MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351

The video is an interview with MrBeast discussing the future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as his thoughts on creating viral videos and his belief that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.

The video is an interview with MrBeast, a popular YouTuber, discussing the future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. They talk about the potential for videos to reach 1 billion views, the importance of making great videos, and the possibility of MrBeast's channel reaching 1 billion subscribers. They also discuss a controversial Twitter poll MrBeast posted about taking $10,000 in exchange for a random person on Earth dying, and what it reveals about human nature. The interview ends with a discussion about how MrBeast thinks he will die, and he jokes about it possibly happening while doing something dumb like going to space.

• MrBeast believes in making great videos over mediocre ones to gain subscribers and views.
• He has recorded videos for release years in the future, including after his death.
• MrBeast thinks that YouTube will continue to dominate as the go-to platform for video content.
• He believes that making unique and different videos is key to creating viral content.
• MrBeast meditates on death every day and hopes for digital immortality.
• He thinks that TikTok is the most exciting platform, while Twitter is best for engaging with fans.
• MrBeast takes risks in his videos but only after careful planning and preparation.
• He believes that YouTube should invest in creating an actual community with high-effort comments.
• MrBeast thinks that part of his Twitter poll's results reveal something true about human nature.

MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351 - YouTube

MrBeast's Predictions for Viral Videos and Subscribers

• MrBeast believes that one of his videos might get a billion views, possibly the Squid Game video or one of the newer ones.
• He thinks it's easier to get 10 million views on one great video than a hundred thousand on a hundred mediocre ones.
• YouTube's algorithm serves viewers the videos they think they'll like the best, so if a video is great, it will stay Evergreen and never die.
• MrBeast doesn't have a plan for when he'll hit a billion subscribers, but he believes it will happen eventually.
• He focuses on making great videos rather than arbitrary vanity metrics like subscribers or views.

MrBeast's Twitter Poll on Dark Human Nature

• MrBeast posted a Twitter poll asking if people would take $10,000 if it meant a random person on Earth would die.
• 45% of people said yes, which surprised and disturbed MrBeast.
• He believes that sometimes trolling and polls reveal things we're too embarrassed to admit about the darker aspects of human nature.
• MrBeast references Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Podcast, which discusses how humans have been attracted to watching the suffering of others throughout history.
• He thinks that part of the poll's results reveal something true about human nature.

MrBeast's Thoughts on How He Might Die

• MrBeast thinks he might die doing something dumb, like going to space or trying to go to Mars.
• He knows that every video he does has safety experts involved, so there's not much risk involved.

MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351 - YouTube

MrBeast's Belief in Making Great Videos

• MrBeast believes that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• He thinks that focusing on making great videos is the key to gaining subscribers, views, and making money in the video creation space.
• MrBeast doesn't see himself getting burnt out or quitting, and he believes that YouTube is not going anywhere.
• He thinks that with enough time, he will eventually hit a billion subscribers.

Risk-taking in Video Production

• MrBeast puts himself in danger in some of his videos, but he takes precautions to ensure his safety.
• For example, he consulted with experts and did extensive testing before filming the "buried alive" video.
• He also pre-plans for any potential harm or danger that could arise during filming.
• MrBeast believes in not leaving anything up to chance when it comes to his safety.
• He takes risks, but only after careful planning and preparation.

Recording Videos for the Future

• MrBeast has recorded videos that are scheduled to be released years in the future.
• He filmed videos when he had 8,000 subscribers, predicting his future subscriber count.
• He has videos scheduled to be released 20 years in the future.
• If he were to die, the videos would automatically go public.
• He has also considered filming videos to be released after his death, as a form of immortality.

The Concept of Time and Digital Immortality

• MrBeast and Lex Fridman discuss the concept of time and how it relates to digital immortality.
• They both recorded videos to be released after their deaths, as a way to persist in the digital space.
• MrBeast believes that it's a good exercise to consider what you really care about and address the world when you're no longer physically there.
• They both agree that it's a niche thing to do, but they encourage others to consider making a post like that.
• They also discuss how it could help loved ones cope with their loss.

