Emerging technology can be overwhelming. It seems like there’s always some new gadget with its own gimmick or some new model that’s more expensive even though it doesn’t seem much different from the one that came before.

But before you’re swayed to purchase based on neat-sounding features (or pushed out of the market by confusing terminology), maybe see if Marques Brownlee has covered it first.

The eponymous YouTube channel gives you insight into lots of tech-based products—from cell phones and cameras to AI and cars. Also known online through the acronym MKBHD (Marques Keith Brownlee High Definition), Brownlee provides helpful insight through his more than 1,500 video uploads.

And even if you’re not searching for a review of a specific product, you’ll likely still learn something watching Brownlee’s videos—and have some fun, too.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Brownlee’s reviews are informative to the viewer and fair to the product, providing not only the specifications of each device but also praising or criticizing its attributes. Viewers in the market for a new bit of tech will be well informed about what they’re considering purchasing. And those who just want to watch for fun will learn something.

Likewise, Brownlee has a short series titled “Retro Tech” in which he highlights the history of technology advancements—from camcorders to the Game Boy and the Walkman. Those interested in the history of tech will enjoy these highly informative videos.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Content is fairly minimal. After watching several videos on the channel, I heard once instance of God’s name taken in vain, and I saw one thumbnail which contained the word “d–n.”

CHANNEL SUMMARY

According to Business Insider, former Google Vice President Vic Gundotra described Marques Brownlee in 2013 as “the best technology reviewer on the planet right now.” That’s high praise for a content creator who, at the time, was only 20 years old. And his tech videos have only gotten better in quality since.

With the exception of very sparse language, Marques Brownlee, the channel, doesn’t have much in the way of concerning content. And because of that, even though Brownlee might criticize a product’s specifications…his channel just might meet yours.

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Well, another channel has risen in prominence lately, too: The Critical Drinker, helmed by Scottish movie reviewer Will Jordan. This conservative-leaning commentator’s enormous popularity is based on his ranting critiques—in particular, for his videos skewering Disney-owned franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. While many of Jordan’s videos are simply discussions about what he did and didn’t like about a film, others slot into several different categories.

“The Drinker Recommends” is a category for movies that Jordan feels are prime examples of great storytelling and engaging movies. In this playlist, viewers will find movies both new and old that Jordan believes stand above the rest.

“The Drinker Fixes” contains videos where Jordan analyzes a character or movie plot and rewrites their motivations or the context around them in order to present a “better” version of it. What’s most notable about this category is that Jordan tries to stick as closely as possible to a movie’s themes and characters in order to prove that poor stories can be made better with a bit of workshopping.

“Production Hell” showcases movies or TV shows that had to go through difficult development and production processes due to monetary issues, overbearing higher-ups, difficult actors or other problems.

“Why Modern Movies Suck” allows Jordan to explain the unique issues behind newer films that he believes undermine their entertainment quality. These videos showcase examples Jordan uses to prove his point and are often the most opinion-based of his uploads.

POSITIVE CONTENT

The Critical Drinker provides valid points and commentary on many films and TV shows. For instance, Jordan often explains that movies that value universal messages will inherently relate to more people than those made to make a statement for the zeitgeist. He notes that movies with messages about family, the value of life and redemption are often the most compelling to audiences.

Jordan primarily focuses on each piece of entertainment’s storytelling, and he criticizes a given film when he feels that the storytelling has been thrown to the side in favor of pushing a political or cultural agenda.

CONTENT CONCERNS

If you thought that the name of the channel was indicative of the content concerns, you’d be right. In older videos, Jordan’s speech is intentionally meant to sound like he’s going on an intoxicated rant. Though newer videos haven’t focused as heavily on that schtick, The Critical Drinker channel name still brings to mind alcoholism.

By far, though, the biggest issue viewers will contend with is the heavy swearing. Both f- and s-words are frequent, as are other vulgarities. God’s name is taken in vain sometimes, too.

In some of the movie clips that Jordan shows, we also see people get hurt or killed in some bloody ways.

Recurring jokes include Jordan playing a clip of a man profusely vomiting in response to poor directorial decisions as well as using a flatulent noise for similar reasons. He also sometimes plays a clip of Nicholas Cage in his underwear or She-Hulk twerking. We hear a couple sexual quips, too.

