A regretful rewind: YouTube Rewind 2018 was a disaster

BY EMMA HUERTA

On December 6, 2018, the popular video-publishing platform, YouTube, released its most anticipated video of the year: YouTube Rewind 2018. Full of overly cheesy throwbacks and awkward jokes, the video has received loads of backlash from its esteemed viewers.

YouTube has been putting out such “rewind” videos since 2011, consecutively releasing one each year since. The videos were originally meant to summarize the past year by reflecting upon viral trends that were prominent during the respective year. The videos feature various popular YouTube video-creators, referred to as YouTubers, who made some sort of a special impact that year and remained relevant.

So, if the video includes so many popular, loved nuances, why are people so upset?

This year, YouTube Rewind featured cool video bloggers like Emma Chamberlain and The Dolan Twins, talented makeup artists like James Charles, tech YouTubers like Marques Brownlee and gamers like Ninja. Even renowned actor (and now YouTuber) Will Smith appeared in the video. The video also included references to some of the most monumental online trends, such as Korean pop music (“K-pop”), Fortnite and mutant makeup.

So, if the video includes so many popular, loved nuances, why are people so upset?

The general issue with YouTube Rewind this year is that it’s an unjust representation of 2018. It included some of the most prominent creators on YouTube, as well as some famous jokes and events, yet the video still seemed detached from the requests of the masses and the true highlights of 2018.

For instance, well-known creators like Pewdiepie, Logan Paul and Shane Dawson were not featured in the video, although they had (and still have) vastly recognizable impacts on YouTube. Pewdiepie currently has the most subscribers on the entire platform, and his constant bickering with the channel T-Series– which is close to beating Pewdiepie’s record– attracted even more attention from viewers.

Both Paul and Dawson were also massively popular this year with Dawson’s documentary series discussing the behind-the-scenes of Paul’s chaotic YouTuber life. Despite such huge impacts, these huge creators were left out of Rewind, much to the dismay of their huge followings.

Viewers have gone so far as making it the most disliked video on YouTube, with almost 10 million dislikes by December 13.

Between the fun parts of the video, the featured creators sat on logs surrounding a campfire. These awkwardly placed and worded acknowledgments about triumphs made in the last year regarding serious topics seemed abruptly interrupt the video, cutting off the cheerful recollections of past YouTube memories.

Although the video did address many important events, this abrupt attempt at openly talking about those issues after watching YouTubers stuff their mouths with Korean food does not make the speeches believable, especially since they’re unconvincing in the first place. Not only in this scene but in Rewind as a whole, the YouTubers are trying to act along with the storyline, making the already cringe-inducing script even faker and just flat-out terrible.

In response to the flaws of YouTube Rewind, viewers are expressing backlash in all different kinds of ways, whether it be by leaving a distasteful comment or just by warning their friends not to watch it. Viewers have gone so far as making it the most disliked video on YouTube, with almost 10 million dislikes by December 13. They managed to beat the original record holder, Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video, in just under six days.

Overall, YouTube Rewind 2018 did not live up to its expectations, as it had visible flaws and did not adequately cater to its audience. As with other embarrassingly bad content on the Internet, Rewind 2018 must now face the constant ridicule of viewers. Hopefully, Rewind 2019 does not meet the same fate.

Photo courtesy of  EDM Junkies