this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2025
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A lot of Youtube channels are reporting declining viewership lately.

EX1: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cpVnx4_yqTo
EX2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF0tmhEtVJE

Fun times. Looks like a lot of channels are seeing a decline not just Linus. Hes just the latest to talk about it.

Then I saw this article as well and thought I would share.

Anyone here youtube creators? Are you seeing the same thing, a general downturn in viewership?

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[–] wabafee@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

My guess they started accounting for bot visits. Perhaps a lot of videos before were visited by bots. Not just to bump views but could be for training AI.

[–] 123@programming.dev 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Or they could be subtracting viewers with ad blockers? It would make sense that more techie channels would be hit the hardest.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The overwhelming majority of Youtube visitors use the official app and even those who use a browser don't have an adblock 88% of the time if my memory serves me right. So no, it's not adblock.

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ok, is it possible if most people aren't blocking ads, then maybe it is the ads themselves?

There are so many and they are getting longer. I wouldnt sit around to watch videos if they are interrupted every minute. The average rando probably goes back to TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram if they have to wait for something. If I used any of those services, I know I would jump ship.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

That‘s an interesting hypothesis. I‘ve also mentioned a shift in the algorithm that favors smaller channels a little more in another comment.

If we take into account that a lot more people also browse Youtube shorts now and older channels have been struggling with it then we have a good mix of things that drive potential viewers away from many channels.

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think you've hit it on the nose right here. Especially since this declining viewership problem has been hitting channels across all of YouTube and it has only been since they started their crusade against ad blockers.

[–] 3dcadmin@lemmy.relayeasy.com 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

It is part of that, but youtube is consumed more on tvs than other devices now worldwide. Now that means that the people who now watch YT are less likely to watch LTT because that is not their focus. I mean shorts are a huge part of YT yet most people seem to dislike them.

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

youtube is consumed more on tvs than other devices now worldwide

Where do you get this from?

[–] 3dcadmin@lemmy.relayeasy.com 2 points 11 hours ago

I have seen multiple reports about it!
One quick search revealed this forbes report earlier this year

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2025/02/12/launched-20-years-ago-more-people-are-now-watching-youtube-on-tv/

[–] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago

I agree, people forget how fake the internet is.