Considering how long YouTube and other social platforms have been up and running, there's a surprising lack of research on treating the effects of online harassment - as devastating as that is to the person on the receiving end. Therapists and psychologists are conducting 

, but for many of them, the findings haven’t resulted in a widespread treatment plan that’s officially medically approved.

This poses a problem for YouTubers, Instagram influencers, and any public figure on the web. These creatives earn a living from their work online, and harassment often comes with the territory. While casual users have the privilege of simply logging off, internet influencers can’t do the same. Because of the nature of their work, they’ll eventually have to show up again - to YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, or whichever app they’re using to earn a living.

As a result, social media platforms are enforcing anti-harassment policies. YouTube, for example, has a wonderful collection of 

 to promote a hate-free experience for all users.

Even still, there’s more to the conversation than what platforms can do to help. At some point, creators will need more powerful ways to look after their mental health - especially if they must be online to earn an income.

To understand what creators go through, we asked the vidIQ community to share their experiences with harassment and bullying. Here’s what four anonymous creators had to say:

"People Left Threatening Remarks Simply Because I Was Young"

“I started YouTube at the age of 13, and my first videos were very bad. However, I was good at SEO, and these videos racked up hundreds of thousands of views. People left hate comments and threatening remarks, simply because I was young and the quality of my videos was not very good. Fast-forward three years, and some of those same people continue to write hate comments. I have blocked and hidden such users, however, some have even gone to the extent to create new accounts just to annoy me.”

Fighting the Stigma of Mental Health Conditions

“I make video content related to schizophrenia and mental health. Over the years, most commenters support my work and celebrate my content. However, there is a slow, steady strain of commenters I must mute. Some of them are delusional people, some seem more violent or mal-intended, and some seek to confuse and torment people with lies and blame. Some are religious ‘fanatic’ types, claiming I need to ‘see it their way’ and it's a kind of cognitive harassment. They seem to do it on purpose to agitate and derail my intended conversations.”

“When I first started YouTube in 2018, this group of smalltime YouTubers in the same genre created a short series of them cyberbullying me and falsely reporting me on YouTube. This went on for about three months until YouTube deleted my account because of the spammed reports. About 4-5 months later, I restarted my current channel and started uploading videos with my friends for fun. Its been a while since I've seen the YouTubers who cyberbullied me for views, but from what I remember, they stopped uploading videos. Unfortunately, the ‘series’ is still up, but I've gotten past it.”

Overcoming Sexism, Political Differences, and More

“My niche is very male-dominated. I have literally made videos on topics male colleagues have made, I have been called names and bullied into oblivion despite always providing valid bibliography to everything I cite. I had to eventually hold all comments on my videos by default. The commenters went from insulting my looks to questioning my heritage and origin, all stuff that has nothing to do with my niche.



Recently the alt-right must have really not liked me speaking up and supporting Black Lives Matter because rape threats have started coming in too. All those comments get blocked at the entrance, but gosh, it takes a toll to see how vehemently complete strangers can just hate me.”

YouTubers Speak Out Against Online Harassment

As you probably know, creators in the vidIQ community aren’t the only victims of cyberbullying - it can happen to anyone on the web. For two creators specifically, things got so bad that they shared their harassment stories on YouTube to raise awareness.

 shares a story about how she was harassed online and the steps she took to make it stop:

In this next video, an animation critic shares his experience with online harassment. Click 

Remember how we said there’s a gap in research (and treatments) for cyberbullying? Well, some medical professionals are trying to fix that, and we couldn’t be happier to share their names with you.

, an expert in female adolescent sexuality. She’s also president of the American Psychological Association’s 

Society for Media Psychology and Technology

. Luckily, this organization is writing guidelines to help therapists treat victims of online abuse. Be sure to follow both Stamoulis and the APA for more updates.

The next person you might want to follow is 

. She’s a professor of psychology at Clemson University and is currently researching the effects of cyberbullying among youth and adults.

. She’s a licensed therapist who educates viewers on mental health and psychology topics, like this one:

To all creators out there, remember to stay safe, be positive, and always look after your mental health. Harassment and bullying may be rampant online, but help is on the way.

We know harassment is an issue for many video creators, but what we don't know is the full extent of the psychological damage it’s causing.

Why Online Harassment May Be Even More Devastating Than We Thought

Welcome to the first in an exciting new series focusing on some of the most inspiring YouTubers around today. We're taking a look at their creator journey, and the story behind their success.

In this episode, the spotlight falls on Grant Thompson, otherwise known to millions as 'The King of Random'. Grant nearly quit the platform three times before finding the right work/life balance for himself and his team. His '

, and he has built a solid business around his YouTube content. You can read the full transcript of Grant's story below:

YouTube Creator Journey: The King of Random

Hey, guys. My name is Grant Thompson, known around the internet as The King of Random. For the last eight years, I've been very passionate about figuring out how the world works and really taking time to figure out the mechanics of our society, everything from pyrotechnics to napkin folding, and from welding to making bread. Everything that I've learned so far, I've turned into videos and put on my YouTube channel so that all the knowledge and experience I've been gaining through my personal experiences could be shared with the rest of the world. Our YouTube channel has over 10 million subscribers now and 2 billion video views. And I'm gonna show you how it all started, because this is my creator journey.

