https://www.scmp.com/rss/502568/feed The latest news, analysis and opinion on YouTube and YouTubers. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Social media influencer Meredith Duxbury first went viral in 2021 after she shared a video applying 10 pumps of foundation with her hands. The internet had a strong reaction to Duxbury’s unusual make-up routine, with many calling it “ragebait” – when influencers create content to intentionally outrage viewers and increase engagement. Whether Duxbury’s maximalist foundation routine was genuine or just a gimmick, it worked in the influencer’s favour. She now boasts over 17 million followers on... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3354486/meet-meredith-duxbury-tiktok-influencer-who-walked-runway-gucci-cruise-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3354486/meet-meredith-duxbury-tiktok-influencer-who-walked-runway-gucci-cruise-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 10:00:04 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Google’s YouTube and Snap reached agreements to settle the first lawsuit headed to trial over claims that addiction to top social media platforms has disrupted learning and pushed public schools to spend massive sums fighting a mental health crisis, according to court filings. TikTok and Meta Platforms were also sued by the rural Kentucky school district that brought the case, which is set to go to trial on June 12 in federal court in Oakland, California. The trial will serve as a test case for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353786/googles-youtube-snap-settle-first-its-kind-school-social-media-suit-ahead-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353786/googles-youtube-snap-settle-first-its-kind-school-social-media-suit-ahead-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 01:21:27 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre A former journalist who’s been living in Milan for well over two decades, California native J.J. Martin turned her impeccable taste and love for all things fabulous into La DoubleJ, a fashion and lifestyle label known for its bold prints, colourful aesthetic and “good vibes all around”, as the saying goes. Here, Martin shares her favourite finds from her adopted hometown of Milan and beyond. What I’m watching My favourite things to engage with are the consciousness teachings, lessons or... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3351836/style-according-jj-martin-founder-milan-based-la-doublej?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3351836/style-according-jj-martin-founder-milan-based-la-doublej?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof The death of a Bangladeshi gaming influencer in an alleged drink-driving crash involving a Malaysian soldier has sparked cries for justice and renewed demands for punitive laws, as anger grows over a second similar fatal case in less than a month. Muzahid Millad, 22 – better known as Advance Gaming – died on Wednesday after the suspect’s car reportedly veered into the opposite lane on the Maju Expressway, colliding with the e-hailing vehicle in which the content creator and his wife were... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351255/bangladeshi-youtubers-death-sparks-mourning-amid-malaysias-drink-driving-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351255/bangladeshi-youtubers-death-sparks-mourning-amid-malaysias-drink-driving-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:50:11 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo With flashing lights, choreographed dance moves and fans singing along to her songs, Kizuna AI commanded two days of sold-out concerts in front of thousands in Tokyo, Japan, like any pop idol. Yet the artist never physically set foot on stage. Kizuna AI is not human, but a two-dimensional, anime-style avatar – known as a “virtual YouTuber,” or VTuber – whose movements and voice are provided by real people behind the scenes. Debuting in 2016 under digital entertainment firm Activ8, Kizuna AI is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347977/how-popular-virtual-youtuber-kizuna-ai-thrills-fans-provides-jobs-human-talents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347977/how-popular-virtual-youtuber-kizuna-ai-thrills-fans-provides-jobs-human-talents?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:15:10 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng It is a sign of our modern, interconnected times that the Macao Government Tourism Office has named British YouTubers Joshua Carrott and Oliver Kendal – usually known simply as Josh and Ollie – as keynote speakers for this year’s International Cities of Gastronomy Fest. The duo, better known for their YouTube channel Korean Englishman, rose to prominence by offering a fresh lens on the Korean Wave. While most online audiences rode the Hallyu wave via K-pop and dramas, Carrott and Kendal were... