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Tommy Ngo

Professor Cole

English Composition II

14 April 2020

Annotated Bibliography:

Works Cited 

Alexander, Julia. “YouTuber Etika's Death Spurs Conversation about How Viewers React to

Creators' Mental Health Struggles.” The Verge, The Verge, 27 June 2019,

www.theverge.com/2019/6/27/18759603/desmond-etika-amofah-death-youtube-creator-

mental-health.

An article by Julia Alexander about the death of an infamous online personality and gamer.

Desmond “Ethika” Amofah was suffering from anxiety, depression, and overall mental health.

Ethika uploaded a video, as a cry for help discussing the negatives of life in the “lime-light” right

before taking his own life. He stated that the negatives “consumed” him and that many people

believe that online harassment doesn’t take a toll on mental health. It further stated that viewers

think they understand the content creator, but what they really see is a persona or an alter-ego for

the attraction of views. Many of these creators have to visit a therapist multiple times a month to

stay on the right track. Alexander follows through with a list of YouTubers who have

experienced similar problems and the overall toll of being an influencer. 

Cooper, Paige. “How Does the YouTube Algorithm Work? A Guide to Getting More Views.”

Hootsuite Social Media Management, 1 Nov. 2019, blog.hootsuite.com/how-the-youtube-

algorithm-works/. 
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An article by Paige Cooper who discusses how the YouTube algorithm works. These

videos are marketed based on what the video is about, how long it is, when it is posted, and key

words involved. Over 70% of the time spent on the website is by recommendations made by the

algorithm with an average of 60-minute viewing sessions. The algorithm has changed over the

last decade: view count (2012), view duration and session time (2012-2016), machine learning

(2016), quality (2017), monetization (2018), and banning “borderline content” (2019). The new

algorithm works by filtering videos to fit the user’s frequently watched content. But overall, the

algorithm changes constantly and there are 13 tips to improve your reach. 

“How Are YouTubers Influencing Children?” Internet Matters, 10 Oct. 2019,

www.internetmatters.org/hub/expert-opinion/youtubers-influencing-children/.

Doctor Tamasine Preece begins to talk about the control that YouTube has over children

and advice to escape its grasp. Content can often include knowledge that young adults should not

acknowledge, this includes language, crime, suicide, bullying, and more. She recommends that

there are ways to limit contact with this by limiting time spent on YouTube and activating an

age-restriction database. According to Dr. Preece, YouTube has an effect on Identity-play,

mental health, cruelty, fake knowledge, and so much more. 

“InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development.” Center on the Developing Child at

Harvard University, developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-science-of-ecd/.   

Harvard University discusses the science behind childhood brain development and its

retention ability. It begins by talking about how the brain is influenced over time and that it’s

connected to different circuits that influence the body’s behaviors. These influences influence

different genes and eventually cause change to cognitive abilities, emotional health, and social
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abilities. The research also concluded that toxic stress can eventually create lifelong problems in

mental and physical health due to damaged neurons. There are basic principles that help prevent

intervention and become more favorable as one age.

            

Jahromi, Neima, et al. “The Fight for the Future of YouTube.” The New Yorker,

www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-fight-for-the-future-of-youtube. 

In The Fight for The Future of YouTube, Neima Jahromi begins to talk about the influences

that YouTube has on both the viewer and the creator. How it changes the foundation of freedom

of expression and the platform enforcing new policies. But the scale of the platform causes

various problems and brings fundamental questions into view. Every business has its technical

issues, but the business and viewership standpoints are often coincided with YouTube. It

elaborates with examples of various YouTubers and their prospective. “If we frame hate speech

or toxicity as a free-speech issue, then the answer is often counter speech.” Many want the

platform to pick a perspective and stick to it and want to determine how it will be written in

history. 

McFadden, Christopher. “A Brief History of the Internet Giant YouTube.” Interesting

Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2019, interestingengineering.com/youtube-its-

history-and-impact-on-the-internet. 

            In an article by Christopher McFadden, it explains the history, purpose, and future of

YouTube. The impact that it has had thus far and what it will eventually accomplish. He talks

about the original purpose of YouTube and what the new purpose has been changed to, and the
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reasons behind it. He elaborates on the creators Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim and

how the original concept came to be with the eventual investment of $11.5 million. Eventually,

YouTube was sold to Google for $1.65 billion and the purpose was changed according to

Google’s guidelines. 

“Our Thoughts Are Susceptible to External Influence, Even against Our Will.” ScienceDaily,

ScienceDaily, 3 Feb. 2015, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150203142309.htm.

            An article by San Francisco State University advises the public on how susceptible

humans are to different influences, even when we are not paying attention to it. In an experiment

conducted by the university, it showed participants over 50 images of black and white pictures

and eventually the majority of the test group came to the same conclusion. This made it possible

to know that the mind is able to be controlled by just perspective and is often done without

knowledge or authorization. The article further explains that changes can occur based on

subvocalizing, machinery, and psychopathological disorders. 

Ruder, Debra Bradley. “The Teen Brain.” Harvard Magazine, 16 Oct. 2008,

harvardmagazine.com/2008/09/the-teen-brain.html.

            In an article by Harvard Magazine, it explains how the Children’s Hospital of Boston and

Harvard Medical School has conducted an experiment to explore the structure of an adolescent

brain. The brain is hardwired and can be changed with certain vulnerabilities that many people

do not know about. 80% of the brain develops during the adolescent period, so with that time

many things can impact the thought process of a young adult and stick with them until death.

There are also chemical signals that are sent through the brain to help learning take place, which

explains how it is easier for a child to learn a song or language compared to an adult. Adolescent
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children are also more vulnerable to external stressors which can eventually cause harm and

mental health issues with age. 

Story by Alexis C. Madrigal. “Raised by YouTube.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 4

Oct. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/raised-by-youtube/570838/.

            An article by Alexis C. Madrigal shows the growth of various YouTube channels and its

effect on the provider. A prime example was ChuChu TV, a channel ran by a man who was

influenced by him and has since gained over 30 million subscribers. It shows how the mind acts

and that “if she is going to like it, the kids around the world should like it.” It shows that many

video creators follow this logic to create a standard for others. The article further talks about the

growth of the channel and compares it to the likes of Disney. It shows that ‘America’s grip on

children’s entertainment is coming to an end.” That everything can easily be influenced and

taken over.