PewDiePie
By Laura Ordoñez,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Rowdy gaming & comedic commentary videos; explicit language.
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PewDiePie
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What’s It About?
PEWDIEPIE is a widely popular YouTube channel whose host Felix Kjellberg (a.k.a. PewDiePie) plays and commentates on video games, shares and talks about other creators' videos, and stars in comedy shorts of his own. There are jokes, stream-of-consciousness observations, comical stunts, and random assortments of content. More recently he's featured videos where he comments on memes, Reddit threads, tv shows, and shares some of his life adventures like moving to Japan. This channel was started in 2010 and there's a clear distinction between earlier videos and newer content. While earlier videos were much more shocking, rowdy and problematic, newer content seems to be tamer and a bit more censored. While videos still feature Let's Play gaming videos riddled with explicit language, other content. like parody music videos and year-end rewinds, offer wacky entertainment and laughs for non-gamers.
Is It Any Good?
This chart-topping channel has gone through an evolution of seriously problematic to not-as-problematic content as it's creator, Felix Kjellberg, has faced an array of backlash for the crude, edgy and sometimes dangerous rhetoric the channel has built its fame on. PewDiePie has gone from reckless Let's Play videos riddled with explicit language and racist, misogynistic commentary, to somewhat toned down content that attempts to offer more than outlandish shock value. But the reality is the past never stays in the past when it's been posted online. Many of PewDiePie's controversial content still lives on in the archives of his channel and is even highlighted as his most popular videos.
Some of his post-controversy videos are mildly entertaining and seemingly heartfelt, like his series that documents his move to Japan with his wife and dog, or his video "Rating YouTuber Apology Videos" where he makes light of how many YouTubers create cut-and-paste apologies in attempt to not get cancelled (he even rates his own apology from years ago, with some decent introspection). It seems like PewDiePie is in an era of teetering between the more wholesome family man he portrays on his Instagram and the impulsive obnoxious influencer that originally fueled his fanbase and earned him a top spot on YouTube charts. Until he figures it out, his channel will continue to fall short of anything we want our tweens or teens to idolize.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the purpose of YouTube channels like PewDiePie. Is this channel meant to entertain and add value to its viewers, or does it use shock factor and edginess to bring in viewers and money? How can you distinguish between these two intentions? What value does this type of content give to viewers?
Whose responsibility is it to protect viewers from inappropriate content on easily accessible platforms like YouTube? What are the inherent dangers of unchecked censorship?
Teens: Who are some of your favorite YouTube personalities? Do you learn anything from the online shows you watch? How can these creators do better when it comes to creating more safe and valuable content?
PewDiePie made headlines in the past for a videos where he made racist and anti-Semitic remarks. Where's the line between being edgy to get viewers and actual hate speech? Were his apology videos sufficient? What actions has he taken (or not) to change his behavior?
Why is it important to be conscious of what we document online and on social media? How are the mistakes we make in everyday life amplified when we make them online? How can we handle our mistakes when we make them in such a public place?
YouTube Details
- Genre: Gaming
- Last updated: August 9, 2023
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