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347299/why-korean-englishmans-josh-and-ollie-are-perfect-gastronomy-fest-ambassadors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347299/why-korean-englishmans-josh-and-ollie-are-perfect-gastronomy-fest-ambassadors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:26 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu This is the 72nd instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. What do Chow Yun-fat, Timothee Chalamet and Doh Kyung-soo have in common? They have all had to keep up with the razor-sharp mind of Hong Kong actress and television host Carol “Dodo” Cheng Yu-ling. From teaching Hollywood heartthrobs Cantonese to hosting the city’s most prestigious galas, Cheng’s presence is ubiquitous. Anyone who has watched the TVB anniversary awards or the local... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346208/how-carol-dodo-cheng-went-acting-chow-yun-fat-interviewing-hollywood-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346208/how-carol-dodo-cheng-went-acting-chow-yun-fat-interviewing-hollywood-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Income earned by single-person media creators such as YouTubers in South Korea has risen by more than 25 per cent over the past four years, surpassing 70 million won (US$49,000) annually on average, while the top 1 per cent made nearly 1.3 billion won each, highlighting stark income polarisation, data showed on Monday. According to Park Sung-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party, YouTubers reported combined earnings of 2.47 trillion won – averaging around 71 million won per person – in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343671/average-south-korean-youtuber-earnings-jump-25-4-years-us49000-annually?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343671/average-south-korean-youtuber-earnings-jump-25-4-years-us49000-annually?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:50:07 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Gabriella DeGasperis, better known by her Instagram handle @gabbygolfgirl, is not your average golfer. The 18-year-old content creator commands an Instagram following of over 1 million at the time of writing and has one of the fastest growing YouTube channels around where she regularly shares videos of herself playing with the sport’s heavy hitters – including former world No 1 golfer Jon Rahm – and other big names like Steph Curry. Here’s everything to know about Gabriella DeGasperis, who’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3341655/meet-gabriella-degasperis-golfluencer-whos-played-jon-rahm-and-steph-curry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3341655/meet-gabriella-degasperis-golfluencer-whos-played-jon-rahm-and-steph-curry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani For Dana Nakagawa, the Covid pandemic was especially challenging. “The day we went into lockdown, my mom passed away,” she says. “And then a couple of months later, I got laid off from my job.” At the time, Nakagawa was a 56-year-old single mother living in the US state of California with her teenage daughter. She had been working in advertising as an art director after decades as a graphic designer. “Suddenly I was jobless, and that was a huge shock … How was I going to survive?” she recalls... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341766/japanese-american-influencer-60-who-went-viral-saying-its-never-too-late-start-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341766/japanese-american-influencer-60-who-went-viral-saying-its-never-too-late-start-over?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:15:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press In a seismic shift for one of television’s marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday. ABC will continue to broadcast the annual ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th Oscars. But starting in 2029, YouTube will retain global rights to streaming the Oscars through 2033. YouTube will effectively be the home to all things Oscars, including red-carpet... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3336833/oscars-will-move-youtube-2029-leaving-long-time-home-abc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3336833/oscars-will-move-youtube-2029-leaving-long-time-home-abc?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:52:24 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Want to know the best way to study? How to find a career that you will genuinely love? How to reset your dopamine levels? How to have a happy relationship? How to get rich? Ali Abdaal probably has answers for you. The Hong Kong-based British content creator and entrepreneur, who has nearly 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.1 million followers on Instagram, will speak at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre on December 8 to explain how to make 2026 “the best year of your life”. Abdaal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3334312/how-make-2026-best-year-your-life-youtuber-ali-abdaal-says-he-has-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3334312/how-make-2026-best-year-your-life-youtuber-ali-abdaal-says-he-has-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Carla Thomas Carla Thomas Love him or loathe him, Jake Paul has built an empire out of audacity. From Vine prankster to YouTuber, rapper, entrepreneur and now headline-making boxer, he’s spent the last decade turning shock value into staggering net worth. He’s now estimated at around US$100 million, per Celebrity Net Worth, much of it thanks to colossal boxing payouts from bouts against the likes of Tommy Fury and Mike Tyson. So it tracks that his watch collection isn’t just expensive – it’s outrageous. It’s a curious... