What will happen to your viewers, when you disappear?

[Theodor]

Most of us are here primarily as creators. However I am fairly sure all of us have followed some channels, which just suddenly stopped uploading videos, without any explanation to anyone. Some of these people are doing well and are still alive. Some of the live ones even reply to comments, on their already posted videos. But what about the others?

I have thought about this few times in the past. The thought returned after I watched a video by a channel i follow, about them suddenly losing someone close to them. That video hit close to home, as I had a similar experience myself, just before Christmas, I feel some closure could do good. But how could that happen? I for one am definitely too lazy to crawl out from a crematorium to make one last video. I don't share my channel with anyone, as in I don't have a co-author, or anything. How would my viewers know? Should I think that any of my family members would be interested enough about my youtube channel, to come there, when they have their own grief to go through? I (mostly) don't even talk in our native language on my channel.

Not looking for a solution, because I have thought of one, just not implemented it yet. I'm more hoping to have a discussion on if anyone has even thought about it and if they have made any steps about it.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I have thought about it too, I have set a friend as a person who can manage my channel in the event of my death. My family and friends know I really enjoy the YouTube thing and the friends I have made through it and the other bike related social media, so I know they would post something up on my Facebook/X/Instagram/etc if I died.

 

[Drakhen99]

That's an interesting thought experiment.

I've often wondered what happened to some of the channels I used to follow who just stopped posting.

I think my solution would be a dead man's switch: have a video saying something along the lines of "I've passed away, this is my final goodbye and thanks to all of you for watching" uploaded and scheduled for a month out. Then, each month, change the scheduled publish date to 1 month in the future.

Knowing me, I'd forget to change it, and it would freak some people out. But it's a good idea to give your viewers some closure at least.

Ol' Man Ronin is a channel I followed, and unfortunately, he passed away a year or so ago... and it left people in the lurch until I found out through other social medias that he'd passed away.

-John

 

[Theodor]

The scheduled video seems to be a good option, if you don't want to give access to anyone else. This is the same result I have reached to, every time I have thought of it.
Considering I don't normally have many videos in the queue, except the winter, I think that would be reasonable. It should always be several months in the future, so it stays on top of the list. It should be long enough in the future, so that if something survivable happens, I could still intervene. On the other hand, it could be better to not declare myself dead yet. Not only because of superstitions reasons. Just maybe declare that something bad has happened, that I clearly had no control over.

@Hippo-Drones what swayed you towards sharing access instead?

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I just saw the setting, so added my mate. He don't have access unless I die. Am pretty sure it was YouTube that I did it on, but it could have been my Facebook page for Hippo-Drones, can't remember... but either way, the word would get out.

 

[Theodor]

Facebook definitely has this function. I have heard of that.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

ahh maybe I got confuddled then

 

[Theodor]

In youtube studio there is an option for sharing access, but there is nothing about special circumstances. You either allow someone else with youtube account to do something with your channel, or not.
I used this functionality when I needed help with my subtitles for the Cebu trip series. As I do not speak their language, but I wanted to include some bits, then I asked help with the subtitles.
You can set various levels of access there. But that either is or is not. You can't say that in case I perish or any other special term like that.

 

[R-Rated]

In youtube studio there is an option for sharing access, but there is nothing about special circumstances. You either allow someone else with youtube account to do something with your channel, or not.
I used this functionality when I needed help with my subtitles for the Cebu trip series. As I do not speak their language, but I wanted to include some bits, then I asked help with the subtitles.
You can set various levels of access there. But that either is or is not. You can't say that in case I perish or any other special term like that.

Maybe you can have the access as part of your will?

Picture the room full of people as your addresses the group.

Theodore was a man of wealth. To his mistress he leaves the sum of $5 million, all in pennies. To the rest of his lovers, he leaves one nickel.

To his butler he leaves access to his YouTube channel. In order to get the log in information the butler must spend one week in a haunted castle with no wifi.

 

[Theodor]

And the nickel is left in a million dollar bills. Cut to proportion.
If I ever will own enough, to bother with a will, it could be a thought actually.