YouTube has been an interesting career path ever since it gained popularity in the early 2010s. There has always been an aura of uncertainty that has surrounded the job. Some don’t consider it to be a job at all, despite the amount of work that’s required. While content creation is a very privileged occupation, there’s also a lot of work that goes into gaining substantial pay-off from videos. Professional videos typically require decent recording equipment, such as good soundproofing and a microphone. A quality video camera is another asset. Editing skills and proper software or a hired editor are also important aspects of producing videos. Once these requirements are met, YouTubers still have to write and perform scripts. On top of that, they are also responsible for merchandising, social media, and making partnerships with companies to sponsor their content. For independent creators, all of this can be very difficult to manage, especially if YouTube is their only source of revenue. 

One often overlooked challenge in the YouTube industry is creative burnout. One might start a YouTube channel under the impression that they have enough ideas to support their content. However, it’s never that simple. Once that YouTuber has a set production schedule, they need to be constantly producing new content. Producing content too similar to what they’ve already accomplished gets old quick. However, straying from the premise of one’s channel too far is considered inconsistent, and typically results in less viewership. This means that independent creators are constantly balancing on the line that lies between novelty and consistency.

YouTube has now been around for about 18 years, meaning that the reality of burnout is catching up to an entire generation of creators. Most recently, the wildly characteristic and widely beloved theorist MatPat announced the impending end to his YouTube career of 13 years. He said in his announcement video, that he was beginning to view everyday life through a business lens, and that his life had been “Work first, for over a decade.” Matpat also gave a nod to Tom Scott – another YouTuber who retired at the start of the year – and Scott’s video, After ten years, it’s time to stop weekly videos.

“There’s nothing in my life right now except work,” Scott said in his video. “I did get close to burning out, but fortunately I did know when to step back from the brink.”

Tom Scott  announced his decision on New Year’s Day this year, the 10-year anniversary of his channel.

Exactly one year prior, Swedish YouTube musician Seth Everman announced that 2023 would be his last year uploading videos. Ten months later, he posted a video simply titled Stop asking why i’m quitting, in which he elaborated on his reasons. 

“Now I’m always at work. My home is work, a vacation should become a vlog,” Everman explained. “Every TV show I watch and song I hear should be turned into some sort of content. I shouldn’t be relaxing right now, I should be making content. And it just isn’t possible for me to turn that mindset off.”

All three YouTubers shared similar stories of burnout. It should come as no surprise that after over a decade of working in a monotonous, competitive environment, these YouTubers would be stepping away from the platform. 

Of course, the people who have been uploading for the longest are the ones who will be the first to retire. However, the earliest YouTubers were some of the most influential on the site. They were pioneers, building up the foundation of Youtube since it was very new. Because they’ve had a presence in their viewers’ lives for so long, it can be especially hard to see them move away from the platform. A lot of people grew up watching these creators, and are upset to see them leave. 

However, the videos and communities that surround these newly retired YouTubers aren’t gone. These influencers have made an impression on a massive audience. Undoubtedly, they’ve set a good example for the next generation of YouTubers, and have helped to set the stage for what’s to come next.

Article by Maia Kinch