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3331278/jake-pauls-wild-luxury-watch-collection-gucci-grip-x-disney-jacob-co-billionaire-ashoka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3331278/jake-pauls-wild-luxury-watch-collection-gucci-grip-x-disney-jacob-co-billionaire-ashoka?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows In a new YouTube series for home cooks, chef Andrew Wong – owner of A.Wong in London, the first Chinese restaurant outside Asia to earn two Michelin stars – is not afraid of flouting convention. The first episode in the series, titled “Secrets of the Chinese Kitchen with Andrew Wong”, covers how to make special fried rice. But instead of using last night’s leftover rice, as is the norm, he cooks a fresh batch in a rice cooker, to which he adds chicken powder and oil. While cutting the spring... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327465/top-chinese-chefs-youtube-cooking-series-stirs-buzz-and-bickering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327465/top-chinese-chefs-youtube-cooking-series-stirs-buzz-and-bickering?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak The pandemic years may have caused former model and TVB star Lukian Wang Bao-bao to lose acting work in mainland China, but it also brought her back to Hong Kong, where she reclaimed the time and freedom to rediscover her true passion: food-related content creation. “I was stuck at home with nothing much to do, so I thought I’d make some videos on Facebook,” says Wang. “I grew up watching so much anime, and I’ve always liked food. So, when I watch anime, I really notice the food. “The idea to do... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327462/former-model-and-tv-stars-viral-anime-food-videos-are-chance-be-myself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327462/former-model-and-tv-stars-viral-anime-food-videos-are-chance-be-myself?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay US$24.5 million to settle a lawsuit that US President Donald Trump brought against the company over the suspension of his account following the January 2021 US Capitol riots, a court filing showed on Monday. The deal makes Google the last of the three big tech companies to resolve lawsuits Trump brought in July 2021 accusing them of unlawfully silencing conservative viewpoints. Trump had also sued Twitter, now known as X, and Facebook owner Meta, as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3327301/youtube-pay-us245-million-settle-trump-account-suspension-lawsuit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3327301/youtube-pay-us245-million-settle-trump-account-suspension-lawsuit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:43:29 +0000 Yohji Lam Yohji Lam On a humid summer day, a long queue of people snakes outside a hotel ballroom turned concert hall in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, light sticks in hand. But they are not waiting for a chart-topping Cantopop star nor a viral K-pop sensation. Instead, this is a concert headlining virtual YouTubers, or “VTubers”. Originating from Japan, a VTuber is an online persona that uses a virtual avatar, typically an anime-style character, to create and stream content. The person who controls the avatar in real time... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3326915/how-vtubers-hakos-baelz-and-irys-are-lifeline-fans-hong-kong-and-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3326915/how-vtubers-hakos-baelz-and-irys-are-lifeline-fans-hong-kong-and-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 04:15:07 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Sophie Chan’s bedroom is typical for a nine-year-old. The shelves are lined with books, games and soft toys, while a diffuser pumps out a lemon scent, her favourite fragrance. Her hobbies include drawing, playing the trumpet, singing and posting videos on her YouTube channel. She also loves hanging out with friends at school, where her favourite subjects are English, art and music. “I’ve also been a thrill-seeker since I was young,” she says, pulling out her phone to show a video that was taken... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325937/hong-kong-girl-9-battles-leukaemia-youtube-videos-plush-toys-and-positivity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325937/hong-kong-girl-9-battles-leukaemia-youtube-videos-plush-toys-and-positivity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 03:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Over the course of the past week across the US Open’s grounds, eight couples went on their first dates – on camera. They were all part of the tournament’s newest content creation venture, Game, Set, Matchmaker, the most recent play for Gen Z attention from the world of grand slam tennis. From Wimbledon to Flushing Meadows, the sport is starting to take risks in pursuit of a new generation of fans. “We’re always looking for new ways to engage new audiences,” said Jonathan Zipper, the senior... