# Members Only Videos are a HUGE Problem on YouTube Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhzYhq0oTu8 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/vhzYhq0oTu8 Generated: 2025-10-07T18:01:39.926+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview YouTube channel memberships are causing significant negative feedback from non-member viewers because the platform aggressively promotes members-only content across the main video feeds, effectively creating paywalled content visibility issues that creators like Linus Tech Tips are now moving away from, as evidenced by their increased focus on their alternative platform, Floatplane. **Key Points:** - YouTube's aggressive promotion of members-only videos across the main feed is causing negative feedback, leading creators to feel frustrated by the lack of control over content visibility. - The creator's channel analytics showed an estimated revenue of $89,413.99 from 1,800 total members over the previous 365 days, indicating that the membership feature is financially significant. - The creator is moving exclusive content (like behind-the-scenes and early access) primarily to Floatplane, which offers creators more control and better revenue splits than YouTube's 30% commission. - Viewers are actively using the 'Not interested' and 'Don't recommend channel' options on members-only videos to try and mitigate the issue on their YouTube feeds. - The change is so frustrating that the creator explicitly stated they are stopping the promotion of members-only videos on the main YouTube channel page and search results, fearing it damages the channel's overall viewership and relationship with non-paying fans. - A post from another creator confirmed this negative experience, stating that YouTube puts members-only videos into the public 'videos' tab, leading to unnavigable content feeds for non-members. ![Screenshot at 0:23: The YouTube Studio Analytics screen showing an estimated revenue of $89,413.99 from 1,800 total members over the last 365 days, contextualizing the financial importance of channel memberships.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-23.png) **Context:** The video addresses the growing frustration among content creators regarding YouTube's implementation and promotion of the 'Members Only' video feature, which allows paying subscribers access to exclusive content. The speaker, likely Linus Sebastian of Linus Tech Tips (LTT), discusses the negative user experience caused by YouTube algorithmically pushing this paid content to general viewers, leading to complaints and a perceived lack of control for creators over their main channel feed presentation. ## Detailed Analysis The speaker argues that YouTube's aggressive promotion of members-only videos is a huge problem, causing negative feedback from viewers who feel teased by content they cannot access, and even leading to the perception that the channel is trying to force them to pay. He shows community feedback, including Reddit posts, complaining about their YouTube feeds being full of members-only content, even after they click 'Not interested' or 'Don't recommend channel.' The creator points out that while the membership program was initially a good idea for supporting the team and providing early access/extras, YouTube's current algorithm pushes this paid content aggressively, cluttering the main videos tab and search results, which harms the overall channel presentation. Financially, the membership program is substantial, generating nearly $90,000 in the last year from 1,800 members, but the creator feels the negative friction with non-paying users is not worth the cost. As a result, the creator announced they are ceasing promotion of members-only videos on the main YouTube platform and focusing that exclusive content on Floatplane, their alternative platform where they maintain full control over promotion and content distribution, noting that Floatplane is a safer bet for business control. ### Problem Identification - Channel memberships were a good idea for supporting the team and offering extras - YouTube's aggressive algorithm now promotes members-only videos everywhere - This leads to viewer frustration and negative feedback like spamming 'Not interested' options. ### Financial Context - The channel earned an estimated $89,413.99 from 1,800 members over 365 days - YouTube takes a 30% commission on all membership earnings, making it potentially expensive in the long run. ### Creator Solutions & Floatplane - The creator is stopping all promotion of members-only videos on the main YouTube page and search results - They encourage dedicated supporters to use Floatplane (Img.gg/floatplane) for exclusive content, which gives creators full control and better revenue. ### Viewer Experience Impact - Members-only content appearing in general video feeds and search results creates 'unnavigability' and feels like 'FOMO selling strategy' - This impacts non-members who are not interested in paying, potentially hurting overall channel engagement. ![Screenshot at 0:01: The presenter beginning the discussion, gesturing towards the concept of channel memberships.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-01.png) ![Screenshot at 0:04: Visual representation of members' money flowing towards the creator, juxtaposed with the YouTube logo and sad face, symbolizing viewer discontent.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-04.png) ![Screenshot at 0:22: A screenshot of YouTube Analytics showing estimated revenue of $89,413.99 from 1,800 members over 365 days.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-22.png) ![Screenshot at 0:27: Multiple blurred Reddit comments displayed, illustrating the negative feedback received about member exclusives cluttering the feed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-27.png) ![Screenshot at 0:42: An image of the YouTube 'Videos' tab showing multiple 'Members only' thumbnails interspersed with regular content, highlighted by arrows.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-00-42.png) ![Screenshot at 1:11: A visual cue pointing to the 'Join' button next to 'Subscribe' on a YouTube channel page, demonstrating how creators encourage membership sign-ups.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-01-11.png) ![Screenshot at 2:16: A screenshot from Reddit showing a post titled 'YouTube added all members-only videos into the public "videos" tab', confirming the UI issue.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-02-16.png) ![Screenshot at 2:44: The presenter showing the word 'Terrible' as a caption, emphasizing the negative sentiment towards the current implementation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-02-44.png) ![Screenshot at 3:31: A cropped view of YouTube Studio Analytics showing very low estimated revenue \($8.58\) and only 5 total members for a recent 30-day period, contrasting with the annual figures shown earlier.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-03-31.png) ![Screenshot at 4:42: The presenter gesturing to show the negative impact of the YouTube algorithm on their channel's overall presentation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-04-42.png) ![Screenshot at 6:51: A demonstration of the Ground News app, promoting it as a way to view news free from media bias.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vhzYhq0oTu8/00-06-51.png)