Is Originality Dead on Youtube?

ProfKranc

ProfKranc

Voice actor and Film-maker here to help :-D
Is it? Left and right I see Let's players, reviewers, commentators, etc. And it seems like the only way to get any notoriety on youtube is to attach yourself to an already successful product.

In comparison, people who try to create short films or sketches without relying on piggybacking have a much harder time staying relevant.

I think it may even be much harder to keep your original content at a good level of quality to maintain interest.
What do you guys think?
 
Yeah I would say so. The only thing that a person could use to stand out from the crowd is their own personality and humor. But even now I see plenty of people trying to copy the style of the more popular channels in their niche.
 
Well, yes and no. I was going to say I try and do sketches and stuff but you mentioned that. I'm not saying they're original, but, I haven't seen other YouTubers doing them so I'm not copying people in that sense. Of course, challenges and stuff are generally not 'original'.

I think personality is quite important though. I don't think it's totally dead, there is still original content being produced and if not, entertaining content at the very least. It's just hard to find it as YouTube promotes the already big channels.
 
I agree. Since it's the internet, people lose interest very quickly, or worse, won't even click on a video at all if it isn't something they really think they'll like. So it's easier to generate interest with low commitment videos like challenges, react videos, minecraft lets plays etc. Or musicians doing covers vs original songs, because covers generate much more views.

But there are a lot of truly creative channels out there. Maybe it's more difficult for them, maybe not. More original videos at least have less competition when they don't have a million other videos from competitors that are exact clones of theirs. There is probably a sweet spot where a channel can be creative but also relevant.
 
I don't think originality is dead. But all of the copycats outnumber the originals, making it harder to find those people.

At the same time, YouTube is a market of supply and demand. People are getting millions of views with less 'original' videos because millions of people want to see that stuff. They have become used to it and just want a quick fix.

Every now and then I come across people with really unique traits to their channels. Maybe their subject matter, their aesthetics etc.

I've checked out some guys doing really cool short films and vlogs that self advertise in the comments on Casey Neistat vids. They get a decent following from doing that but It would feel kind of tacky for me.

Mirandapanda said:
There is probably a sweet spot where a channel can be creative but also relevant.
Click to expand...

I think this is what most of us are trying to find. (gateway videos?)

There is also that saying that people don't know what they want until you give it to them.

I love this quote from Henry Ford (founder of Ford motor company) 'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses'.

So I think you push on and eventually, if its good, the dots will connect, people will catch on and boom! You're in.

I've seen people go from 3k to 100k subs in 2 weeks. 400 to 220k subs in 1 week.

But is originality dead on YouTube? Definitely not. I think it's the visual creative hub of the internet in which anyone can be apart of.

Its just really hard for originals and innovators to stand out amongst all of the noise and copycats.
 
Last edited:
Originality isn't dead. What is unfortunate is people generally create trend feedback loops. Some one likes something, shares it, it gets popular, others emulate and then you are immersed in it. Like that song on the radio you hate, but then you hear is 500 times and it starts to sound good.

What is popular will be emulated. And what is familiar will be more easily digested.
 
It is, it's just a lot harder to find these days. It's just unfortunate that the unique ideas aren't popular. It really comes down to the trends that people are searching for. A few years ago I never thought that one of the more popular videos would be reacting to watching something (like really?) but now it seems everyone does it. Originality isn't dead in the water, it's just having a hard time swimming with the bigger fish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top