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323497/inside-us-opens-new-youtube-reality-dating-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323497/inside-us-opens-new-youtube-reality-dating-series?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 22:00:21 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jeh Vas, the overnight Hong Kong YouTube and social media smash hit, has pledged to fight for football in the city to gain global recognition. A good enough player to be asked for a 2017 trial at Real Zaragoza in Spain, Vas quit his office job last year to dedicate himself to his increasingly popular football content-creation empire. “I was saying no to brand deals, because I did not have time to film, so I decided to take a leap of faith,” he said. Vas, 27, and his three full-time staff work... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321360/hong-kong-youtube-and-instagram-star-jeh-vas-aiming-showcase-citys-special-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321360/hong-kong-youtube-and-instagram-star-jeh-vas-aiming-showcase-citys-special-players?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Erika Na Erika Na With 17 million followers and over 500 million monthly views across his social media platforms, Simon Squibb has built an audience most influencers can only dream of. He has become one of the world’s most influential voices in the realm of entrepreneurship, largely down to his approach – which is far from boring or didactic. His viral short videos – one has an accumulated watch time of 23 years – follow a similar formula. Squibb walks up to strangers, asks about their dreams and then offers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3320765/how-entrepreneur-and-social-media-star-simon-squibb-helping-people-achieve-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3320765/how-entrepreneur-and-social-media-star-simon-squibb-helping-people-achieve-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Ewa and Jeromy Ko met while working at a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland, in the US state of Ohio. Ewa, who was 18 and waitressing, and Jeromy, a 20-year-old busboy, grew up in the food industry. “My father worked in restaurants, and Jeromy’s family owned a restaurant, so we’ve been in the food space since we could hold a tray without falling over,” says Ewa. The couple, who recently celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary, are still in the business of food today, but in a slightly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320659/meet-duo-behind-nom-life-instagram-and-youtube-love-letter-asian-food-family?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320659/meet-duo-behind-nom-life-instagram-and-youtube-love-letter-asian-food-family?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Nancy Wang Nancy Wang Yin Chenxi, a second-year postgraduate student, was working on her thesis one evening when her phone lit up with a notification from the Chinese social media platform RedNote, recommending a video tagged with words including “stress relief” and “cutting perfume bottles”. Exhausted from her work and in dire need of distraction, Yin opened the video. In it, a glass perfume bottle was sliced in two by someone with a knife. As the two liquid-filled halves fell away, a gurgling sound could be... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3320074/how-ai-asmr-videos-are-captivating-social-media-users-instagram-rednote-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3320074/how-ai-asmr-videos-are-captivating-social-media-users-instagram-rednote-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The days of football clubs travelling abroad accompanied only by a familiar press pack have been consigned to history. And it is not just the extra TV cameras, pundits, worldwide media and club legends – a term liberally applied in some cases – that jump on the travelling bandwagon. No, space these days is found for YouTubers, fan channels, bloggers and, in the case of AC Milan, a Chinese rapper. Simba Siiviba, who boasts almost 800,000 followers on mainland social media platform Weibo,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319761/influencers-rappers-youtubers-and-fans-ac-milan-and-liverpools-modern-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319761/influencers-rappers-youtubers-and-fans-ac-milan-and-liverpools-modern-media?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:00:09 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Emily Serby If you have ever fallen down a Seoul vlog rabbit hole, chances are you have come across the YouTuber Cari. Cari is the face behind both the “cari cakes” and “cari can read” channels on YouTube. Best known for her travel vlogs, the Seoul-based content creator does not shy away from processing personal ups and downs with her channel’s 415,000 subscribers. She weaves themes of solitude and nostalgia through her videos, all delivered with a quiet vulnerability that makes her feel more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3318291/who-cari-south-korea-based-youtuber-content-creator-success-living-abroad-books?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3318291/who-cari-south-korea-based-youtuber-content-creator-success-living-abroad-books?