The Anatomy of YouTube Comments

It's hard to imagine life without YouTube and harder without the legendary comments each video generates. An intrinsic part of it, these comments have grown and adapted with changing time, setting new trends in social media. They have branched into several categories which when meticulously dissected can reveal the nature of the commentators themselves.  

"Who's watching this in 10 million years from now?" 

Initially, the preceding generation of such comments merely asked viewers if they were watching an old song on the present day but the current trend doesn't merely stop there. The people making this 'time- travelling' comment now wants to have a direct communication with an android reading it in the year 3050. 

"OH MY GOD! FIRST COMMENT!"

Some people dream of becoming millionaires, some want to land high-profile jobs, and there are a handful who make it their life's goal of making the very first comment on YouTube channels. The essence of accomplishment that oozes out from each capital letter of: 'YES! FIRST COMMENT', makes you wonder about the profound satisfaction these people get. They are indifferent towards the fact that the creator might be looking for some feedback, too preoccupied with relishing this huge moment of glory. Makes one think about how their names will go down in history, 'Now Kids, today I will tell you about your great uncle Al who once made the first comment under Nicki Minaj's music video…'

"This AWESOME show brought me here!"
Thanks to a few shows and movies with brilliant soundtracks, many people stumble upon good music which leads them to look those songs up on YouTube, further leading them to make sure that EVERYONE is aware of this happening. These people gather supportive comments from homogenous minds and that is the beginning of their own little fan club in the comment section. This usually annoys the 'pure-bloods' who have come to discover such music after great perseverance and perspiration whereas all these people had luckily discovered them through a shortcut. You can actually feel the hatred when they retort with 'good taste in music brought me here.' It's okay though. Life is unfair.

"Sub to me if you like this video" *smiley*

I am affirmative that no one has been able to garner enough subscriptions by simply posting the links to their videos in the comments section of YouTube. And no, making it bold will not work either. These attention seekers are mostly amateur singers and they usually commence by assuring the viewers that their covers will offer similar quality and satisfaction. They will never understand that no one really has the time or interest and they probably hate you already for being so desperate.

"My love, I still miss you…"

Usually, these comments are depressing anecdotes or claims of burning passion posted mostly under break-up songs. Popular artists like Lana Del Ray and Taylor Swift songs are the breeding grounds of such heart-wrenching and stomach- churning stories. You will get a peek inside why, when and with whom they broke up and how they are unable to move on. Well, to all those who dumped them, good call.

"Everything is ILLUMINATI"

These little conspiracy experts can surely decode and detect New World Order messages out of Rihanna's twerk. They will go on to fill the comments sections condemning the music industry as if it was the devil himself and rant about how the fools are succumbing to satanism through the beats of dubstep. Old classics to new Beyonce releases have not been able to steer clear from the 'thumbs down' of such theorists.

"Welcome to the Tumblr side of YouTube"

These are channels that contain songs for those who like to put on some fairy lights and everything eccentric in their rooms and give a gloomy essence to their visage.  The songs and videos are quite offbeat and would probably make the playlist of the Addams Family. Viewers mostly comment about how they have finally found their funeral songs, and transmit messages about how they finally belong in this cheerfully pathetic world. 

It is safe to say that no matter how unnerving the comments are, these are all what adds to the image of YouTube and they might just brighten up your mood because let's face it, if you are scrolling through YouTube comments, you are not really having a good day or life. 

Iqra suffers from wanderlust and zones out most of the time. She hopes to see the Loch Ness monster someday and in the mean time complains about Economics. Reach out to her at iqralaqa@gmail.com