BreadTube

Last updated

BreadTube or LeftTube is a loose and informal group of online content creators who create video content, including video essays and livestreams, from socialist, social democratic, communist, anarchist, and other left-wing perspectives. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] BreadTube creators generally post videos on YouTube that are discussed on other online platforms, such as Reddit. [7]

Contents

The New York Times author Kevin Roose wrote that BreadTube creators employ a method he calls "algorithmic hijacking". [8] This method involves them choosing to focus on the same topics discussed by content creators with right-wing politics, as a means for enabling their videos to be recommended to the same audiences consuming right-wing or far-right videos, [8] thereby exposing a wider audience to their perspectives. [7]

Many BreadTube content creators are crowdfunded, and their channels often serve as introductions to left-wing politics for young viewers. [9]

BreadTube creators align with collectivist modes of governance, while opposing the alt-right and far-right. [6] Infighting is common within the BreadTube community, which has been attributed to "the community hosting a spectrum of beliefs, ranging from Social Democratic to Maoist". [6]

Origin

The term BreadTube derives from Peter Kropotkin's The Conquest of Bread , [10] [11] [12] a book explaining how to achieve anarcho-communism and how an anarcho-communist society would function.

The BreadTube phenomenon itself does not have a clear origin, although many BreadTube channels started in an effort to combat anti-social justice warrior and alt-right content that gained traction in the mid-2010s. [13] [14] By 2018, these individual channels had formed an interconnected community. [14] Two prominent early BreadTubers were Lindsay Ellis, who left Channel Awesome in 2015 to start her own channel in response to the Gamergate controversy, and Natalie Wynn, who started her channel ContraPoints in 2016 in response to the online dominance of the alt-right at the time. [11] In an April 2021 interview, Wynn opined that "The alt-right, the manosphere, incels, even the so-called SJW Internet and LeftTube all have a genetic ancestor in New Atheism." [15]

Format

BreadTube videos frequently have a high production value, incorporating theatrical elements and running for longer than typical YouTube videos. [1] [2] Many are direct responses to right-wing talking points. [7] Whereas right-wing and cyberlibertarian creators' videos are usually antagonistic towards their political opponents, many BreadTubers seek to analyze and understand their opponents' arguments, often employing subversion, humor, and "seduction". [7] [16] Many aim to appeal to broad audiences, reaching people who do not already hold left-wing viewpoints rather than "preaching to the choir". [7] Videos often do not end with a solid conclusion, instead encouraging viewers to come to their own conclusions from the referenced material. [7] As BreadTube channels often cite left-wing and socialist texts to inform their arguments, this can act as an introduction to left-wing thought for their viewers. [9]

Notable channels

BreadTube content is in English and most BreadTubers come from the United States or the United Kingdom. [17] The term is informal and often disputed, as there are no agreed-upon criteria for inclusion. According to The New Republic , in 2019, the five people most commonly mentioned as examples were Natalie Wynn (ContraPoints), Lindsay Ellis, Harry Brewis (Hbomberguy), Philosophy Tube, and Shaun, while Kat Blaque and Anita Sarkeesian are cited as significant influences; [5] [11] Ian Danskin (aka Innuendo Studios), [2] Hasan Piker, [5] [18] Vaush, [18] and Destiny [18] [8] have also been described as part of BreadTube. However, several of these people, including Ellis, [19] Shaun, [20] and Wynn [21] have rejected the label.

Reception

According to The Conversation , as of 2021, BreadTube content creators "receive tens of millions of views a month and have been increasingly referenced in media and academia as a case study in deradicalisation." [13] According to The Independent , BreadTube "commentators have been trying, quite successfully, to intervene in the right-wing recruitment narrative – lifting viewers out of the rabbit-hole, or, at least, shifting them over to a new one." [18]

Black BreadTube content creator Kat Blaque has criticized the lack of black content creators within BreadTube and argues that black content creators are marginalized within BreadTube. [6] BreadTube content creator Kyle Kulinski argued that infighting within BreadTube has left the community "politically impotent and ineffectual." [6]

Beatrice Steele of The Oxford Student criticized BreadTube for being "too marginal to make a real-world difference, despite its rich personalities and popular video essays" due to not "having the intergenerational reach of channels like Fox News, or the Daily Wire 's ability to rack up clicks on Facebook." Steele also argued that BreadTube "lacks the incendiary potential of cynicism." [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