The Future of Social Media Platforms

• MrBeast shares his thoughts on the future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
• He believes that YouTube will continue to dominate as the go-to platform for video content.
• He thinks that Twitter will remain popular for news and updates, but it may not grow much more.
• He sees TikTok as a platform that will continue to grow and evolve, especially with its focus on short-form video content.
• He thinks that Instagram will remain popular, but it may not see much growth in the future.

MrBeast's Thoughts on Death and Immortality

• MrBeast meditates on death every day to remind himself of the finite nature of life.
• He hopes that someone like Elon Musk will figure out a way to slow down aging so that people can live longer.
• He believes that immortality could be achieved in the digital realm.
• He wants his content to have a finite nature and not be diminished by AI-generated content.
• He acknowledges that the idea of death is scary, but he tries not to think about it until he is older.

MrBeast's Thoughts on YouTube

• MrBeast is happy with how YouTube is at the moment and feels that he gets the videos he wants to watch.
• He is biased because he is doing well on the platform.
• He hates the comment section on YouTube and wishes it was more like Reddit's comment section.
• He believes that YouTube should invest in creating an actual community where people can do high-effort comments and be rewarded for it.
• He thinks that the comment section is one of the most lively on the internet, but it is filled with spam and bots.

MrBeast's Thoughts on Creating Viral Videos

• MrBeast believes that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• He thinks that the key to creating viral videos is to make them unique and different from what everyone else is doing.
• He believes that it is important to have a strong concept and to execute it well.
• He thinks that it is important to have a team that is passionate about the project and willing to put in the work.
• He believes that it is important to take risks and not be afraid to fail.

MrBeast's Thoughts on Social Media Platforms

• MrBeast thinks that TikTok is the most exciting platform at the moment because it is still new and there is a lot of room for growth.
• He thinks that Twitter is the best platform for engaging with fans and getting feedback.
• He thinks that Instagram is good for showcasing visuals and building a brand.
• He believes that YouTube is the best platform for creating long-form content and building a community.
• He thinks that each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to use them in a way that complements each other.

Twitter Feedback

• Twitter provides better filtered feedback than YouTube.
• Verified users' tweets are usually sensible and not troll takes.
• MrBeast checks the verified tab on Twitter after uploading a video.
• Twitter Blue allows users to pay eight dollars a month for additional features.
• MrBeast hopes YouTube will have a similar feedback system in the future.

Elon Musk and Twitter

• MrBeast had a conversation with Elon Musk about the future of Twitter.
• Elon Musk is willing to move fast and make changes to the platform.
• MrBeast thinks there will be a lot of interesting things coming out of Twitter in the future.
• MrBeast believes Twitter is closer to TikTok than YouTube in terms of content.
• MrBeast is curious to see what features Elon Musk will roll out on Twitter.

Video on Twitter

• MrBeast thinks Twitter is a good comment section for the internet.
• Twitter is closer to TikTok than YouTube in terms of content.
• MrBeast suggests Twitter should allow users to embed YouTube videos on the platform.
• MrBeast believes embedding YouTube videos on Twitter would solve a lot of problems.
• It is unclear who would get the money from ads on embedded YouTube videos on Twitter.

Future of YouTube and Twitter

• MrBeast thinks YouTube will continue to grow and not change much.
• Google AdWords allows YouTube to pay creators more money than other platforms.
• MrBeast believes it is unlikely for Twitter to pay creators more than YouTube in the near future.
• MrBeast thinks the future of Twitter is unpredictable and depends on various factors.
• MrBeast believes it is unlikely for any platform to give creators the ability to make higher CPMS than on YouTube.

Integrated Ads in Videos

• MrBeast integrates brand deals into his videos.
• He believes in using the money from brand deals to make better content.
• Integrating brand deals into the content makes it less cringe and more natural.
• Brands that don't give artistic freedom are not worth working with.
• Smaller creators have a harder time negotiating artistic freedom with brands.

Podcast Ads vs YouTube Ads

• Podcast ads are more effective because people listen to them.
• MrBeast does ads in the beginning of his podcast and allows listeners to skip them.
• He believes that the quality of the ad read matters more than the timing or placement of the ad.
• It's difficult to negotiate with brands about the quality of the ad read.
• MrBeast wishes there was more of a culture to prioritize the quality of the ad read.

