YouTube-sensation PewDiePie is taking a break from the video platform in 2020, he announced in a recent video. The majority of the video covers YouTube’s stronger stance against violent content and harassment. He ends the video by announcing an impending break, starting next year.
It seems like YouTube’s new approach to offensive or hostile content has many YouTuber’s frustrated with the sweeping changes. The Swedish content creator references the new tag-system, that requires YouTubers to tag a video as kid-friendly. According to the gamer and comic, YouTube is also seemingly deciding whether someone’s intent in making a video is good or not.
YouTube has always taken a stance against threats and harassment on their platform. Now however, they plan to take actions against ‘implied threats’. PewDiePie addresses this new policy by sarcastically remarking: “I think [the new policy] is really good because YouTube 100 percent knows the intent of people.”
At the end of the video (starting at 10:42) Kjellberg announces that he is going to take a break from YouTube in 2020. Don’t expect a sobbing PewDiePie though. The content creator is sarcastically, almost jokingly clapping while announcing the big news. He keeps repeating that he is tired, maybe even implying he is tired of YouTube’s recent policy shifts.
I think now is as great a time as any to announce – I have a special announcement to make – I am taking a break from YouTube next year. I wanted to say it in advance because I made up my mind; I’m tired. I’m feeling very tired. I don’t know if you can tell. Just so you know, early next year I’ll be away for a little while.
The announcement, while very rich in subtext, shouldn’t come as a surprise for fans of the second biggest channel (102 million subscribers) on the video platform. Kjellberg has hinted at taking a break before. But now it seems he’s doing it for real. Exactly when and for how long he’s tapping out is, as of writing, still unknown. He promises to make a full announcement in a future video.You might also be interested in the top 5 most viewed games on YouTube, most of which are regulars on PedDiePie’s channel.