COLLIDE PRESS

COLLIDE PRESS

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
0-10K = My YouTube Rollercoaster...So Far
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
User's avatar
Discover more from COLLIDE PRESS
Hi, I’m Clint Collide, an LGBTQ creator-curator exploring Photography, Pop Culture, and Pride through Men, Montages, and More. I'm here (and queer) to celebrate. Not to hate or debate, dear. If you "color" outside the lines too, welcome to the crew, boo!
Over 2,000 subscribers
Already have an account? Sign in
Blog + Newsletter

0-10K = My YouTube Rollercoaster...So Far

Past + Present + Future

Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø's avatar
Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
Aug 24, 2024
8

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
0-10K = My YouTube Rollercoaster...So Far
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
11
1
Share

Celebrating reaching 10K subscribers on YouTube, I’m feeling extremely grateful (and) reflective about the growing community the platform has helped me connect with.

Most folks receiving this post first became aware of my work via YouTube. If you’re in that group, thank YOU for liking, subscribing, and supporting the channel.

And, I guess, thank YouTube too. If I must.

In case you missed it, me and YouTube have an ā€œit’s complicatedā€ relationship.
More loving than loathing some days. More loathing than loving on others.

My YouTube journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, filled with exhilarating highs, gut-wrenching drops, and a few unexpected loops.

Did I mention I don’t like rollercoasters? Especially the ones that turn me upside down.

When I hit my first 1,000 subscribers, it felt like I had finally cracked the code, like I had finally found a place in this vast ā€œcontent creatorā€ platform.

But as my channel grew, inching toward 10,000, I was faced with the reality that YouTube isn’t just a platform—it’s a casino and a video game…all rolled into one.

Did I mention I’m not the biggest gambler…or gaymer?

In the beginning, it’s easy to get hooked. Al/Algorithm throws you a few wins—a viral video here, a surge in subscribers there. You start to believe that if you just keep playing, you can beat the system. But the truth is, despite all the experts/gurus and their tips/tricks, just like in a Las Vegas casino, the house always wins.

Sure, you might walk away with some earnings, but the majority stays with YouTube, the casino owner in this metaphor. They rake in billions in ad revenue, they control distribution, and they set the rules, tweaking the algorithm to keep you on the edge, always hungry for more.

For those who qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, the platform takes a 45% cut of all the ad revenue. And while I’m grateful to reach such a large (for me) audience, I do resent Team YouTube’s bots, bullies, and bureaucrats. A helluva lot.

The game aspect of YouTube is just as cunning. Each video upload feels like a new level, with its own challenges and rewards. Via the YouTube Studio Dashboard, you chase the dopamine rush of likes, comments, and subscribers, believing that if you just master the game, you’ll reach the next level of success. And you can…sometimes.

But just like in a video game, the real winners are the game developers and their corporate overlords—the ones who designed the game to keep you playing, investing your time, creativity, and energy while they enjoy the fruits of your labors.

With YouTube Partner Program, it’s important to remember: You’re in a YouTube program, not an actual YouTube partner.

Now that my channel has officially reached 10K subscribers, I’ve had to come to terms with these realities. Their house, their rules. While you can win, the deck is always stacked against you. Most of the rewards stay with the platform, not with the artists and creatives who built what audiences use the platform to watch.

But let’s be clear: Unless YouTube finds yet another reason to strike the channel (three strikes in 3 months and your channel is deleted, by the way) I’m not stepping away from the table. I’m still in the game, still pushing forward.

But I AM changing the way I play the game a bit. See below.

Despite its flaws, YouTube has connected me with an incredible community, allowed me to share my work with the world, and taught me valuable lessons about becoming a better creative in the 21st Century.

The rollercoaster may be wild, but the ride is far from over.
Just fewer loops and loopholes. Hopefully.

Thanks for reading!
Clint

P.S. If you’re interested in past posts about the good, the bad, and the ugh-ly of being a small creator on YouTube, click here.


MY YOUTUBE MILESTONES + ROADBLOCKS

  • APRIL 12, 2023
    Created YouTube Channel

  • MAY 4, 2023
    Posted First Video (now private)

  • FEBRUARY 6, 2024
    Posted Love Is Love = The Gents

  • MARCH 17, 2024
    Noticed an influx of HUNDREDS of subscribers…thanks to Love Is Love

  • MARCH 24, 2024
    Became Eligible + Applied For YouTube Partner Program

  • APRIL 3, 2024
    Accepted Into YouTube Partner Program

  • APRIL 9, 2024
    ā€œCommunity Guidelinesā€ Warning (beefcake video = ā€œThe Male Gayzeā€)

  • JUNE 15, 2024
    ā€œCommunity Guidelinesā€ Strike #1 = 1-week forced ā€œbreakā€ (external link)
    Expires September 13, 2024

  • JULY 19, 2024
    ā€œCommunity Guidelinesā€ Strike #2 = 2-week forced ā€œbreakā€ (external link)
    Expires October 17, 2024

  • AUGUST 23, 2024
    Reached 10K Subscribers…THANK YOU!!!


