'You're gonna be crazy to be a TikTok first content creator'
TikTok might be the fastest-growing social media app, but one of the world's biggest social media stars MrBeast reckons it's surging popularity could be coming to an end.
The renowned YouTuber – real name Jimmy Donaldson – discussed the topic on a recent episode of the Full Send Podcast.
During the episode. host Kyle Forgeard mentioned the popularity of TikTok and the idea that it could "overpass YouTube.
MrBeast replies: "I thought the same but YouTube Shorts, they've really taken some huge strides".
YouTube launched its Shorts feature in 2020 as a way to try and compete with TikTok. It has been steadily gaining momentum, but TikTok is still the clear big dog in the world of short-form video content.
MrBeast explained that if YouTube Shorts can continue growing though then many creators will turn to that instead of TikTok because of the financial rewards they could reap.
Earlier this month, YouTube announced that Shorts creators can now qualify for its Partner Program, which allows users to earn ad revenue in the same way they can with long-form videos.
"So starting in January, if you get like, hypothetically, a billion views on TikTok, whatever that is, that's like $1,000. A billion views over here on YouTube? I mean, that could literally make you like $100,000."
When asked by one of the hosts if TikTok is "going to adapt to that?" MrBeast replies: "Yeah, I think they're going to be forced to."
But he explains later on in the episode that he reckons TikTok will struggle to keep up with the revenue offered to YouTube creators, where people will be able to "gain subs, get more views on your long form and make f***ing money."
"Charli [D'Amelio], Addison [Rae] – all these people, if they can just literally do what they're doing but over on YouTube and make a bag off of shorts and then on top of that, that boosts long form which makes even more money, you're gonna be crazy to be a TikTok first content creator," he said.
The hosts seemed sceptical about this point, and suggested that TikTok would change its ad strategy to keep up.
But MrBeast said: "You really think TikTok over here printing tens of billions of dollars is just overnight going to go, 'You know what? Half of these tens of billions, we're just gonna give it away.'"
Summarising his point, he declared: "All I'm saying is, once this Partner Program kicks into effect on Shorts, I think you're gonna see a lot of big TikTokers coming over here."
Some were quick to voice their disagreement with the YouTuber on this prediction though.
One person commented: "I don’t wanna see professional creator content though. I wanna see funny, random, everyday people’s videos! TikTok algorithm is better."
