Content Theft Built the Internet

#videoessay #commentary #2010s #creditthecreators JJJreact

Sssniperwolf and xQc have sparked heated debates over their lazy reaction content, but the issue of internet content theft—whether it’s taking from webcomic artists or video creators—runs much deeper. In this video essay, I want to dive into the evolution of content theft online, examining how it has shaped the very nature of the content that we enjoy and find popular today.

SOURCES
MixTape Comics (Rachel Dukes) blog post about her comic being taken: https://mixtapecomics.tumblr.com/post...
Daily Dot reporting on Matthew Inman's Facebook post: https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/oatm...
Medium Article by Hank Green about video theft enabled by Facebook:  / theft-lies-and-facebook-video  

VIDEOS and PODCASTS REFERENCED
Eclectic Asylum Art’s video (Mona Lisa on MS Paint):    • How to draw the Mona Lisa in Microsof...  
Youtube channel showcasing 2007 Awards:    / ytawards07  
Thank You Internet Podcast with Jay Allen (creator of ‘Fabulous Secret Powers’): https://www.mixcloud.com/thankyouinte...
Hello Internet Episode 2: https://www.hellointernet.fm/podcast/2
Hello Internet Episode 5: https://www.hellointernet.fm/podcast/5
Smarter Everyday’s video:    • Facebook Freebooting - Smarter Every ...  
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell’s video:    • How Facebook is Stealing Billions of ...  
CS Ghost Animation’s video:    • I got 41,000 views. Facebook stole it...  
Jacksfilms video on Sssniperwolf featured in this video:    • Sssniperwolf is getting worse. Here's...  
5 billion videos viewed a day: https://www.demandsage.com/youtube-st...

FUN VIDEOS Referenced Here:
asdfmovie2 by Tom Ska:    • asdfmovie2  
Let Me Borrow That Top by Liam Kyle Sullivan:    • Let Me Borrow That Top  
Mixed Nuts by Happy Slip:    • Mixed Nuts | HappySlip  

The thumbnail of this video also uses art from The Oatmeal, specifically from this comic that he made: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/unhappy (It is a fantastic read, please check it out.)

MY SOCIALS (Reach me!)
📩 EMAIL: [email protected]
👽 REDDIT: /u/fredster2000_YT
📸 INSTAGRAM:   / fredster2000.yt  
🐦 TWITTER or X: https://x.com/fredster2000

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cringe ahh skit
2:32 When Youtube recognized talent (lol)
5:41 Reason 1 why People Steal
7:25 The Greatest Song Ever Made
9:32 The Cursed Website
15:28 Reason 2 Why People Steal (Freebooting 101)
18:04 Examples of Freebooting
21:44 Reason 3 Why People Steal
22:05 Jinx
25:55 xQc
28:12 Sssniperwolf
33:55 How Theft Changed Online Content Forever
37:48 Internet Comedy (Now)
42:15 But What About ME though
43:56 So Why Is Thing Bad?

Transition music, music played during the MS Paint scenes, and closing theme song all composed by Mellophone Monaic / @mellophonemonaic8177
Discord: nova100

Motion Background by: @aavfx