We’ve avoided Ali-A for a bit in our house, but every once in a while, he creeps back in. That’s because he posts excellent and educational YouTube videos about Fortnite. However, the algorithm will then show your child his React videos and other not-so-great content.
- Ali-A (Alastair AIken) is one of the platform’s most popular Fortnite and Call of Duty YouTubers. His main channel has over 18.8 million subscribers.
- Other channels include More Ali-A, Clare & Ali (with his partner), Ali-A Plays.
- He is British, but often uploads during times when his US audience can watch.
- Some of his videos are quite informative, like “The Evolution of Fortnite! (2011-2020).” I was surprised when I came across this video from three years ago, because his voice was calm, and I enjoyed his encyclopedic knowledge of the game.
- Those videos exist, but most of his channels are super hyped, sensationalist, and always sound loud, no matter the subject matter.
- Alken often posts the typical “React” videos, where he will react to YouTube Shorts and TikTok, where he loses many points with me. As with most React videos, the content he reacts to is inappropriate for younger viewers and shows the worst of people.
- He holds five Guinness World Records, including Most Popular Call of Duty Channel by views and by subscribers (2015), The tallest staircase built in one minute in Minecraft, Most blocks of wood collected in three minutes in Minecraft (both in 2015); and Highest score in offline Team Deathmatch using only the knife and combat axe on Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2016).
History of React Videos
The reaction video genre has existed since the dawn of YouTube and The Fine Bros. Still, in recent years, they are either extremely informative reactions from professionals or nothing more than clickbait and rarely anything in between.
No one who was around in that early era of YouTube would deny that The Fine Bros mastered the Reaction genre and perfected it, up until the time they tried to claim copyright infringement for anyone who also did a React video (ah, early YouTube history really was the Wild West).
In recent years, however, creators will too often post React videos but forget the main ingredient–a reaction. They’ll scroll and watch and maybe give a “Hey!” or “Wow!” Those videos run so rampant that many have been accused of plagiarism and copyright infringement; under Fair Use, since there is no editorial or transformative, and certainly not an educational, use if you’re just showing other people’s TikToks over and over again. What is a Reaction video?
Image: Shutterstock
Read more: YouTube Reviews
Sources:
- https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/7/video-guinness-world-records-surprise-youtube-gaming-star-ali-a-with-two-incredi-389601
- https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/9/video-watch-youtube-star-ali-a-take-on-double-minecraft-challenge-395171
- https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/8/video-ali-a-vs-syndicate-watch-legends-of-gaming-stars-battle-it-out-for-call-440961
- “Why are Reaction Videos So Popular?” uploaded by Validation, 28 October 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WCWc89_0jc
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