And on a similar note, some of Jordan’s rants insult the directors and actors behind the films directly. While he often criticizes stories based on merit, he has also makes occasional jokes or comments that comes off as sexist.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Sometimes, movie critics can be quite harsh. I’ve read not a few movie reviews where I’ve thought, in full Marty McFly fashion “Wow, this is heavy.” I’m not immune to the irony that Plugged In’s reviewers(myself included) have probably written things that have elicited similar responses from our readers, too.

And, in true fashion, The Critical Drinker is harsh, too. Harsher than most, in fact, to the point of callous insult.

To Jordan’s credit, many of the points he makes have merit. Furthermore, he does a pretty good job explaining where he’s coming from and why he dislikes a particular element of the film. But let’s just say that when Plugged In dislikes something in a movie, we’re much more likely to express our perspective with careful tact. Not so for Jordan.

And that includes the content issues here. With frequent swearing and many crude jokes, The Critical Drinker probably isn’t the kind of sarcastic movie critic you’d gather your kids in the living room to listen to.

The post The Critical Drinker appeared first on Plugged In.

Safiya Nygaard answers these queries and more.

Originally an employee at the media company Buzzfeed, Safiya left in early 2017 to start her own YouTube channel about fashion, beauty and popular trends.

With her husband, Tyler, and feline friend, Crusty, Safiya tries convenience-store makeup, purchases clothing while blindfolded and travels the world to learn about beauty abroad.

One of Safiya’s earlier series involves her trying odd clothing trends like platform crocs and clear-knee jeans. Another series, called “Bad Makeup Science,” Safiya mixes various beauty products like lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes and scented hand sanitizers to make a new “franken-product” (as she calls it).

Safiya Nygaard might inspire you to reinvent your wardrobe, but more likely she’ll teach you about the fashion industry and get you chuckling about its oddities. 

POSITIVE CONTENT

While her vast clothing and makeup collections show that she enjoys all things beauty, Safiya generally promotes body positivity, focusing on ways that beauty products can extenuate her body’s natural features.

Although her channel’s focus isn’t education, many of Safiya’s videos involve research about fashion throughout the decades and fashion in different cultures. She interviews experts in the beauty industry and YouTubers from the countries she visits. Safiya has also made some videos about the process of making makeup.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Safiya occasionally uses profanity in her videos. She censors heavy profanity like the f-word and the s-word, but words like “h—,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–tard,” “crap” and misuses of God’s name can be heard. She also has a video in which she designs outfits according to her Zodiac sign. And as part of the video, Safiya interviews an astrology expert/psychic reader.

Safiya is married to Tyler now. But when she first started her channel, Tyler was her long-term boyfriend, and the couple was clearly living together.

Although her collection of makeup and clothing is mainly for her YouTube channel, many of Safiya’s videos feature her buying a plethora of beauty products, including from some fast-fashion sites like Wish and Romwe. Safiya isn’t necessarily promoting consumerism, but many of her videos involve her reviewing “hauls” of these products.

Many of these haul videos include segments in which Safiya scrolls through social media and clothing websites. Sometimes the advertising images show underdressed models, but Safiya will blur any outright nudity in these images.

In videos in which she tries different types of clothing, Safiya references how certain pieces fit on specific body parts. Her descriptions aren’t crude, but she will discuss how a pair of pants feels on her behind or how a shirt makes her breasts look. For example, in a video called, “I Bought the First 5 Things Facebook Recommended to Me,” Safiya purchases bras and underwear. She discusses how the items feel, but she does not show herself wearing these items. (In this video, Safiya also purchases condoms–per Facebook’s ad recommendations–but she does not go into any details reviewing that item.)

Although it’s not a negative thing, some parents might want to note that Safiya made a few videos about products related to menstruation, in which she tested things like menstrual cups and period underwear. Safiya talks openly and specifically about her experience with her period, but just to help other women.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Safiya Nygaard’s channel offers a fresh take on beauty content, an industry that can often come off as insincere and toxic. Safiya doesn’t pressure her viewers to conform to beauty standards. Instead, she focuses on the fun of fashion without obsessing about her image.