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Japanese man has gone viral online and inspired many people by turning his remarkably long chin, which was once the source of ridicule and rejection, into a personal brand. The man, known online as Jonouchi, has nearly 350,000 followers on YouTube and proudly refers to himself as the “YouTuber with the world’s longest chin”. He has also amassed over 400,000 followers on another social media platform. Jonouchi revealed that his unusually long chin began developing around the age of five and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3317555/japan-youtuber-famed-worlds-longest-chin-promotes-self-love-after-defeating-ridicule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3317555/japan-youtuber-famed-worlds-longest-chin-promotes-self-love-after-defeating-ridicule?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner is currently the most watched name in tennis as the No 1 men’s player in the world with multiple grand slam titles to his name. The 23-year-old claimed his first Wimbledon title on July 13, defeating two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner’s rumoured girlfriend, Laila Hasanovic, was spotted at the Wimbledon final, further fuelling speculation of a romance between the two following Sinner’s split from Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya earlier this... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3318148/who-laila-hasanovic-and-she-dating-jannik-sinner-who-just-won-wimbledon-danish-model-has-over-350000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3318148/who-laila-hasanovic-and-she-dating-jannik-sinner-who-just-won-wimbledon-danish-model-has-over-350000?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:00:31 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Around two dozen YouTube channels are pumping out videos generated using artificial intelligence with false claims about music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, racking up millions of views and profiting from misinformation, researchers say. The flood of false content threatens to distort public perception of the musician’s seven-week New York trial, where jurors were deliberating on Tuesday to ascertain whether he acted as the ringleader of a criminal organisation that... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3316593/diddy-trial-how-ai-slop-pakistan-distorting-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3316593/diddy-trial-how-ai-slop-pakistan-distorting-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:20:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse While conflict raged between the powerful militaries of India and Pakistan last month, a battle was also fought on the cultural front lines despite years of shared love for films and music. The deadly fighting in early May – the worst in decades – affected artists previously untouched by animosity between their leaders. Ali Gul Pir, a Pakistani rapper and comedian with a huge Indian following, released a song years ago mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While he was spared consequences... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3316349/culture-becomes-casualty-india-pakistan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3316349/culture-becomes-casualty-india-pakistan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:07:58 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Pranali Gupta did not set out to become a social media content creator. In 2019, when a friend suggested she should try it, the Hong Kong-born Indian said no, as she was “not the type of person who likes taking photos or videos of myself”. However, Gupta, who speaks fluent Cantonese, warmed to the idea of having a platform where she could help other Hongkongers understand more about her bicultural identity. “[My Cantonese friend] was like, ‘Don’t you get tired answering the same questions? You... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316026/who-new-dellily-hong-kong-born-indian-youtuber-her-social-media-fame?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316026/who-new-dellily-hong-kong-born-indian-youtuber-her-social-media-fame?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:15:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Doomscrolling. Instagram obsessions. Mindless YouTube video viewing. Distracting behaviours, yes. But can they actually rot a person’s brain? In 2024, Oxford University Press named “brain rot” as its word of the year, defining it as the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state” caused by overconsuming “trivial or unchallenging” material found on social media and other online platforms. “It’s what happens when you consume too much low-quality online content, which is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314890/does-too-much-tiktok-youtube-or-instagram-actually-rot-your-brain-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314890/does-too-much-tiktok-youtube-or-instagram-actually-rot-your-brain-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Vietnamese-American YouTuber Cassey Ho, better known by her channel name Blogilates, has gone from one of the platform’s top influencers to the CEO and head designer of her own athleisure brand, Popflex. The fitness apparel brand, which launched in 2016, has been favoured by Taylor Swift, who was first seen sporting the label’s digital lavender Pirouette skort in her #ForAFortnightChallenge reel on YouTube in April last year – within 15 minutes of the video appearing online, the skirt had sold... