Rise of True Crime on YouTube

The Rise of True Crime on YouTube

• True crime content has exploded on YouTube in the past 5-6 years, with 2 billion views in 2019 and a 30% increase in 2020.
• This growth is attributed to the convenience and accessibility of true crime content on YouTube, allowing users to choose from a variety of content creators and formats.

The Ethics of True Crime Content

• There is a lack of regulation on YouTube regarding true crime content, with no rules on obtaining consent from the victim's family or on the level of graphic or explicit content.
• Content creators and viewers benefit from the engagement and monetization of true crime content, while the victim's family may be re-traumatized or grateful for the attention.
• The format of true crime content, such as combining makeup and murder, can be seen as inappropriate or offensive to some viewers.

The Makeup and Murder Format

• Bailey Sarian, a popular true crime YouTuber, posts makeup and mystery videos, which some viewers find appealing due to the conversational tone and the distraction of makeup application.
• Others argue that this format is disrespectful to the victims and their families, as it trivializes the seriousness of the crimes.

Counterarguments and Solutions

• Some argue that the format of true crime content is not morally significant, as long as the content is respectful and informative.
• Others propose that true crime creators should donate to charities or organizations related to the cases they cover, and that viewers should be more active in supporting these causes.
• One solution is to cover older, historical crimes, which would reduce the chance of re-traumatizing the victims' families.

The Rise of True Crime on YouTube

• In the past 5-6 years, true crime content on YouTube has seen a significant surge, with 2 billion views in 2019 and a 30% increase in 2020.
• The growth of true crime content is attributed to the convenience and accessibility of YouTube, allowing users to choose from a variety of content creators and formats.

The Ethics of True Crime Content

• There is a lack of regulation on YouTube regarding true crime content, with no rules on obtaining consent from the victim's family or on the level of graphic or explicit content.
• True crime content on YouTube raises ethical concerns, as content creators and viewers benefit from the engagement and monetization, while the victim's family may be re-traumatized or grateful for the attention.

The Makeup and Murder Format

• Bailey Sarian, a popular true crime YouTuber, combines makeup and murder in her videos, which some viewers find appealing due to the conversational tone and the distraction of makeup application.
• Others argue that this format is disrespectful to the victims and their families, as it trivializes the seriousness of the crimes.

Counterarguments and Solutions

• Some argue that the format of true crime content is not morally significant, as long as the content is respectful and informative.
• Others propose that true crime creators should donate to charities or organizations related to the cases they cover, and that viewers should be more active in supporting these causes.
• One solution is to cover older, historical crimes, which would reduce the chance of re-traumatizing the victims' families.