MY PRESENT + FUTURE ON YOUTUBE

During my first strike, I started Collide Press Too, a backup/second channel, and was lucky enough to get it monetized within a couple of weeks (thanks to the support of my wonderful subscribers). I haven’t used it much since, but it might come in handy should the bots, bullies, and bureaucrats at YouTube continue to find fault with my main channel content.

During my second strike, I decided to make Substack my creative home base and have been focused on posting more here, both text-based posts as well as exclusive, Substack-only videos.

Since returning to the platform on August 2, 2024, I’ve faced countless (and often daily) instances of CopyFraud (aka Content ID abuse and false copyright claims) and ā€œAd suitabilityā€ issues thanks to YouTube’s censorship and copyright bots.

Frankly, fighting/working with YouTube’s Creator (Un)Support team to try and resolve these issues (which they don’t seem interested in resolving at all) is no longer worth the cost to my mental health, so going forward:

  • CONTENT ID ABUSES + FALSE COPYRIGHT CLAIMS
    I’ll dispute and email, but won’t contact YouTube Creator (Un)Support via chat. I’ll also unlist the video and add it (if it’s not already) to the collection of videos on Substack. Did I mention I’m tired of this shit?

  • ā€œAD SUITABILITYā€ ISSUES
    Like above, I’ll appeal, but won’t publish new videos with this label. YouTube seems to be running ads regardless, so I don’t want to help them make any more off of my work. (For reference, videos with this label make SIGNIFICANTLY less, sometimes as much as 98% less than comparable videos.)

  • SHORTS (FOR DUMMIES?)

    Shorts is one of YouTube’s ā€œgamesā€ I’ve played, albeit begrudgingly, for months. But as of last night, I’ve decided to unlist all my Shorts and won’t be making in anymore. Why? Well, I don’t really enjoy short-form videos. TikTok and Instagram do those better and I don’t use those platforms (very often) for a reason

  • A (FRACTION OF A) PENNY FOR YOUR VIDEO
    Also with 810.3K Shorts views (which is admittedly few in this TikTok-inspired game), I’ve made a grand total of $116.88 to date. Not mad about it, but it’s not worth the extra work. And while I’ve gained 17% of my subscribers via Shorts, YouTube Analytics show these subscribers rarely watch long-form videos. So there’s no incentive to play that game anymore.

MORE FROM COLLIDE PRESS
Bluesky + Ko-Fi + Linktree + Shop
+ Storefront + Threadless + YouTube


Subscribe to COLLIDE PRESS

By Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø Ā· Hundreds of paid subscribers
Hi, I’m Clint Collide, an LGBTQ creator-curator exploring Photography, Pop Culture, and Pride through Men, Montages, and More. I'm here (and queer) to celebrate. Not to hate or debate, dear. If you "color" outside the lines too, welcome to the crew, boo!
David's avatar
Mr. Troy Ford's avatar
D. C. Wilkinson's avatar
Travis Gulbrandson's avatar
Luke Harold's avatar
8 Likesāˆ™
1 Restack
8

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
0-10K = My YouTube Rollercoaster...So Far
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
11
1
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
BAMinRI's avatar
BAMinRI
Aug 26

Thanks for explaining how YouTube operates! Otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

Expand full comment
Like (1)
Reply
Share
1 reply by Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
D. C. Wilkinson's avatar
D. C. Wilkinson
Aug 25

Great job Clint! Keep up the good work!

Expand full comment
Like (1)
Reply
Share
1 reply by Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
9 more comments...
Man Crushes In Color (NSFW)
Found Photos + Video
Dec 5, 2024 ā€¢ 
Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
61

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
Man Crushes In Color (NSFW)
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
23
12:44
Always A Pleasure #1 (NSFW)
Video + Vintage Photos
Apr 7 ā€¢ 
Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
60

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
Always A Pleasure #1 (NSFW)
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
21
10:14
Nightswimming (NSFW)
Video + Vintage Photos
Nov 26, 2024 ā€¢ 
Clint Collide šŸŒˆāœŒļø
60

Share this post

COLLIDE PRESS
COLLIDE PRESS
Nightswimming (NSFW)
May contain explicit content
This post was automatically hidden by your content settings.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
9
13:31

Ready for more?

Ā© 2025 Clint Collide
Privacy āˆ™ Terms āˆ™ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.