Percentage of Viewership

• MrBeast wonders what percentage of viewers have seen his videos before.
• He thinks about numbers and retention when discussing his brand deal process.
• He doesn't know the percentage of viewers who are familiar with his content.
• He doesn't put much thought into the demographics of his potential audience.
• He is more interested in creating good content and hanging out with his audience.

Strategies for High Retention

• MrBeast focuses on creating good content to retain viewers.
• He believes in using the money from brand deals to make better content.
• He integrates brand deals into the content to make it less cringe and more natural.
• He prioritizes artistic freedom when negotiating with brands.
• He wishes there was more of a culture to prioritize the quality of the ad read.

Creating Immersive Content

• Viewers need an overarching narrative and micro-entertainment every second.
• The longer people watch, the more likely they are to keep watching.
• Immersing viewers in the content is key to keeping them engaged.
• Even if there are boring parts, if viewers are immersed, they will keep watching.
• It's important to get viewers immersed and then hold their attention.

Hiring a Great Team

• Coachable people who see the value in the creator's vision are essential.
• Content creation is a specific way of doing things, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach.
• It's easier to hire hard workers who are coachable and train them in content creation than to hire from traditional media.
• People from traditional media often have preconceived notions and think their way is better.
• It's important to hire people with humility and a beginner's mind, even if they have experience.

The Future of Social Media

• MrBeast believes that YouTube will continue to dominate as the primary platform for content creators.
• Twitter is great for promoting content and interacting with fans, but it's not a primary platform for content creation.
• TikTok is a great platform for short-form content, but it's difficult to monetize.
• Instagram is a great platform for visual content, but it's becoming oversaturated.
• Creators should focus on creating great content and not worry too much about the platform.

Making Viral Videos

• MrBeast believes that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• It's important to focus on creating content that people will want to share with others.
• Collaborating with other creators can help increase exposure and reach new audiences.
• It's important to be authentic and true to oneself when creating content.
• Creators should focus on creating content that they enjoy making and that their audience will enjoy watching.

Importance of YouTube as a Career

• MrBeast is tired of people not seeing YouTube as a viable career option.
• He believes that YouTube is the future and the end goal for creators.
• He asks people what they want to be doing in 10 years, and if their answer is anything other than making content on YouTube, he sees it as a red flag.
• He believes that being on a great team that is doing epic stuff is more important than the medium, but the medium is also important.
• He thinks that there are two completely different ways of going about things in traditional media and YouTube.

Developing Taste and Style

• MrBeast has developed a taste and style for what makes good content.
• He has consumed enough viral videos and good content to train his brain to see patterns and what is optimal.
• He sometimes gets a headache when he watches something too slow or not optimal.
• He has trained his brain to like certain things, but he acknowledges that his taste isn't the end-all-be-all.
• He looks at data-driven aspects of videos, such as thumbnails, titles, and retention, to understand how to do it better.

Transferring Taste to the Team

• MrBeast believes that the answer to what makes the best video is whatever makes the best video.
• He thinks that the more constraints you put on the team, the more repetitive and less innovative the content becomes.
• He is hesitant to give too many specific instructions because he wants to keep things fresh and innovative.
• He believes that putting as few constraints as possible on the team is the best way to make innovative content.
• He is worried that if he gives too many specific instructions, the team will become too reliant on them and lose their creativity.

Creating Authentic Content

• MrBeast's videos are not scripted and are more run-and-gun.
• He overshoots things and overcompensates for the dumb way of going about it.
• He believes that being authentic is more important than saving money on editing or planning what to say.
• He thinks that traditional media and YouTube are two completely different ways of going about things.
• He believes that the more authentic the content, the better it will perform.

Teaching Your Voice or Style to Others

• MrBeast suggests making suggestions rather than giving facts when teaching your voice or style to others.
• He talks about the process of cloning, where he teaches his team to think like him and make decisions like he would.
• He has multiple people in his company who are able to think like him and make decisions like he would.
• He spends an absurd amount of time with his team, working on every single video together.
• He finds people who are super obsessed and all in, and trains their brain to think like him.

