YouTube may be comfortable with its new paid subscription service YouTube Red’s similarities to popular porn site RedTube, but the complaints from users don’t end there.
Social media lit up with complaints, confusion and jokes on Wednesday following the announcement of YouTube Red, an ad-free subscription service set to launch on Oct. 28.
The new service will feature original programming beginning in 2016, including scripted and unscripted projects from artists such as PewDiePie, Lilly Singh and the Fine Brothers.
But people on Twitter remained mostly unimpressed by the notion that they’d have to pay for videos they’ve previously gotten for free.
“Wow. @YouTube Red sounds GREAT for google and literally no one else,” said @austenw.
“Sounds to me like YouTube Red just benefits the top 1% of content creators… YouTube, the American government is not a good role model,” added @chrisconsiders.
There was also some confusion about whether the new service would affect current users who don’t plan to convert to the premium plan.
“WAIT. If you don’t sign up for YouTube Red your videos get deleted?! This is nonsense … Right?” asked @AmaAmaLeeLee.
To be fair to YouTube, that is indeed nonsense. People who upload videos to the site will have to opt-in under new terms of services for their videos to be viewable only to YouTube Red subscribers.
Still, confusion, frustration and snark continued to pour in Wednesday afternoon. Below are some social media reactions to YouTube Red.
Wow. @YouTube Red sounds GREAT for google and literally no one else.
— Mega (@MegalithActual) October 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/chrisconsiders/status/656966098047205376
I I would rather sit through a 10 second ad than pay $9.99 a month for YouTube red
— Tree (@Tellem_Tree) October 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/gabiskindofcool/status/656965218791235584
WAIT. If you don't sign up for YouTube Red your videos get deleted?! This is nonsense … Right?
— AmaLee 🦋 M̶̱̍ö̷̧́n̶̝͋a̷͔̓r̷̝̓c̶̼̈́h̸͕̀ (@LeeandLie) October 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/REEDnSTUFF/status/656966231044595712
Oh yeah, and YouTube Red is a complete waste of time in an era of AdBlock and creators getting screwed out of a dead CPM system.
— Dre Harrison (@DreHarrison101) October 21, 2015
Heard about Youtube Red? what's next, Facebook Blue I bet.
— The Silver Conductor (@SilverConductor) October 21, 2015
@YouTube why the hell are you guys making YouTube Red a thing? You're ruining the community that we had for many years. Please think twice.
— 𝕁𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕦𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕗𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 (@nefairius) October 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/Andii_Renee/status/656966133052911616
https://twitter.com/RubePower/status/656966098009636868
https://twitter.com/gagakoenig/status/656965946322624512
Real talk is anybody seriously going to pay for YouTube Red? It seems like a stupid waste of money.
— anemic!doppio @13 days til endgame destroys my ass (@noodIenat) October 21, 2015