What makes a Youtube video so irresistible to gain over 400 million views? James Stephen “Jimmy” Donaldson or more commonly known as Mr Beast, is a Youtuber who creates fast paced, hyperrealistic, and I would say overstimulating videos full of challenges. He first made a name for himself by re-creating the challenges from the famous Korean Show “Squid Games”. His videos gain massive popularity from its high production, high effort, and outrageous challenges where most of his videos are money centric. He does this in ways such as making people compete for it, comparing 1 dollar experiences vs 1,000,000,000 dollar experiences or challenges like surviving 50 hours in a maximum security prison. Although Mr. Beast does not fall into all the categories of Youtube and Accelerated aesthetics, he sure does tick a lot of the boxes. 

Considering his videos gain a minimum of 100 million views, it could be said that his videos are algorithm driven. With the constant loud and amped up atmosphere, his videos are very much attention grabbing and definitely over stimulating. The thumbnails of his videos also represent  very over saturated and loud images and texts to hook their audience. They are also mainly kept simple and straightforward where the thumbnail is broken into two sides comparing for example 1 dollar  yachts vs 1,000,000,000 dollar yachts or before and after almost AI looking photos with a cut out of him smiling which are meant to maximize click through rates. His videos are also kept short with the average of about 15 minutes and about 30 until 40 minutes for the extended challenges. His videos align with Vernallis’ Accelerated Aesthetic theory due to the intense visuals, fast paced and high energy editing which reflects the now overstimulated, short attention span and attention driven culture of digital media.

Vernallis, Carol. Unruly Media : You Tube, Music Video, and the New Digital Cinema. New York, Oxford University Press Inc, 2014.

Brenda Tanu – 33740103