The Internet Has Spoken: YouTube Rewind 2019 Wasn’t the Best YouTube Could Do

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YouTube Rewind 2019 was released this afternoon and the internet immediately found its flaws with this year’s recap video – not unlike what YouTube saw with last year’s Rewind video.

YouTube Rewind, a tradition started by the corporate giant 11 years ago with the purpose of highlighting the biggest videos and creators on the platform, took a different route with the format for 2019. After YouTube Rewind 2018 was crowned the most disliked video on the platform, the company took a step back and announced they listened to viewers.

Instead of a YouTube creator/celebrity-filled mash-up video, this years was comprised of just the most liked videos on the site. The video started with a collection of video creators’ disappointing reactions to 2018’s Rewind and then transitioned into a message from YouTube.

“In 2018, we made something you didn’t like,” the video reads. “So, in 2019, let’s see what you DID like. Because you’re better at this than we are.”

After that the video starts with a progressive montage of all the top videos uploaded to YouTube in 2019. It was sectioned off by categories such as most liked music videos and most liked creator videos.

“This time around we took a different approach,” said YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. “Rewind focuses on what you liked most about YouTube in 2019. Hoping it breaks a different record this year.”

While there is some praise for the new format, there is a lot of negative feedback still this year. Outside of the number of dislikes dominating the number of likes, people took to Twitter to express their concerns.

Many people have pointed out that this style of video is just like one of those “Top 10” lists or a Watchmojo (a channel with over 12 billion views dedicated to countdown lists on random topics) video.

“Ah yes I love Watchmojo- oh, I mean YouTube Rewind,” tweeted user @imallxx.

“Welcome to Youtube Rewind 2019 and today we’ll be counting down…” tweeted gaming video creator Smallishbeans in a way of mocking YouTube by using the WatchMojo standard video introduction.

WatchMojo slyly responded to YouTube’s initial video upload announcement.

“It’s good to be king,” the countdown-centered YouTube channel said via their Twitter account.

Some users even commented on the fact this was just a whole “statistics video,” making sure to point out that for this year, instead of the tagline “Everyone controls Rewind,” it was more along the lines of “Statistics controls Rewind.”

YouTube creator Jack Douglass, also known by his channel name JacksFilms, is a known YouTube Rewind critic. He expressed his interpretation of the video on Twitter just moments after the initial release, which falls very much in line with the statistics theme.

“STATISTICS: THE MOVIE,” said Douglass in his first-reaction tweet this afternoon. He has been known to boldly state his opinions on Rewind throughout his various videos, and even posted a video earlier this week highlighting his subscribers’’ predictions for the video.

Douglass has announced via Twitter he is working on a parody and that it will be the “the Rewind we all deserve.”

While the video covered a good variety of video genres, some people pointed out the lack of an acknowledgment for the technology community on YouTube – a community that members argue is a huge part of the platform.

“Much better this year,” said technology-focused video creator Safwan AhmedMia. “Would have liked to have seen the best Tech videos featured. Maybe I’m a ‘little’ biased but tech is huge and growing part of the platform.”

AhmedMia released part one of his own version of YouTube Rewind 2019 with part two coming this weekend, according to his Twitter, that is centered around technology-based video creators.

Marques Brownlee, another technology video creator and former featured creator in the 2018 Rewind, has also made his own highlight reel for this year in technology and accompanying videos.

Despite the heavy critiques from YouTube creators and consumers alike, there has been some positive feedback.

Justin Wilkins, better known by his YouTube gaming-based channel name Thinknoodles, expressed his simultaneous joy and disappointment for the video.

“Better than last year,” Wilkins said in a tweet. “But a little bland…”

Lauren Riihimaki, also known as LaurDIY, runs a channel centered around life hacks, DIY, and general lifestyle videos. She expressed her admiration this afternoon.

“I thought YouTube Rewind was hella cute,” Riihimaki tweeted. “Obv didn’t have the wow factor of past years but I loved the celebration of breakout and international creators.”

Where this video will rank among the previous YouTube Rewind videos is currently unknown. Dislikes are continuing to outnumber likes. It does have a far way to go to outrank YouTube Rewind 2018, which secured its place as the most disliked video in YouTube’s history with 16.98 billion dislikes.