I quit YouTube for a year. This what I learned.

Summary

In a deeply personal video, Plateau returns to YouTube after a year-long hiatus, reflecting on their journey of self-discovery and the struggles they’ve faced. Once having quit due to feelings of failure and a lack of purpose, Plateau now embraces their identity as an entity in a state of no change, accepting their flaws and loneliness. With a renewed sense of self, Plateau announces their return to content creation, including music videos and live streams, not for validation but for personal expression. This is Plateau’s rebirth, a commitment to continue creating, no matter the viewership.

Takeaways

• 😀 Plateau's journey involves quitting YouTube a year ago, hiding away from the world, and trying to find their purpose in life.
• 😀 Despite struggling to find a sense of direction, Plateau has realized that their YouTube channel and identity are forever intertwined.
• 😀 Plateau introduces a new sense of self, symbolizing a rebirth from the ashes, and embraces their past as part of their journey.
• 😀 The word 'Plateau' represents both the name and a metaphor for the speaker's life—a state of little change after a period of activity or progress.
• 😀 Plateau acknowledges a past of striving for success on YouTube, but now seeks contentment in a state of equilibrium, without the pressure to surpass past achievements.
• 😀 Plateau vows to continue creating content, including music videos, live streams, and more, without concern for the number of viewers or external validation.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on their isolation, identifying as autistic and lonely, with limited social connections, but they have accepted this as part of who they are.
• 😀 Plateau compares themselves to a hikikomori, living mostly in their apartment and embracing solitude as part of their identity.
• 😀 The channel and the speaker's journey are no longer tied to a pursuit of success defined by others, but by the authentic expression of self.
• 😀 Plateau's final message is a declaration of personal rebirth, embracing their true self, and accepting a future without chasing external recognition or achievement.

Q & A

What led Plateau to quit YouTube a year ago?

Plateau mentions quitting YouTube due to feelings of failure and the desire to leave behind his past, passion, and dreams. He hid his channel away from everyone as he struggled with finding his purpose in life.

What is Plateau's current perspective on life and his channel?

Plateau expresses that while he hasn't found his purpose yet, he acknowledges that his channel and he are inseparable, suggesting that his journey with YouTube will continue until the end of his life.

How does Plateau describe his transformation?

Plateau refers to his transformation as being 'born from the Phoenix's ashes,' indicating that he is no longer the person he once was and has embraced a new sense of self.

What does the name 'Plateau' symbolize?

The term 'Plateau' is defined as an area of fairly level high ground or a state of little change following a period of activity. Plateau relates this definition to his past, indicating a point where he reached a peak but never surpassed it. He now aims to continue this 'Legacy' in a steady state of no further change.

What does Plateau intend to focus on moving forward?

Plateau intends to focus on creating content that reflects his true self, including music videos, live streams, and other forms of content. He will no longer base his success on viewership but will continue creating regardless of how many people watch.

What is Plateau's attitude towards success and viewership?

Plateau rejects traditional measures of success based on the number of viewers. He expresses a commitment to continue making content for the sake of authenticity, even if the audience is small or nonexistent.

How does Plateau describe his personal life and social interactions?

Plateau describes himself as autistic, lonely, and having very few friends. He spends most of his time in his apartment, living in isolation, but he seems to have accepted this as a part of who he is.

What does Plateau mean by 'living like a hikikomori'?

By describing himself as living like a 'hikikomori,' Plateau is referring to a lifestyle of extreme social withdrawal, often characterized by isolation at home, which he has seemingly adopted as a form of self-acceptance.

What does Plateau imply by saying, 'I will just continue on and on, into Oblivion like I was destined to'?

Plateau implies a sense of resignation or fate, suggesting that he is destined to continue his journey into obscurity, without seeking external validation or recognition, accepting that his path may not lead to fame or success as typically defined.

What message does Plateau convey at the end of the script?

At the end of the script, Plateau welcomes viewers to the 'rebirth' of his channel, signaling a new chapter where he embraces his true self and rejects societal expectations or the need for validation. He thanks viewers for watching, indicating a sense of gratitude despite his isolation.