YouTube

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Matthew Karau

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A selection of 173 YouTube creators worth watching. You're either actively training the algorithm, or it's training you.

TL;DR

Jump to the list of recommended YouTube Channels.
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If you have a Google TV, Nvidia Shield, Android TV Box, Amazon FireTV, or ChromeCast, try installing the SmartTube application.

YouTube

YouTube has emerged as an amazing repository of engaging, well-produced content for personal and professional development. Though, like any other digital medium, it can also be a source of distraction unless you tweak your viewing habits to train the YouTube algorithm to feed you nutrient-rich and nourishing content.

Tips

If you can afford to (and wish to) subscribe to YouTube, consider doing so, as it helps support creators and makes advertisements disappear. The Family Plan can be shared and makes the cost quite reasonable.
If you're not in a position to (or don't wish to) subscribe, look into using Mobile and Desktop browsers that help you see fewer ads, like Ghostery or Brave.
Use mobile apps like NewPipe that let you cache videos for offline viewing on Android.
When using browsers like Chrome, use SponsorBlock.
uBlock Origin is another extension to help keep your browsing experience distraction free.
If you have a Google TV, Nvidia Shield, Android TV Box, Amazon FireTV, or ChromeCast, install SmartTube.

Note: 2023 marked the beginning of the next wave of battles between viewers, platforms, and advertisers, so these tips may be out-of-date by the time you're reading them.

Beware

Beware of brain-melting content with click-bait thumbnails of people with mouth agape and titles including "Amazing", "Unexpected", or "The 10 best XYZ, and number 10 will surprise you!". Tell YouTube to not recommend those channels by clicking the context menu of an offending video and choosing "Do not Recommend Channel".
Beware of content with stolen and regurgitated visuals from manufacturer's promotional videos coupled with AI-generated or Fiverrr-generated voice-overs; these typically also have click-bait-y titles and thumbnails and are usually in the category of "10 amazing XYZ that will blow your mind". They are usually full of exaggerated and incorrect statements.
Avoid Simon Whistler; he has about 500 channels, and even though each is promoted as educational or informative, they all contain mid-quality, repetitive content produced in hopes of keeping you watching and engaged long enough for him to get paid by YouTube. (Sorry Simon, nothing personal)
If a video is also available in podcast form, consider watching it in the background, or engaging with it through your favorite podcast listening platform instead. Give your already over-loaded visual cortex a break.
Beware of YouTube Shorts. This is just TikTok. This is not for you. It only serves to futher shrink your already-shrinking attention span.

"Hey, why isn't my favorite YouTuber on your list?!?!?"

Good question. You might not like the answer.

The list below is a compilation of channels that might not otherwise be on "Top 10" lists, with the goal of broadening perspectives. Specifically, in the Tech YouTube world, the "Top 10" creators are, more often than not, victims of their own success. They often grow progressively out of touch with the professional world they came from or the niche that made them famous, increasingly shifting to producing high-energy, stunt videos for views and focusing on camera technology or how well a new computer performs on 4K video exports.

If you're looking to learn from watching YouTube videos, spend less time with YouTubers who mainly focus on celebrating their own fame or riffing on their (staged) minimal desk setups used only for video editing and gaming. This means actively steering away from some of the most recognized names in the business: MKBHD, LinusTechTips, Mr Whose the Boss, Dave 2D, Unbox Therapy, Austin Evans, Mark Rober, Colin Furze, Smarter Every Day, etc.

They've evolved into content creators and commentators but often try very hard to present themselves as connected to the professional tech world. Their jobs are video production, script writing, self-promotion, and thumbnail idea generation. They don't write code, do engineering, or solve serious problems (anymore). They live worlds away from professional engineering and computer science. They're often doing advanced DIY tinkering, arts & crafts, professional shopping, and interior design.

If you find the content of your favorite unlisted creator worthwhile, that's great. However, their channels are, almost always, designed for edutainment (with a focus on entertainment). There are dozens of other channels with content that is less candy-coated.

As an exercise, take a break from your normal content and venture further down the YouTube rabbit hole. There is a vast, unexplored side of YouTube that can expand your brain. Pause and reflect on what the "Top 10" creators really give you; skip their content for a while to find channels new to you. This is particularly important for younger invididuals who have likely interacted with YouTube as an entertainment black-hole rather than as a learning platform. It is both, but YouTube's algorithm tries to force you down the enteratinment blind alley; the only way to counteract the algorithm is to actively choose more informative content.