How YouTubers are helping followers learn new skills

YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform on the internet. With more than 1 billion users, which equates to over a third of the people on the internet, YouTube videos generate an unbelievable amount of views. Taking this into account, how is YouTube helping subscribers and users learn new skills and what is the wider industry effects?

Top YouTubers

The top YouTuber’s on the internet in 2017 earn more than six figures in a year. The number of channels that earn this amount is up 50% year-on-year.

As of 2017, the according to Social Blade top earner from YouTube is PewDiePie, bringing in an estimated $15million last year. Other channels which have earnt more than $7million dollars in the past twelve months were Smosh, Zoella, Casey Neistat, Lilly Singh and Roman Atwood.

So many individuals are drawn to YouTube due to the freedom it provides viewers with. It allows you to be creative, build new friends and create a supportive community. As you grow on the platform and you attract more subscribers not only will you be gaining more returns through viewing figures but companies may even pay for sponsored videos, giving individuals an added revenue stream.

YouTube Demographics

Have you ever heard the saying “Only millennials love YouTube”? Well this is a myth. In fact, the older audience is seeing continued growth year on year. From 2015-2016 time spent on the website almost tripled among adults aged 55+ and YouTube now reaches 95% of this demographic per month.

When looking at the YouTube audience, around 48% are female, with users more likely to have kids compared to non-users. On average, 8 out of 10 18-to-49-year-olds watch the platform. One technological development which is severely impacting this figure is the mobile application. With more access to the platform and new innovations, mobile YouTube video views per day are 1,000,000,000, with more than half coming from mobile devices. Phones provide the portability aspects meaning that you can have constant access to content wherever you are. This is shown by the statistic mobile users spend more than 40 minutes on average per session. This, therefore, means individuals are more commonly watching YouTube when travelling to and from work and during their lunch break.

The platform, as well as many other social networking sites, have recognized the need to provide users with live content. YouTube has recently introduced their own tab which shows all live-streamed content and broadcasted programs. This is a growing area for YouTube but it provides for a range of new industry prospects. Sports competitions, gambling tournaments, or even TV shows can be placed on the platform, meaning that this content could be watched by a new audience. It is stated that by 2025, half of the viewers under 32 will not subscribe to a Pay-TV service due to the amount of content that will be provided on online platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Tutorials

If you are looking to learn a new skill you can always find video tutorials on the platform. The top new skills that you can learn on YouTube include DIY, how to play a musical instrument, defensive skills, drawing and painting, learning how to play roulette or other casino games and studying a new foreign language.

Every casino setting will offer players the opportunity to partake in a range of table games – these include roulette, poker, crabs and blackjack. One of the main reason YouTube tutorials are so useful when its comes to these, is the explanation of the strategies and maths surrounding. Albert Einstein supposedly once said: “No one can win at roulette unless he steals money from the table while the croupier isn’t looking.” There is no mathematical equation that will defeat a roulette wheel, but when playing roulette with a good playing and money management strategy you have a higher chance of winning big. Perhaps the best known is the martingale system. This offers you a better than even chance of winning in the short term.

Creators such as Nintendo, Sega and EA introduce thousands of new and franchise games per year. Many of these work on consoles like Xbox, Playstation and Wii, computers and handhelds. Some of the top participated include Call of Duty, Resident Evil, Halo, and Fifa. Many YouTube creators have earned a significant amount of money from participating in competitions and connecting with followers through a broad mix of tutorials, videos and live-streams. Tournaments are held around the world, many of which are now streamed on video sharing platforms for followers to see and interact with building a community. Some of the most high grossing competitions include the International, Blizzcon and the Major league gaming championship. The International has a prize pool of over $20 million. With the wide range of games on offer and superb graphics there’s no wonder why more and more individuals are participating, learning and earning money through the use of this technology.

There is a range of reasons as to why so many individuals are attracted to learning new skills from YouTube. The main one is that the platform is free, allowing you to watch videos as many times as you need to master your new craft. Before YouTube existed, to learn a new skill you would need to pay out for tutors which could potentially cost a high amount of money. These videos have cut this expenditure out.

Leading on from the above point, you can learn at your own pace. YouTube allows you to visit any number videos you need to. As users learn at differents speeds the platform allows you to undertake self-study in your own time. You can now fit learning this new skills around your lifestyle.

Once many users have learnt a new skill they often use this to make a dramatic lifestyle change, for example changing jobs, writing a blog or even setting up their own YouTube channel. Take learning to play roulette for an example. There is a list of rules you need to understand and a range of strategies which give you a higher chance of winning whether this is online or in a casino. Once you have a full grasp on these you may look at getting a job in the industry, which many people have done to great success. Not only will this give you more incentive to learn & practice but you will also be earning an income from a new job that you love.

Article by: Harry G.