YouTube is one of the fastest growing online platforms for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. Content creators such as Jake Paul, 22, Daniel Middleton (DanTBM), 27, and Jeffree Star, 33, are listed among the top 10 YouTube earners, making between $18 and $21.5 million a year between their channels, endorsements and company collaborations.
Since YouTube was originally created for amateur content, people of all ages have started channels posting specific content such as make-up tutorials, reaction videos, movie reviews and so much more.
Jerome Stone, a student at FAMU, plans to use his YouTube channels for profit.
"The inspiration is I used to do other stuff on TV, like back when I was a kid, and everyone tells me that I should've kept going with it, so YouTube was my way partially back into that path," Stone said.
Since its humble beginnings in 2005, YouTube is one of the largest growing social media platforms in the world. YouTube, once started as a place to upload random videos, has now turned into a market that profits off of shows, movies and other entertainment outlets.
With its increased popularity, YouTube has played a large role in decreasing traditional television’s views, specifically for young adults.
A common myth is that one can profit off of YouTube videos based on views of their video. In actuality, Youtubers make a profit only off of their ads. According to videopower.org, a Youtuber will profit off of a video depending on if the viewer interacts with the ad or watches the ad for at least 30 seconds. Typically, one must have at least one thousand subscribers for YouTube to start automatically uploading ads to videos.
“You are more likely to get more ads on your videos if it’s over a 10 minute video … and if you are a consistent poster the shorter ads that [the viewer] can’t skip through will post on your channel,” Stone said.
In addition, the Youtubers earning the most money do so by being sponsored by companies and advertising products. Essentially, becoming a hired spokesperson for a company, which is commonly seen in the make-up industry.
For example, Jeffree Star, who has 12 million subscribers, collaborated with the high-end make-up company BH Cosmetics and now has used his own platform to create his own line of make-up products. He has also filmed videos with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian.
Stone advises those who are new to YouTube to “post consistently and just do it. It’s really not as hard as people make it sound; you ‘ve got to start from somewhere or you're not going to get anywhere."