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3314301/meet-blogilates-youtuber-and-taylor-swift-favourite-cassey-ho-popflex-athleisure-entrepreneur-was?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3314301/meet-blogilates-youtuber-and-taylor-swift-favourite-cassey-ho-popflex-athleisure-entrepreneur-was?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 20:00:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service In a recent episode of Hot Ones Versus, actor Hailee Steinfeld looked at her Sinners co-star Michael B. Jordan with a mix of shock and amusement, and asked, “What the f*** is this? This is press for our movie?” It is a question that has probably been asked before in the 10 years that Hot Ones, and subsequent spin-offs like Hot Ones Versus, have been pushing out episodes on YouTube. The concept is both simple and outrageous – an interview done while guests eat a series of chicken wings of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3314092/could-hot-ones-win-emmy-sean-evans-hopeful-his-youtube-show-where-stars-get-loose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3314092/could-hot-ones-win-emmy-sean-evans-hopeful-his-youtube-show-where-stars-get-loose?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse When Sarah Lezito began messing around with motorbikes at 13 she never dreamed that one day she would become the stunt double of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The French winemaker’s daughter has stood in for Scarlett Johansson on Avengers 2 and Black Widow, and appeared in a dozen films including The Batman. The 32-year-old is one of a rare breed of motorcycle stuntwomen, with a massive social media following that helped take her from the vineyards of France’s Champagne region to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312083/motorcycle-stuntwoman-being-scarlett-johanssons-double-hollywood-and-having-no-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312083/motorcycle-stuntwoman-being-scarlett-johanssons-double-hollywood-and-having-no-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows In the first episode of television series Mr Lyan’s Taste Trips, the eponymous British bartender goes behind the scenes at the first malt whisky distillery to open in Japan a century ago. The host, whose actual name is Ryan Chetiyawardana, meets Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory chief blender at Yamazaki Distillery in Osaka. He also chats to Hidetsugu Ueno, one of Japan’s best known bartenders, who makes him a White Lady cocktail at his Bar High Five in Tokyo, and visits a convenience store to recommend... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3311084/bartenders-travel-show-about-amazing-stories-and-people-behind-them-begins-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3311084/bartenders-travel-show-about-amazing-stories-and-people-behind-them-begins-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 23:15:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The internet would not be the same without the “like” button, the thumbs-up icon that Facebook and other online services turned into digital catnip. Like it or not, the button has served as a creative catalyst, a dopamine delivery system and an emotional battering ram. It also became an international tourist attraction after Facebook plastered the symbol on a giant sign that stood outside its Silicon Valley headquarters until the company rebranded itself as Meta Platforms in 2021. A new book,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3310893/history-internets-button-and-why-facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-opposed-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3310893/history-internets-button-and-why-facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-opposed-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 20:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times “Who am I living for?” South Korean actress Sunwoo Yong-yeo asks in a recent video, then hops into her Mercedes-Benz and heads to a five-star hotel for breakfast alone. At 80, the veteran performer is rewriting the script on ageing, and her vibrant, candid lifestyle is resonating with viewers across generations. Just over two weeks after launching her YouTube channel, Soonpoong Sunwoo Yong-yeo, on April 24, Sunwoo has already amassed more than 144,000 subscribers as of May 12. Her channel –... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3310785/south-koreas-granny-youtubers-are-rewriting-script-ageing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3310785/south-koreas-granny-youtubers-are-rewriting-script-ageing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 01:13:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A new song by rapper Kanye West glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has racked up millions of views on Elon Musk’s X platform, after it was banned by other sites such as YouTube. West – the winner of 24 Grammys over the course of his career in hip-hop – in recent years has made repeated antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements. “Heil Hitler” was released on May 8 by the 47-year-old artist who now prefers to go by Ye – the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. As of Saturday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310781/kanye-wests-pro-hitler-song-gets-millions-views-x-after-being-banned-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310781/kanye-wests-pro-hitler-song-gets-millions-views-x-after-being-banned-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 20:47:55 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa In December, news broke that Buzzfeed had sold its First We Feast production studio to a group of private investors for US$82.5 million. One of the buyers was Sean Evans, who has hosted the studio’s wildly popular YouTube interview series Hot Ones since its first episode in 2015. In the nine years since, Evans has brought numerous celebrities, including Tom Holland, Margot Robbie, Shaquille O’Neal and Jennifer Lawrence, to tears during interviews that saw participants try to eat 10 chicken... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3310440/meet-hot-ones-host-sean-evans-illinois-native-has-interviewed-likes-jennifer-lawrence-margot-robbie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3310440/meet-hot-ones-host-sean-evans-illinois-native-has-interviewed-likes-jennifer-lawrence-margot-robbie?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 10:00:15 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Becoming a baker remains the top dream for Japanese first-graders – but this year’s annual survey of six-year-olds also reflects shifting gender roles, growing interest in online fame and parental concerns over job security. Ahead of Children’s Day on Monday, Japanese chemical maker Kuraray released the results of its annual poll on the career aspirations of children starting primary school in the 2025 financial year. Among the 4,000 respondents, “patissier or baker” topped the list, picked by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3309118/baker-tops-list-dream-jobs-japanese-6-year-olds-youtuber-rising-fast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3309118/baker-tops-list-dream-jobs-japanese-6-year-olds-youtuber-rising-fast?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 May 2025 09:31:10 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak “The world is in a brilliant place right now,” Rattanamol Singh says sarcastically. “We live in deeply imperfect times,” he continues, more sombrely, “but what happens is that, underneath the surface, people from various disciplines are creating and talking to each other and finding ways to tell their stories through different mediums.” The search for such people took the Los Angeles-based filmmaker to Hong Kong recently, where he filmed a 40-minute “visual essay”. It will become the first... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3307964/hong-kong-has-been-coolest-teacher-youtuber-filming-series-artistic-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3307964/hong-kong-has-been-coolest-teacher-youtuber-filming-series-artistic-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 04:45:10 +0000 The grainy, 19-second YouTube video that started it all hardly had the makings of a viral sensation. Shot at the San Diego Zoo in the US state of California, the primitive video clip showed Jawed Karim, the platform’s co-founder, complimenting the elephants in the frame behind him. “The cool thing about these guys is they have really, really, really long trunks,” Karim said. The clip, titled “Me at the zoo”, was the first video uploaded onto YouTube 20 years ago, opening the door to a new... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3307754/youtubes-first-20-years-dating-site-home-video-platform-king-all-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3307754/youtubes-first-20-years-dating-site-home-video-platform-king-all-media?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 23:45:11 +0000 The five friends who now make up sports and comedy group Dude Perfect had no intention of creating a brand, or even a business, 16 years ago when they started making a video of basketball trick shots while they were attending Texas A&M University, in the United States. “My dad would say we were procrastinating studying for finals at that time, which he is 100 per cent correct [about],” says Coby Cotton, whose twin brother Cory is also part of the group. “We were just having fun, and that’s one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3307014/slam-dunk-rise-youtubes-dude-perfect-basketball-trick-shots-trusted-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3307014/slam-dunk-rise-youtubes-dude-perfect-basketball-trick-shots-trusted-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter is facing a fourth sexual assault lawsuit, with the most recent woman claiming that he gave her STDs, according to Variety. The complaint filed by Laura Penly alleges that Carter forced her into sexual acts in 2004, when she was 19 and he was 25. She claims that they had consensual sex three times before he became aggressive. Carter has denied the allegations. His lawyers told Variety that the lawsuit is “just more of the same nonsense from the gang of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306774/who-disgraced-backstreet-boy-nick-carters-wife-lauren-kitt-carter-everybody-singer-met-former?