As the social media landscape grows, content creators continually have to evolve to satisfy their followers. Shayne Topp, actor and comedian who’s Smosh YouTube channel has over 26 million subscribers, joined TheStreet to discuss the ever-changing world of content creation.
Related: Smosh’s Shayne Topp is hoping ‘things go wrong’ at next live show
Full Video Transcript Below:
PATRICIA BATTLE: In your opinion, how has YouTube changed throughout the years. And how has Smosh adjusted to YouTube's changing algorithm?
SHAYNE TOPP: Yeah, I mean, it's that's, it's the greatest challenge of YouTube is, you know, the algorithm, this God that we kind of have to deal with every day where it's like suddenly everything's different and we have to adjust. You know, our content's changed a lot. And it's not just in the style of comedy, which has changed. I think we're far more mature nowadays. I think we are. I don't our energy changes. We're I think we're smarter now. I think we're more grounded. But also the nature of the content, even in the numbers. I mean, when I joined Smosh, our videos were like 5 to 12 minutes long, every single one. Nowadays you go to our channel, we're making hour long videos where it's far more just dialogue and discussion based. It changes all the time. And I think I mean, that's, that's really the work of our crew and our producers and creative directors who are so smart and, and they catch the currents.
PATRICIA BATTLE: Being an influencer and content creator has grown to be a top career choice for a lot of people to the point where some are even quitting their jobs to embark down that career path. How do you feel about the growing popularity of people becoming content creators and what advice would you give them?
SHAYNE TOPP: I guess the main piece of advice I would give to people and I, I say this having just revealed to our audience and a lot of people that I was in a relationship and I'm married and didn't tell anyone for, for years is keeping that line between what is entertainment and what is your personal life because people on as content creators a lot of people don't have a thing that they're doing their entertainment source is themselves as themselves, which is great. A lot of people are really entertaining. But it's a pull to be like anything can be content. I should talk about my whole life and I should just share my whole life and that's entertainment and I'll get more engagement from that. And that brings in more brand deals, that brings in all sorts of stuff. And that's very enticing.
But I think it also is something that if you don't stop and check it, you'll lose track after a while. And then that's how you see content creators is they kind of operate almost like these bursting stars where it's like, bam, they're a flash and then they're gone suddenly. And that might be because people just lost interest or they got burnt out. So fast. I think drawing that line very early on and deciding this is my life, this is not for entertainment. And this is what I plan on doing to entertain people and and creating, allowing your online persona to be a little bit of a persona instead of being 100% genuine. Because I just think over time that for your own sake can get a little dangerous.