While families will certainly want to be aware of the profanity and consumerist tendencies, Safiya’s channel is more navigable than many other YouTubers on the site.

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But now, I think of fast-food YouTube critic TheReportOfTheWeek.

Run by 24-year-old John Jurasek, TheReportOfTheWeek started as a channel dedicated to reviewing energy drinks, but it quickly grew in popularity when it started reviewing new fast-food products, and he’s remained there for years. John doesn’t offer reviews on expensive items which no average person could afford. Instead, he sinks his teeth into the ever-growing sector of the cheap, fried and tasty food chains.

POSITIVE CONTENT

TheReportOfTheWeek offers countless reviews on his channel, and the majority of them fall under his “Running on Empty” fast-food review section. And there’s a reason that he focuses on those chains that most Americans visit:

“Is every average American going to be eating a steak dinner every night?” John asks. “No. Fast food though, well, there’s usually a McDonald’s every half mile…I want to be applicable to the largest number of people.”

And when a good portion of people can’t afford to go to the most expensive restaurants, providing reviews for these cheaper products is helpful—because even in fast food, it’s nice to hear whether or not we should spend our limited budget on these cheap options or just make sandwiches at home.

Additionally, though fast food has a reputation for being, well, a bit greasy and classless, TheReportOfTheWeek brings his full swagger to the review, professionally providing insight into the products while donned in a full suit—which comically juxtaposes that on which he is munching and slurping. Though the concept of the channel is humorous, the audience can expect an authentic and full review of each product.

His commentary is full of clean and enjoyable quips regarding each item—whether he gives the food a thumbs up or not. For instance, in one review, John says, “My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.” In another, he comments, “For all you pickle fanatics out there, you could just wring that thing out like a towel in your mouth.”

CONTENT CONCERNS

Though TheReportOfTheWeek doesn’t swear, he occasionally reacts to rude comments on his videos. In those comments, there will be mostly censored swear words that John doesn’t read. In addition, in one video, he misuses God’s name once in response to a bad product.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

TheReportOfTheWeek is a fast-food review page that remains almost entirely free of content concerns. In his witty and dry humor, John doesn’t need to dive into objectionable comments in order to make his audience laugh. And for those who are intentionally diving into the videos to get an authentic review of all things fast food, TheReportOfTheWeek delivers on that end, too.

The post TheReportOfTheWeek appeared first on Plugged In.

This popular YouTube channel was started in 2016 by Genevieve’s father and in less than six years has amassed nearly 23 million subscribers. Most videos feature Genevieve’s father behind the camera as he (not Genevieve) plays with popular toys, while adding his own audio to each video. And while that makes up the majority of the channel, some videos show toddler Genevieve sitting next to her father as he unboxes toys and provides a short review.

So, what’s so enthralling about this? Well, the videos are offered in English, Hindi, Spanish and Vietnamese, and only uber-popular toys are featured such as Gabby’s Dollhouse, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol and Elmo from Sesame Street. There’s also a slight educational component here as some videos help toddlers learn about colors, numbers and shapes. 

The YouTube channel states that “Genevieve’s Playhouse is a safe, and kid-friendly channel that parents can trust to provide educational content for their little ones,” but that conclusion is ultimately left for parents to decide what is considered viewable for their own family. 

POSITIVE CONTENT

Children learn the names of various terms as they’re related to toys, as well as how to use more “technical” toys. They also can learn colors, basic words, numbers and shapes. 

One of the most appealing things about this channel, from a parents perspective, is that young Genevieve is rarely featured in any videos. Most often, a picture of her face is glued to a toy that’s included in play, but it doesn’t feel as if the young girl is being exploited…

CONTENT CONCERNS

…However some parents may find it odd that Genevieve’s father is the one playing with the toys while adding personalized audio to help children develop, as the YouTube channel states, “storytelling skills.” 

In one video, the Paw Patrol enters a haunted house and finds a ghost and a Lego vampire. One of the Paw Patrol taunts, “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.” 

CHANNEL SUMMARY 

Genevieve’s Playhouse is a mostly problem-free YouTube channel aimed at toddlers, featuring Geneieve’s father as he plays with toys and tries to add educational components for children, all while behind the camera. 