Real-Time Editing

• MrBeast talks about how he can perfectly picture what he's filming by just looking at the camera and putting himself through the lens of the camera while making content.
• He can see himself from a third-person perspective, which helps with the nerves of being in front of the camera.
• He has never been nervous talking to a camera, but it's harder for him to talk to a person that doesn't talk to a camera.
• He prefers being in front of the camera by himself, as it's so much easier.
• He spends more time editing than being in front of the camera.

Cloning

• MrBeast achieves cloning by finding people who are super obsessed and all in, and training their brain to think like him.
• He spends an absurd amount of time with his team, working on every single video together.
• He finds people who are super obsessed and all in, and trains their brain to think like him.
• He spends an absurd amount of time with his team, working on every single video together.
• He finds people who are super obsessed and all in, and trains their brain to think like him.

Developing a Team

• MrBeast talks about finding people who are super obsessed and all in, and training their brain to think like him.
• He spends an absurd amount of time with his team, working on every single video together.
• He finds people who are super obsessed and all in, and trains their brain to think like him.
• He spends an absurd amount of time with his team, working on every single video together.
• He finds people who are super obsessed and all in, and trains their brain to think like him.

Brainstorming Process

• MrBeast describes his process of finding people who are obsessed with creating content and giving them an avenue to pursue it.
• He converges towards a common vision with his team, making brainstorming more productive.
• He approves every idea before filming, but doesn't have to be involved in the minor details.
• He intakes inspiration and sees what his brain outputs to consistently come up with 100 million view videos.
• He spends 10 years obsessively studying titles, thumbnails, and other factors that make a video successful.

Creating Titles and Thumbnails

• MrBeast believes that a good title should have a retention to word by word reading and lead into the content.
• The title should represent content that viewers would want to watch for the entire duration of the video.
• The length of the video should be considered when creating a title.
• Ideally, the title should be below 50 characters to avoid being cut off on certain devices.
• The more extreme the opinion in the title, the higher the click-through rate, but it must be delivered in the content.

Shutting Down Ideas

• MrBeast sometimes shuts down ideas if the title or thumbnail isn't good enough.
• 70 of the ideas pitched in a brainstorming session were shut down because the thumbnail or title wasn't good enough.
• The title and thumbnail must work together to make people want to click on the video.
• The title and thumbnail should represent the content of the video.
• The more extreme the opinion in the title, the higher the click-through rate, but it must be delivered in the content.

Developing Skills

• MrBeast developed his skills over 10 years of obsessively studying titles, thumbnails, and other factors that make a video successful.
• He intakes inspiration and sees what his brain outputs to consistently come up with 100 million view videos.
• The neural network of his brain generates the video, title, and thumbnail jointly.
• He believes that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• He believes that creating something original and creative that people really need to see is the key to consistently going viral.

Positive vs Negative Clickbait

• Negative clickbait is easier to get than positive clickbait.
• Many people take the easier route of negative clickbait.
• Positive videos require more effort and time to get views.
• Helping people is harder to get views than tearing down a celebrity.
• MrBeast's videos are mostly positive, but not many people do those kinds of videos because they are hard.

The Secret to Giving Away Money in Videos

• There is no difference between giving away half a million or a million dollars.
• There is a certain point where a dollar amount is just a large dollar amount to an average human, and that point is 100k.
• Anything above 100k, the average human thinks it's a lot of money.
• After 100k, the returns level off dramatically.
• Big numbers past 100k get more clicks because it's a lot of zeros.

Elements of a Successful Thumbnail

• It's hard to say what elements make a successful thumbnail.
• It's easier to analyze a thumbnail and say why it's good or bad.
• Colors and contrast are important in a thumbnail.
• Make sure the subject is clear and easy to see.
• Make sure the title and thumbnail match the content of the video.

Iteration and Addiction to Perfecting Videos

• MrBeast does many iterations to perfect his videos.
• He believes that making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• Iteration has become an addiction for him.
• Small changes in a video can make a big difference in views.
• He believes that the key to success is to keep making videos and improving with each one.

Thumbnail Creation

• The original idea of a video is already strong, even if it's just a sketch.
• A good thumbnail should be eye-catching and make people want to click on it.
• Brand recognition is important, so MrBeast's face is always in the left side of the thumbnail.
• Exaggerating the size of objects in the thumbnail is acceptable, as long as it catches people's attention.
• MrBeast's team spends a lot of money on content, and he reinvests everything he makes.

