Looking for engaging progressive youtube clickbait

January 13, 2023 7:09 AM

I have an older relative who has in recent years been radicalised (mostly) by youtube and is finally showing openness to moving past this. Somewhat inspired by this question I'm looking for your recommendations for engaging clickbait videos that have a progressive (or apolitical) bent.

Examples of the style I'm looking for are Double Down News and Illuminaughti. (I am not deeply familiar with these channels so if they are problematic I'm open to being told but the style is definitely what would appeal to this person).

I'm particularly interested in short, snappy content on the below three topics:
1. Pushing back on the anti-trans agenda and debunking its myths. The relative is gay and was very active in the gay rights movement in the 80s so content exploring the parallels between today's anti trans movement and the anti gay sentiments from earlier times would be very welcome.

2. Content explaining how the anti refugee agenda is fascist and pushing back on their myths also welcome. Relative is in Ireland so Ireland specific content particularly useful.

3. Digestible. conspiratorial content on how youtube radicalisation works / how to spot fascist agenda when its dressed up as progressive.

Other content is also welcome, I'll definitely introduce them to some of the content from the other thread.

Ideal recommendations would be non fascist, digestible and attention grabbing. Possible topics
- progressive politics
- true crime
- animals
- building / creating / woodwork
- outdoors / survival skills
- astrology / spirituality
- psychology / trauma healing

posted by anonymous to Computers & Internet (12 answers total)

The Take is a fun channel that breaks down common tropes in movies and TV with a feminist bent but in a very fun, clickbaity way.

Contrapoints is known as one of the best creators for deprogramming young incel-ish men but her videos are very long.
posted by lunasol at 7:36 AM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Other: [very clickbaity - do not click!] The compelling, uncomfortable medical storytelling of Chubbyemu (his channel was originally him losing weight and, I think, consuming a lot of protein powder, but then he went to medical school -- the videos are better than you'd expect. Oh, and often cover some unfortunate human "presenting to the emergency room" after doing something that non-medical people recommended on social media -- but without being lectury.
posted by amtho at 7:40 AM on January 13, 2023

Would mythbusting or fake-busting be a category? How to Cook That by Ann Reardon, who not only shows how real cooking is done, she also busts bogus clickbait channels showing impossible techniques depicting what's not possible in real life just for clicks.

How about social justice, like Institute for Justice, where they highlight injustices they are fighting, such as "Grandma arrested for feeding the homeless out of her own pocket" or "Police confiscate veteran's life savings because he was carrying large amount of cash, but no evidence of drugs"?
posted by kschang at 7:50 AM on January 13, 2023

Some apolitical content recommendations for you:

building / creating / woodwork
-Stinnett Sticks
-Dashner Design and Restoration
-Olivier Gomis
-John Bear Woodworks and Restoration

animals
-NKF Herping
-Nagasaki Biopark (Japanese, most videos have English subs)
posted by capricorn at 7:52 AM on January 13, 2023

A "making" channel I watch was Wristwatch Revival where Marshal the guy takes apart vintage (and some not so vintage) wristwatches, and clean / refurb them while explaining the bits and pieces.
posted by kschang at 8:07 AM on January 13, 2023

The original Primitive Technology channel is great. (Accept no substitutes.) I like the Blacktail Studio woodworking channel and Dylan Iwakuni who specialises in traditional Japanese woodworking. Vox Media make very engaging short videos with a progressive political bent. The School of Life (founded by philosopher Alain de Botton) make good short videos.
posted by snarfois at 9:00 AM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Master Shipwright Louis Sauzedde
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:15 PM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

I like this humorous video about how Twitter sucks. Casually lefty. Definitely engaging. Author is a bi trans dude.

I love Jun's Kitchen, an apolitical channel from a Japanese guy who likes to cook with his cats and spend time in nature, but unfortunately(?) it's probably too chill to count as clickbait.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:38 PM on January 13, 2023

Would Beau of the Fifth Column count? Or too politically obvious?
posted by oflinkey at 3:47 PM on January 13, 2023

J.J. McCullough is not without controversy, but I think his youtube channel may be of interest, because he is more relatable (and possibly more credible) to your family member as gay "small c" conservative than youtube channels from a progressive / liberal perspective. He is an advocate of critical thinking and finding one's own path. For example there's What's good and bad about Conservatism, Fighting over the Pride flag, and Male Insecurity and Male Exploitation.
posted by oceano at 11:42 PM on January 13, 2023

Oh, fair warning: The video I linked has some nsfw jokes and commentary.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 5:44 PM on January 14, 2023

Tom Scott? Mostly fairly apolitical edutainment, but occasionally he throws in a video on something to the effect of, for example, "Look, they/them is here to stay as a singular pronoun, it really is a good thing, get used to it."
posted by sibilatorix at 6:08 PM on January 14, 2023