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I watched nothing but YouTube for a week. Here’s what I learnt

By Nell Geraets

It’s only July, and I’ve already spent more than $510 on streaming services. That number wouldn’t hurt as much if I knew I used all five platforms equally, or that I didn’t waste hours flicking through options before landing on something, only to watch one episode before realising it’s time for bed.

What makes it hurt the most, however, is the fact that there are several streaming services that cost absolutely nothing.

Over the past four months, my colleagues and I have been testing these free platforms, including SBS On Demand, ABC iview, Tubi and 10Play, to see what it’s like to watch nothing but one service for a week.

What is it like watching only YouTube for a week? Turns out it’s a mixed bag.

What is it like watching only YouTube for a week? Turns out it’s a mixed bag.Credit: Margaret Gordon

This month, we upped the ante. I’ve taken on YouTube, a service that sits somewhere between traditional streaming and social media. Could this creator-led platform compete with Netflix and Binge, or would it send me back to my old (expensive) faithfuls?

What does it offer?

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There’s a bit of everything on YouTube. Unlike traditional streaming platforms, YouTube contains anything from ultra-short to long-form content, all of which is uploaded by everyday creators rather than production studios.

You like cooking videos? YouTube has them. Movie reviews? Plenty. Want to watch someone crocheting a tiny cactus? YouTube’s got you. The platform caters to every interest, no matter how niche.

Movies and TV shows are available; however, they’re extremely limited unless you pay for YouTube Premium. If you’ve been itching to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, you’ll be glad to know it’s one of the few free-of-charge offerings.

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First impressions

I haven’t regularly watched YouTube since year 8, when Jenna Marbles and Annoying Orange were household names (if you’ve seen the latter, you’ll understand why I needed time away from the platform).

The first evening was therefore filled with waves of nostalgia and exploration. I watched a Bon Appétit chef bake 144 brownies, Sabrina Carpenter downing incredibly spicy hot wings, and a tour of a US$44 million Lake Tahoe mega-mansion. It was options galore, and every time I finished a video, the algorithm had an eerily bang-on suggestion for me.

The sheer volume of content, as well as the shorter video lengths, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. The Outdoor Boys, a channel run by an Alaskan man who loves extreme camping, was a surprise favourite. I’m more of a heated-cabin kind of gal, yet I was enthralled by this man digging three metres into the snow to camp overnight in freezing temperatures. Thanks to that channel, I now know how to reboot a snowmobile with frozen gas lines. Will I ever use that knowledge? Probably not, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless.

What I didn’t love

Watching a week of YouTube was like eating a box of doughnuts: it’s heavenly at first, but by the fourth or fifth doughnut, you’re sick of the taste. The decision fatigue I often experience when browsing paid-for streaming services eventually doubled on YouTube because the videos are generally shorter than a 40-minute episode or feature-length film. I was therefore constantly wondering what to watch next, especially once the algorithm assumed I was the next Bear Grylls and fed me too much survival camping content.

I also found myself craving proper narratives and fictional characters. Its free movies didn’t interest me (sorry Independence Daysaster), so I watched content that skewed more social media than streaming. This is entertaining when you’re commuting home, but not as satisfying when you want to be absorbed in a kick-ass story for the evening.

Finally, YouTube has ads. Some may not mind this, but I’m the type to pay to avoid them. You can skip some after a set time, but I was often too far from the remote to do so, forcing me to watch 30 more seconds of the Claratyne ad I’d already seen 20 times. And unlike services like Disney+, YouTube doesn’t have an obvious “continue watching” category, meaning you have to navigate to your history to relocate an unfinished video.

Would I recommend it?

As your sole source of film and TV? No. As something to enjoy alongside more traditional streaming services? Absolutely.

I learnt a lot during my week with YouTube, including the history of strawberries and how totem poles are made. We’re spoilt for choice, with every kind of content imaginable on one platform. However, the volume can be paralysing, and there’s no guarantee the video you choose will be good. After all, anyone can upload to YouTube. Services like Netflix, though costly, are more reliable, captivating you with stories created by the world’s finest. There’s another reason it’s called “Netflix and chill” – once you’ve chosen a show, you can set aside the remote and binge to your heart’s content.

What I watched on YouTube

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/i-watched-nothing-but-youtube-for-a-week-here-s-what-i-learnt-20240722-p5jvgw.html