In having a younger brother of the ripe age of 11, there is one thing that I have noticed, with the younger generation of “screen fiends”, they prefer to watch YouTube videos to any other TV shows on streaming services. Teenagers alike, no longer frequent the movie theaters to watch movies but rather scroll on TikTok alone in their rooms. The landscape of entertainment for children has drastically shifted in the past few years. YouTube, once a platform for creativity and educational content, has now become infiltrated with mind-numbing, often unrealistic videos catering to the younger ages. Among these, Mr. Beast’s foolish productions stand out, capturing the attention of millions of young gullible minds. He uses dramatized and crazy video ideas, such as “I Survived a Plane Crash!” to gain attention on his platform and also grow popularity for his chocolate bar brand (which, from experience, is below average). Seeing the way that this YouTube culture is affecting children who have become Mr. Beast’s biggest fans is concerning in many ways.
Well known for his insane amount of wealth and giveaways, Mr. Beast has gained a large following by appealing to the inner desires of human nature in children viewers: greed, curiosity, and the pursuit of instant gratification. However, behind all of the glitz and glamor he presents is the troubling reality that he is bringing to the “screen fiend” generation: the normalization of unrealistic expectations and the glorification of materialism. His challenges and extravagant giveaways present an unrealistic portrayal of success. They encourage a generation of youth who believe that fame and fortune can be attained through doing stupid things rather than hard work and dedication. While fame might be attainable in this way, children should be taught more important values of hard work and dedication. In order to fix this problem, parents need to watch more serious or educational shows that inspire their kids to do meaningful things in life.