The post Genevieve’s Playhouse appeared first on Plugged In.

I don’t think Taras Maksimuk, who goes by the YouTube moniker TechRax, is old enough to have watched Letterman’s destructive antics. But the impulse? It’s exactly the same. His description of the channel is short and accurate: “Smashing technology since 2011. Oh yeah, I am also Ukrainian.” The other tagline on the site: “Your #1 Destiantion for Technological Mayhem.”

TechRax proves that I’m not the only person out there with an inner caveman who likes to see things beaten, battered, dropped, blown up and otherwise abused. More often that not, it’s some poor iPhone getting severely “stress tested.” Like, say, tossing one into a plexiglass box full of firecrackers and setting them off. (The phone got hot, but still worked.) Or dropping one 1,600 feet deep in a lake. Or dropping one down a 300-foot stairwell. Or Tasering one. Or freezing one in a block of ice (which, ironically, causes it to charge faster).

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Devin launched his YouTube channel back in 2010, close to the platform’s starting date, with a dream of creating stories through video. His initial videos consisted of drone shots from around the world, capturing the beauty of various countries. But as his skill grew, so did his range of content. As Devin branched into sports videos, he was contacted by big names such as Subaru, Ford and Disney to create video content for their commercials, all while continuing to funnel content to his YouTube channel.

Now, Devin has a video production company, focuses on visual story creation and has over 6 million YouTube subscribers. Within moments of watching any of his videos, you’ll see that his channel provides creative, original content. Categories include Insane Stunts (which really are wild); Parkour Videos that find people performing parkour moves in silly, reenacted versions of movies such as Jurassic World; Short Films that feature various subjects, such as capturing Pokémon; Video Games in Real Life that center on games like Minecraft; and World Travel, where Devin captures the beauty of places around the world.

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That’s big. In one of her latest videos, for example, the superstar Ukrainian 7-year-old known simply as Diana unpacks her new custom roller skates. And a custom-made Diana doll that looks just like her and … has fun skating around her house.

Which, I might add, has marble floors.

That’s because little Diana’s main channel (one of 13 shared by herself and her brother, Roma) has a staggering 84.5 million subscribers. Add all those channels together and they total 208 million subscribers. That’s roughly the size of Nigeria, the seventh biggest nation on Earth. Similar to kid-based channels such as Like Nastya and Vlad and Niki, Diana’s videos feature a mix of unboxings, light educational lessons, original songs and general silliness of the kid kind.

The post Kids Diana Show appeared first on Plugged In.

Anastasia Radzinskaya is 7 years old. Her parents launched her first YouTube channel in 2016, featuring fun and cute videos of a little girl doing unboxings, delivering lightly positive encouragement and some gentle eductional lessons (like, say, how to read a clock).

Five years later, this plucky little girl has 77 million subscribers on her main channel, and another 163 million on 10 other related channels (some of which dub her videos into other languages). On her main channel alone, Like Nastya, fans have watched a staggering 62 billion videos.

If you’re wondering, that makes her the most popular children’s YouTuber in the world (according to Wikipedia). So what’s the big deal, anyway?

The post Like Nastya appeared first on Plugged In.

Ariel quickly gained over 20 million followers on Musical.ly. She signed a deal with an agency at the age of 15, won multiple Teen Choice Awards, and began creating her own original music and content posted to her YouTube channel, Baby Ariel. She was featured in Vogue and Forbes, starred in the Nickelodeon movie Bixler High Private Eye and then played a role as a werewolf in Disney’s Zombies 2. 

Whew. That sounds like a lot. Well, it’s because it is. And that much in such little time, at such a young, formidable age, can really get to you. Which is why Ariel took a break from all of her social media platforms to get well, which she addresses in one of her YouTube videos as she encourages followers to take care of themselves. 

But that’s just a glimpse of the content you’ll get if you hop on her YouTube channel. Her latest EP, called blue, is front and center on her page. So are videos that discuss emotional wellness, acceptance and learning to love yourself. Yet if you scroll back through the years, you’ll see video content broken into categories like: Music Videos, Albums & Singles, Family Time!, Vlogs, Sketches & Parodies, Musical.ly tutorials and Q&A’s.

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