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306774/who-disgraced-backstreet-boy-nick-carters-wife-lauren-kitt-carter-everybody-singer-met-former?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:00:07 +0000 Netflix just dropped its shocking new documentary, Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, about teen influencer Piper Rockelle and her viral friends known as The Squad – but not everyone is happy about the chilling exposé. The Squad were teen content creators who were featured on her YouTube channel. They claimed that they were “frequently subjected to an emotionally, physically and sometimes sexually abusive environment” perpetrated by Rockelle’s mother, Tiffany Smith, during filming and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306625/meet-piper-rockelle-kidfluencer-heart-new-netflix-series-17-year-old-started-pageants-moving-youtube?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306625/meet-piper-rockelle-kidfluencer-heart-new-netflix-series-17-year-old-started-pageants-moving-youtube?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Fans waved glow sticks at an animated character on stage, having packed a sold-out Hollywood concert hall to see their virtual idol perform – showcasing the global ambitions of Japan’s “VTuber” subculture. Pink-haired musician and live-streamer Mori Calliope looks just like a character from an anime cartoon, brought to life on stage through a hologram-like illusion. Platforms like Netflix have helped take Japanese anime mainstream – and Calliope’s Tokyo-based talent agency wants its roster of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3306319/japan-wants-drive-vtuber-craze-globally-south-korea-breathes-down-its-neck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3306319/japan-wants-drive-vtuber-craze-globally-south-korea-breathes-down-its-neck?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Apr 2025 03:20:24 +0000 A major antisemitism group has suggested that YouTuber Ms Rachel be investigated over whether she’s being paid to spread “Hamas-aligned propaganda” in her posts about Gaza’s children, according to the New York Post. The Post article shows screenshots of a video in which Ms Rachel appears with her hands clasped. The subtitles across the screen read, “This is a prayer for children in Gaza. Please stop hurting them.” As of March this year, over 48,000 Palestinians and over 1,700 Israelis have been... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3305818/who-ms-rachels-composer-husband-aron-accurso-songs-littles-youtuber-met-her-pianist-partner-church?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3305818/who-ms-rachels-composer-husband-aron-accurso-songs-littles-youtuber-met-her-pianist-partner-church?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft YouTube star IShowSpeed’s visit to Hong Kong has drawn crowds of fans and resulted in the occasional moment of chaos, with the American live-streaming as he met the pandas at Ocean Park, rode a tram in Sheung Wan and bought snacks on Temple Street. The 20-year-old streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jnr, was in Sheung Wan on Friday afternoon. The famous Cristiano Ronaldo fan even hopped onto a tram advertising the football superstar’s coming museum in Hong Kong. But he appeared... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305178/ishowspeed-hong-kong-youtube-star-meets-pandas-fans-flock-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305178/ishowspeed-hong-kong-youtube-star-meets-pandas-fans-flock-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:57:32 +0000 In Japan, policymakers and economists are paying close attention to the oshikatsu phenomenon as a growing driver of consumer spending – and 24-year-old Momoka Matsui is one of many doing her part to shore up the economy. Matsui is part of an expanding demographic of mostly twenty- and thirtysomethings engaged in activities supporting one’s favourite celebrities, anime characters, cuddly mascots or any oshi – the Japanese term for the object of one’s adulation. “If my salary goes up, I’d like to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3304875/anime-vtubers-how-fan-culture-could-encourage-spending-and-boost-japans-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3304875/anime-vtubers-how-fan-culture-could-encourage-spending-and-boost-japans-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:15:07 +0000 We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As US Justice Department cuts focus on foreign agents, will China cases ease? As one of her first acts in office, US President Donald Trump’s new attorney general, Pam Bondi, shut down a years-long operation to combat influence campaigns from China and other countries – an initiative... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3304712/china-hails-us-youtube-star-how-signal-furore-may-aid-spies-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3304712/china-hails-us-youtube-star-how-signal-furore-may-aid-spies-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Apr 2025 19:00:08 +0000