So I don't use a lot of social media but I usually stick on youtube when I'm doing some boring task on the PC or what not. I usually mostly listen and its stuff like skincare youtubers or maybe some podcasts. Last year I noticed the algorithm was kind of odd throwing me lots of reaction and drama videos which are not my thing at all and i didn't watch.
In the past few months what I am noticing is loads of videos talking about consumerism, healing from overconsumption, no spend years, no buy months, how to make money, one beauty vlogger I used to watch has switched to videos about investments and "getting rich" which I haven't been watching.
I also notice a lot of people going back to old school blogs of their lives as opposed to reviewing endless products, people popping up who have been on tiktok but are coming back to or moving you youtube. There are also a lot more older people on youtube making videos about being older and especially precarity in later life.
I don't feel I am driving this content it does just feel like the content on youtube is changing and I'm quite up for an old school vlog as opposed to endless reviews of expensive products. I've seen no spend content before but it seems overwhelming at the moment, like everyone is doing it. Personally I don't seek out this content my financial position is quite good and I've never been a big shopper anyway.
I was just curious about what would be driving this? I assume the current financial climate has new people turning to youtube for a side hustle hoping to make a bit extra. Perhaps established youtubers seeing that due to the cost of living crisis sponsorships for expensive products or endless reviews of expensive gifted items with affiliate links is going down less well than it once did so they are trying to reorientate their content. Some perhaps looking to tap into that desperation for more money by making money making content. Or it could be tiktok creators trying to get ahead of any possible tiktok ban?
I just think its kind of interesting how the current situation, cost of living and so on is being reflected on youtube.