Advice for Creators

• Copying MrBeast's style won't make someone the next MrBeast.
• Creators should find their own lane and innovate and adapt to stand out.
• MrBeast sees other creators as collaborators, not competitors.
• He doesn't hold back any secrets and is happy to give advice to other creators.
• Helping other creators do well doesn't harm him and brings more value to his life.

Transition to TikTok

• MrBeast's team is focused heavily on YouTube, but they were also the most followed TikTok creator in the world last year.
• Transitioning to TikTok was challenging because it's a fundamentally different platform with shorter content.
• MrBeast had to figure out what he looks like in short-form content.
• Recently, they've started to catch their stride and come up with original concepts on TikTok.
• They want to avoid making "shitty YouTube videos" on TikTok and instead create original content.

Original TikTok Content

• MrBeast's team played rock-paper-scissors for $100k and the loser had to donate to charity.
• They offered a random person $100 to fly to Paris and give them a baguette, and then offered $300 for a big hat.
• They found tons of original content on TikTok that no one else was doing.
• They put in more effort and made it good, just like they did on YouTube.
• Now they're the fastest growing TikTok account in the world.

The Virality of Content Across Platforms

• Sub one minute vertical content can go viral on every platform.
• Content can go viral individually on each platform.
• Content can be engineered to go viral.
• Virality is not accidental.
• Creating viral videos is a teachable and learnable skill.

The Importance of Idea Generation

• Generating good ideas is crucial for success.
• Many creators don't put enough ideas on paper.
• Many creators don't make good enough content.
• Idea generation and execution are both important.
• Creating good content takes effort and time.

The Power of One Great Video

• Making one great video is easier than making a bunch of mediocre ones.
• Quality over quantity is important.
• One great video can lead to more success than many mediocre ones.
• Creating one great video takes time and effort.
• One great video can be the breakthrough for a creator.

The Teachings of MrBeast

• MrBeast has counseled YouTubers to help them increase their views.
• Creating viral videos is a learnable skill.
• MrBeast shares his knowledge openly on podcasts.
• Many people make excuses and say it's just luck.
• MrBeast believes that anyone can create viral content if they have the knowledge and apply it.

Constant Learning

• Self-awareness is important to see areas of improvement in videos.
• Every six months, look back at videos and see things to improve.
• Constantly learn from others, attend masterminds, and call random people to teach you something.
• Having a never-ending thirst for learning is imperative to stay on top.
• Learning is the only way to stay ahead of the competition.

Building a Content Company

• MrBeast is currently studying how to build a content company to produce the crazy ideas he wants to make.
• He is focusing on scaling up and hiring to achieve his goals.
• He believes in giving severance to employees who are not a good fit and helping them transition to a new job.
• Passionate employees are important to the success of a company.
• MrBeast advises new YouTubers to make 100 videos and improve something each time before expecting views.

Improving Videos

• Improving something in each video is important to progress as a content creator.
• Improvements can be made in the script, editing, voice inflections, thumbnail, title, and more.
• There is no such thing as a perfect video, and every little thing can be improved.
• Brainstorming viral ideas and asking if they are doable is a good way to come up with content.
• Don't be cynical about the doability of ideas, as there are many ways to accomplish a goal.

Starting with No Money

• MrBeast advises new YouTubers to just start making videos and not get stuck in analysis paralysis.
• He suggests brainstorming viral ideas and asking if they are doable.
• One of his early viral videos was counting to 100,000.
• Throwing out a lot of ideas and asking if they are doable is a good way to come up with content.
• There are many different ways to accomplish a goal, so don't be cynical about the doability of ideas.

Pushing Through Obstacles

• At first glance, some ideas may seem impossible or unaffordable.
• However, by digging deeper and finding alternatives, it is possible to achieve what you want.
• For example, instead of buying a $10 million island, you can buy a cheaper one and invest in making it better.
• To achieve your goals, you need to push through obstacles and eliminate all variables yourself.
• Having a dominant personality and a willingness to be stubborn and resilient to failure is important.

Watch the video on YouTube:
MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351 - YouTube