MrBeast is one of the most popular and influential YouTubers in the world, with over 160 Million subscribers and billions of views.He gains recognition for creating extravagant and philanthropic videos, wherein he generously gives away millions of dollars, purchases expensive items, or undertakes daring challenges.
However, critics accuse him of clickbaiting his fans by using misleading titles and thumbnails that exaggerate or distort the content of his videos. Some examples are:
- “I Bought The World’s Most Expensive Firework!” (Thumbnail shows a rocket with a $500k tag, reality is the combined total of things he bought)
- “I Ran A Marathon In The World’s Largest Shoes!” (Thumbnail shows 5 feet long shoes, reality is barely over 1 foot)
- “I Spent A Million On Lottery Tickets And Won” (Thumbnail shows $10 million, reality is $800k)
- “I Spent 24 Hours Straight In ICE” (Thumbnail shows Jimmy in an ice block, reality is Jimmy in an ice house)
Some critics argue that MrBeast is exploiting his young and impressionable audience by using deceptive marketing techniques to lure them into watching his videos. They claim that he is violating YouTube’s community guidelines on spam, deceptive practices, and scams, and that he should be banned from the platform.
“He is using a technique called hyperbole. Hyperbole is not lying or misleading, it is a creative way of expressing something.” – Dhruv Rathee , a YouTuber who analyzed MrBeast’s clickbait technique
Others defend MrBeast by saying that he is just exaggerating for more views, and that his videos are still high quality and entertaining. They point out that he does not lie or scam his fans, and that he actually does what he says in his titles and thumbnails, unlike many other clickbait YouTubers. They also appreciate that he gives back a lot of money to people in need and supports various causes.
“It’s called exaggerating for more views. I don’t find a problem with it honestly.” – A_Cooldude , a Reddit user who defended MrBeast
“He exaggerates a bit for more views. Sometimes, I think when he gives away $300,000 students, sometimes, I thought he meant he gave $300,000 to each student or something like that, when in reality, he gave that much to the total students.” – JustLeafy2003 , another Reddit user who defended MrBeast
One of the most prominent voices in this debate is Dhruv Rathee, an Indian YouTuber who makes videos on social issues, politics, and education. In his video titled “The Truth Behind MrBeast’s Clickbait”, he analyzes MrBeast’s videos and explains why he thinks they are not clickbait.
Dhurve argues that MrBeast uses a technique called “hyperbole”, which is a figure of speech that exaggerates something for emphasis or effect. He says that hyperbole is not lying or misleading, but rather a creative way of expressing something. He compares MrBeast’s titles and thumbnails to newspaper headlines or movie posters, which also use hyperbole to attract attention.
Also said that MrBeast’s videos are not harmful or unethical, because they do not promote violence, hate, or misinformation. He praises MrBeast for his generosity and positivity, and says that he inspires millions of people to do good deeds.
Rathee concludes by saying that MrBeast’s clickbait is not a problem, but rather a solution to the YouTube algorithm, which favors sensational and engaging content over boring and informative content. He says that MrBeast has found a way to balance both entertainment and education, and that he deserves respect and admiration for his work.