The American online video sharing and social media platform YouTube has had social impact in many fields, with some individual videos of the site having directly shaped world events. It is the world's largest video hosting website and second most visited website according to both Alexa Internet and Similarweb, and used by 81% of U.S. adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Ellis</span> American author and film critic

Lindsay Ellis is an American author, film critic, and video essayist. Her debut novel, Axiom's End, published in July 2020, became a New York Times Best Seller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PewDiePie</span> Swedish YouTuber (born 1989)

Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, is a Swedish YouTuber known for his comedic videos. Kjellberg's popularity on YouTube and extensive media coverage has made him one of the most noted online personalities and content creators. He has been portrayed in the media as a figurehead for YouTube, especially in the genre of gaming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Benjamin</span> British YouTuber and political candidate

Carl Benjamin, also known by his online pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, is a British far-right YouTuber and political commentator. A former member of the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP), he was one of its unsuccessful candidates for the South West England constituency in the 2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom.

BitChute is an alt-tech video hosting service launched by Ray Vahey in January 2017. It describes itself as offering freedom of speech, while the service is known for hosting far-right individuals, conspiracy theorists, and hate speech. Some creators who use BitChute have been banned from YouTube; some others crosspost content to both platforms or post more extreme content only to BitChute. Before its deprecation, BitChute claimed to use peer-to-peer WebTorrent technology for video distribution, though this was disputed.

A YouTuber is a type of social media influencer who uploads or creates videos on the online video-sharing website YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006, and subsequently appeared in the 2006 Time Person of the Year issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ContraPoints</span> American YouTuber (born 1988)

Natalie Wynn is an American left-wing YouTuber, political commentator, and cultural critic. She is best known for her YouTube channel, ContraPoints, where she creates video essays exploring a wide range of topics such as politics, gender, ethics, race, and philosophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hbomberguy</span> British YouTuber (born 1992)

Harry Brewis, better known as Hbomberguy, is a British YouTuber and Twitch streamer. Brewis produces video essays on a variety of topics such as film, television, and video games, often combining them with arguments from left-wing political and economic positions. He also creates videos aimed at debunking conspiracy theories and responding to right-wing and antifeminist arguments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abigail Thorn</span> British YouTuber (born 1993)

Abigail Thorn is an English YouTuber, actress, and playwright, best known for producing the YouTube channel Philosophy Tube.

Ian Danskin is an American YouTuber who produces the Innuendo Studios channel where he discusses politics from a left-wing perspective. He is primarily known for "The Alt-Right Playbook" series of videos. The channel has been described as part of "BreadTube", an informal group of left-wing YouTube channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Freiheit</span> Montreal lawyer turned YouTuber (born 1979)

David Freiheit, is a Canadian lawyer, former political candidate for the People's Party of Canada and YouTuber under the pseudonym Viva Frei.

Calvin Lee Vail, known online as LeafyIsHere or simply Leafy, is an American former internet personality best known for his YouTube channel which focused on reaction content. Vail first gained popularity on the site for his commentary on "cringey" Internet videos and culture. Prior, he posted Let's Play content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DLive</span> Video live streaming service

DLive is an American video live streaming service which was founded in 2017. It was purchased by BitTorrent in 2019. Due to the site's lax enforcement of prohibited content guidelines, DLive has become a popular alternative to YouTube and Twitch among white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, neo-Nazis, and other extremists. The site is also used by gamers as an alternative to Twitch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dream (YouTuber)</span> American YouTuber and Twitch streamer (born 1999)

Clay, better known by his online alias Dream, is an American YouTuber, Twitch streamer and singer who is known primarily for creating Minecraft content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun (YouTuber)</span> British YouTuber

Shaun is a British YouTuber. Video essays by Shaun have covered popular culture and politics, specifically to critique neoliberalism, anti-feminism, and the alt-right.

Algorithmic radicalization is the concept that recommender algorithms on popular social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook drive users toward progressively more extreme content over time, leading to them developing radicalized extremist political views. Algorithms record user interactions, from likes/dislikes to amount of time spent on posts, to generate endless media aimed to keep users engaged. Through echo chamber channels, the consumer is driven to be more polarized through preferences in media and self-confirmation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaush</span> American political YouTuber and livestreamer (born 1994)

Ian Kochinski, better known as Vaush, is an American left-wing YouTuber and Twitch streamer who debates and discusses politics online from a libertarian socialist perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nogla</span> Irish YouTuber (born 1992)

David Nagle, professionally known by his online name Nogla, is an Irish YouTuber known for making Let's Play videos. He has been described as one of Ireland's top YouTubers.

