entertainment

These YouTubers Are Creating Something Out Of (Literally) Nothing

Why are people watching this? Let's explore the possible reasons. These YouTubers Are Creating Something Out Of (Literally) Nothing Giphy

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The trouble with maintaining a typical YouTube account, or keeping up with any creative endeavor, is that it requires coming up with content on a regular basis. But there’s a strange subset of videos that have racked up millions upon millions of views by showing viewers absolutely nothing.

Like, actually nothing

Some of these videos feature a countdown clock or some other tedious graphic, but a number of them make clear the fact that they consist of nothing but a black screen. One title boasts that its display is “in HD,” though we hope that’s a tongue-in-cheek description.

So why has that video, which runs for more than 24 straight hours, received 40 million+ views?

On the surface, a super-long video featuring no audio and only a black screen seems like a silly gag. And judging from some of the comments, that’s how a lot of people are taking it.

“The story, the characters, the acting is a masterpiece!” one viewer gushed. “Especially at 1:23:53, where dark acted as the void, is just so beautiful.”

But there are some potential benefits. As another viewer wrote: “I keep this playing overnight so that my laptop doesn’t shut down while downloading games.”

A history of long videos

While a black screen is an extreme example, there are many other types of videos that last many hours and have received tons of views throughout YouTube’s history.

Some are silly, like a 10-hour stream of a goat’s duet with Taylor Swift.

But there are some cases where you might want something playing on a day-long loop, for example:

  • Background noise to help you go to sleep
  • Soothing music when you leave a pet at home alone
  • A fireplace scene to set your home’s winter mood
Chris Agee
Chris Agee May 29th, 2023
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