YouTube has undergone significant changes over the years, becoming more cookie-cutter and business-oriented. The 2017 Adpocalypse, where advertisers pulled out due to offensive content, forced creators to be more business-minded and find alternative revenue streams. The monetization policy became stricter, making it harder for edgy channels to make a living solely from ad revenue. Despite the stagnation in the current era, there is still hope for innovation and fresh ideas to break the mold. AI has both contributed to the stagnation and has the potential to revolutionize editing and visual storytelling. The rise of video essays shows that viewers still appreciate depth and good writing. The decline of vlogs and the impact of homepage and browse features have also shaped the platform. As YouTube matures, the dominance of business over creativity becomes more apparent, but there is still potential for a balance between the two. Ultimately, YouTube is in a phase, and it's only a matter of time before a visionary brings something truly interesting to the platform.

Takeaways

• The 2017 Adpocalypse had a significant impact on YouTube, forcing creators to be more business-minded and find alternative revenue streams.
• The monetization policy became stricter, making it harder for edgy channels to make a living solely from ad revenue.
• Despite the current stagnant era of YouTube, there is still hope for innovation and fresh ideas to break the mold.
• AI has both contributed to the stagnation and has the potential to revolutionize editing and visual storytelling.
• The rise of video essays shows that viewers still appreciate depth and good writing on the platform.
• The decline of vlogs and the impact of homepage and browse features have also shaped the platform.
• As YouTube matures, the dominance of business over creativity becomes more apparent, but there is still potential for a balance between the two.