Mia Mulder is a Swedish politician and YouTuber. Mulder’s YouTube channel focuses on general historical, social and political topics and on trans rights. By April 2022, Mulder's YouTube channel had passed 100,000 subscribers, earning the silver play button. Since September 2022, she has served on the city council in Sollentuna, representing the Left Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alt-right pipeline</span> Online radicalization process

The alt-right pipeline is a proposed conceptual model regarding internet radicalization toward the alt-right movement. It describes a phenomenon in which consuming provocative right-wing political content, such as antifeminist or anti-SJW ideas, gradually increases exposure to the alt-right or similar far-right politics. It posits that this interaction takes place due to the interconnected nature of political commentators and online communities, allowing members of one audience or community to discover more extreme groups. This process is most commonly associated with and has been documented on the video platform YouTube, and is largely faceted by the method in which algorithms on various social media platforms function through the process recommending content that is similar to what users engage with, but can quickly lead users down rabbit-holes.

References

  1. 1 2 Williams, Wil (June 1, 2021). "The video essays that spawned an entire YouTube genre". Polygon . Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Somos, Christy (October 25, 2019). "Dismantling the 'Alt-Right Playbook': YouTuber explains how online radicalization works". CTVNews . Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ Alexander, Julia (January 31, 2020). "Carlos Maza is back on YouTube and ready to fight". The Verge . Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Youtube: Auf der anderen Seite die linken Influencer". Die Zeit (in German). January 13, 2020. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Citarella, Joshua (September 12, 2020). "Marxist memes for TikTok teens: can the internet radicalize teenagers for the left?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 12, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Cotter, Kelley (March 18, 2022). "Practical knowledge of algorithms: The case of BreadTube". New Media & Society: 146144482210818. doi: 10.1177/14614448221081802 . ISSN   1461-4448. S2CID   247560346.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kuznetsov, Dmitry; Ismangil, Milan (January 13, 2020). "YouTube as Praxis? On BreadTube and the Digital Propagation of Socialist Thought". TripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique . 18 (1): 204–218. doi: 10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1128 . ISSN   1726-670X. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Roose, Kevin (June 8, 2019). "The Making of a YouTube Radical (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Fuchs, Christian (2021). Social Media: A Critical Introduction (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. pp. 199–200. ISBN   978-1-5297-5274-8.
  10. ↑ Roose, Kevin (February 12, 2020). "A Thorn in YouTube's Side Digs In Even Deeper". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 Amin, Shaan (July 2, 2019). "Can the Left Win YouTube?". The New Republic . ISSN   0028-6583. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Three: Mirror Image". The New York Times . April 30, 2020. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Lee, Alexander Mitchell (March 8, 2021). "Meet BreadTube, the YouTube activists trying to beat the far-right at their own game". The Conversation. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Mniestri, Aikaterini; Gekker, Alex (October 5, 2020). "Temporal Frames for Platform Publics: The Platformization of Breadtube". AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research. doi: 10.5210/spir.v2020i0.11281 . ISSN   2162-3317. S2CID   225166989. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  15. ↑ Maughan, Philip (April 14, 2021). "The World According to ContraPoints". Highsnobiety. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  16. ↑ Cross, Katherine (August 24, 2018). "The Oscar Wilde of YouTube fights the alt-right with decadence and seduction". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ Koenigsdorff, Simon (January 13, 2020). "Youtube: Auf der anderen Seite die linken Influencer". Teilchen (in German). Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Ellingham, Miles (January 17, 2021). "The rise of BreadTube: The battle for the soul of the internet" . The Independent. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ Lindsay Ellis [@thelindsayellis] (November 10, 2020). "Someone tell this person that breadtube isn't a thing" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Shaun [@shaun_vids] (March 25, 2020). "do not send me messages about 'breadtube' drama. or 'breadtube' generally. its a fake group with arbitrary, subjective membership" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ Natalie Wynn [@ContraPoints] (February 23, 2021). "I encourage my audience to drop the label 'BreadTube'" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. ↑ Steele, Beatrice (October 26, 2021). "'BreadTube': irrelevant to power?". The Oxford Student . Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.