Maybe I'm just lowkey but some of the YouCubers are way too hyper for me.
The reason behind the high energy we typically see from most YouTubers (even those outside of cubing) is due to the competition for attention. Viewers on YouTube have the ability to move onto a new video at the click of a button, and that has meant that people are competing for the viewers attention and retention by ensuring the videos have energy and enthusiasm. Podcasts are usually the place to go if you want something low-key and laid-back.
How many channels have original content tho? For most smaller channels, solves, algs, and unboxings make up the bulk of content. I'm just amazed he managed to grow all the way to 60k subs.
No content on YouTube or any other social platform is completely "original". Every idea comes from making connections between 2 or more existing things, and the chances of someone producing something that has not been inspired by any external stimulus is practically impossible. CubeRazn is clearly inspired by Beluga for example, and whilst his videos may not be completely original (he uses the same sound effects and editing style as Beluga), he has made the connection between Beluga's Discord chat-style narratives and cubing, and therefore he's made something somewhat unique.
Due to survivorship bias, a lot of what we see are unboxings, reviews and algorithms, but I'm sure there's a few golden channels out there that are "breaking the mould" so to speak. If they happen to be reading this message, comment your channel below, I'd be interested in checking it out.
As we've already established, there's certain channels that go from "taking inspiration" to completely ripping off, where they don't make any new connections between content they like and any other area of inspiration. With the nature of TikTok and YouTube Shorts, YouCubers are being rewarded for copying others. I've probably seen a
"Most Satisfying Rubik's Cube Transition" or
"The Class vs The Homework vs...." video from about 10 or more different YouTube Shorts creators, where none of the videos are truly unique.
I'm personally on the hunt for creators within the cubing sphere that have content that is so unique, it is difficult to replicate. I think a lot of cubing videos are so easy to replicate and "rip-off" and what we hopefully plan on doing over the next few months is making cubing videos that are impossible to replicate and take inspiration from areas unrelated to cubing.
In terms of what I watch, I have a separate account which I am subbed to no cubing channels at all as well as a cubing account which I'm subbed to only cubing channels. I tend to spend most of my time in the one with no cubing channels because that's where I tend to take inspiration/see original refreshing content.
When I do watch cubers, it's usually those that express their personality, because personality isn't something you can replicate if you were to "rip-off" a video. Unfortunately a lot of YouCubers tend to "hide behind the screen" and try to hide their originality by saying or doing things that every other YouCuber is doing because it has proven success.
