

They're creators and need to make a living. Selling content (books/merch) is fine. Only doing it for money isn't. #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Abigail (@abuhgayul) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour most youtubers need to work harder and longer on their videos if it's what they do for a living
— erin☾☼ (@russettftbutera) May 10, 2015

im okay with them earning money bc it makes their life better but idk i just wish theyd show appreciation more. #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— PewDiePie PH (@PewDiePieMNL) May 11, 2015

3) Bigger YouTubers need to talk about bigger issues.

I wish more 'big' YouTubers used their platform to talk about things like #Ferguson as well as a pretty lipstick #YouTubeHonestyHour
— Bess (@bsarahoates) May 10, 2015

It really pisses me off that a lot of YouTubers never discuss important issues or seem to have an opinion about anything #youtubehonestyhour
— Hazel Hayes (@TheHazelHayes) May 10, 2015

There aren't enough YouTubers working to educate their audience stand for something other than foreign candy vids. #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Ashleigh Lowis (@NeedsMoreSocks) May 11, 2015

4) Google are making it harder for smaller channels to grow.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour YouTube/Google needs to stop promoting the youtubers that are already famous and focus on the smaller ones
— Charly (@FabulousWifi) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour GOOGLE KILLED THE YOUTUBE STAR by making everything about quantity over quality
— Jack Mace (@ItsJackMace) May 10, 2015

YouTube needs to stop forcing me to look at What To Watch. Take me to my subs already. C'mon, Google. #youtubehonestyhour
— Derrik (@Mr_Gentoo) May 10, 2015

5) Collabs are all about the numbers now.

you don’t have to intro collab as “good friend” we know it’s just about views, ya’ll don’t even like each other #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour youtubers who dont have that chemistry shouldnt collab tbh. like stop doing it for the views mate
— hess // EXAMS (@LEGENDARYPHAN) May 11, 2015

Numbers shouldn't define who you collab with. LOOK AT CONTENT. #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— The Wolf (@Twitsyourchoice) May 11, 2015

6) Diversity is lacking.

It's discouraging to try to break into YouTuber as a queer person if you're not a pretty white, cis, gay male. #YouTubeHonestyHour
— ELIEL CRUZ (@elielcruz) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour I WISH THERE WERE MORE NON-WHITE FAMOUS YOUTUBERS ESPECIALLY NON-WHITE LGBTQ+ FAMOUS YOUTUBERS
— Keisha✯ [PB] (@oakleystree) May 11, 2015

Can Youtube start promoting the minority/plus size Youtubers and NOT just white/skinny people???? #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Becca from the Block (@Frgt10_Anthem) May 10, 2015

7) People are sick of YouTuber books.

STOP WRITING BOOKS #YouTubeHonestyHour ....On that note, I have an announcement. I'm writing a book.
— Ashley Mardell (@AshleyMardell) May 11, 2015

#youtubehonestyhour literally by the end of this year i assure you every goddamn youtuber will have a book out :/
— angelisa |-/ (@blurrybeth) May 10, 2015

#youtubehonestyhour people are being handed book deals from left, right and centre which makes people who are actually authors look degraded
— beth (@bethprophet_) May 10, 2015

8) "Eating Foreign Candy" videos need to stop.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour I am about as interested in seeing you eat american candy as I am in dying a thousand deaths
— Abi |-/ (@Coldplay1R) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour the "trying british/ American/ whatever candy!" tag made zero sense to me.
— kaleigh kahan (@perseusweasley) May 11, 2015

When you start making a TON of "trying [country name] candy" videos...you're clocking it in with your content... #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Leigh-Anne Marie (@LeighAnneMarie_) May 11, 2015

9) Joe Sugg is a daily vlogger whether he likes it or not.

Can. Joe. Sugg. Admit. He. Is. A. Daily. Vlogger. @Joe_Sugg #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— C a s p a r [PB] (@CasparBxbe) May 11, 2015

I hate how Joe won't admit he's a daily vlogger #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— leah / exams (@moonlightxsugg) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour ok, @Joe_Sugg if you ain't a daily vlogger, quit vlogging daily. -BUT HONESTLY, VLOG DAILY!!-
— Fab-tastic Tyler (@Tyler_Pickle) May 10, 2015

Sorry Joe.

10) In spite of its faults, YouTube and its community has changed a lot of people's lives.

Youtube really did change my life. I can't thank youtubers enough. They really bring me up when I'm down. #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— lizzy (@hipsterstump) May 10, 2015

#youtubefandomhonestyhour YouTubers inspired me to live my life better. YouTube is the reason I want to work in Digital Media...
— Joe SHcMOOK Repp (@daJoezenOne) May 10, 2015

I'm proud of the hard work myself and my friends do. I'm proud of the positivity and warmth YouTube viewers create #youtubefandomhonestyhour
— Sammy (@SammyAlbon) May 10, 2015

Got anything to add to #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour? Share it with us in the comments below.