Here's the super fast version of my life story before YouTube. I was born in Canada to some amazing parents who tried their best to raise a kid like me. And probably like a lot of kids out there, I struggled in school and grew up with low self-esteem. I also got bullied and became a trouble-maker to get attention and that ended up getting me in trouble with the law.

But, at age 14, I decided to take ownership for my life. I started finding joy in things like extreme sports, cliff jumping, whitewater rafting, repelling, and even skydiving. And by age 19, I left Canada to go to England for two years to serve a voluntary church mission. And then I came home, bought an airplane, and decided to work on the oil rigs as a roughneck, blowing up dynamite and drilling for oil in the Northwest Territories.

It was dangerous work, but the money that I made was enough to help me pay for my airplane and the fuel for all the time I spent flying it. I got licensed as long-haul tanker truck driver at age 22. Then I moved to Oahu, Hawaii to fly airplanes and drive motor coaches for Hawaiian tourists. While I was out there, I became a commercial airline pilot, and moved back to the mainland to work for SkyWest Airlines by age 23. And with that stable career, I got married at age 26, bought 11 houses, and semi-retired at age 29. My wife and I have four kids, all boys. And during that time, that's when we decided to buckle down, learn how the world works, and start making videos on YouTube.

A lot of people ask me how the King of Random got started. And it was really back in 2009 when the economy was struggling, there were rumors of another great depression. I had a wife and kids to take care of and I took that responsibility seriously. So, I started on a personal journey to intimately understand how the important things in our society work, like light bulbs, electricity, and filtered water.

I wanted to know how they were produced and I wanted to know how to make them at home if I needed to. So, I spent the next year tinkering and experimenting with anything I could get for free off the classified ads. And in the process, I was making discoveries about things that were blowing my mind. I made an arc welder out of microwave parts. I build rocket rocket motors from sugar. I played with high voltage electricity that I made from glass bottles and saltwater.

And what was really fun about that time, was as I'd share these random experiments with friends, people began asking like, who is this guy? Why does he know these kinds of things? And quite often, I'd share my newest passions with my brother and he always seemed to have this friend hanging around just listening in the background to all these random projects going on. And one day, he just stepped up and said, "Dude, you're like the King of Random." And that's pretty much where the name came from.

I could feel that the things I was experimenting with were kind of peculiar. And people in general seemed unusually interested to know more. So, that's when I decided to learn how to make videos and start sharing these ideas on YouTube.

In 2010, I created my first YouTube channel. And since I wasn't really planning on becoming a famous YouTuber, I just enter the date and time, which was 01032010814. It was just this random number, but it gave me a place where I could upload stuff. And so, I started using my handicam to make fun little videos about how to start fires using water bottles or how to build rockets and random things like that because I thought it was cool to share. And it seems like the internet agreed because hundreds of thousands of people started watching them.

Now, right about the end of 2011, that's when I started getting really serious. I thought, I could probably make this a business because nobody else was making the kind of content I was sharing and there seemed to be a need for it. YouTube had just offered monetization to creators, so I got my channel monetized and I said, I'll do this as an experiment. The idea was if I made 100 videos that were good enough to get 100,000 views, then it would probably be worth it. And in the process, I'd have a great excuse to learn more about the things I was passionate about anyway.

Some people have asked how I know so much about so many different things and the truth is, I really don't. When I began, I wasn't an expert at all. I just looked at the kind of people I'd like to be, even though most of them were fictional, like MacGyver or James Bond. But the Mythbusters were a great real-life inspiration to me. I wondered how do you go from knowing absolutely nothing, to being just like one of those guys. So, this became my own personal journey, one step at a time, learning how different things work to become like MacGyver or more like a Mythbuster myself.

Sometimes, I'm interested in welding and do a bunch of welding projects. Sometimes, it's pyrotechnics. Sometimes, I'll just be folding napkins 'cause I was on a cruise and I thought that was cool. Or I could be making apple swans. It's just whatever I'm interested in. I typically spend a little bit of time in a few videos exploring those topics, and then once I was satisfied, move onto something else.

Like most internet content creators, almost all day, every day, I spent working on new videos, concepts, and ideas to the point where it was almost an obsession. And I think this happens for a lot of creators. It go to the point where I felt like I was actually limiting my own personal progression so that I could keep making videos and content for the internet. It was a real battle because what I really wanna do is just play and explore the world, but then nobody knows about it. But if I take the time to create videos, then I don't have as much time to play and tinker. So, it's been this constant struggle to juggle the best of both worlds. But it's really been worth 'cause it stretched me and made me grow.

The success of our YouTube channel has helped build me as a person, it's helped build my self-confidence. You know, back before I'd made any projects myself, I did feel a little insecure in this society, because I didn't know how anything worked. And when you don't know something, you're kind of dependent on the system. But now things are completely different.

I've learned so much and feel like I've broken through to the point where I could be okay supporting my family whether or not there's any kind of apocalyptic collapse. And not only that, but in the process, people have looked to me as an inspiration and people are actually willing to try a few things for themselves because I've left a trail for them to follow.

These videos aren't just about showing cool things that we've made. It's really about empowering people, showing you that you can try something new and do something you thought was difficult. So many people have stopped me in the streets and told me how they've sat down as a family and done some of the projects together from our channel. And that's something I could have never predicted when I started making these videos eight years ago.

I think one of the hardest things for creators these days is experiencing massive success. When you make something that does really well and attracts an audience, that audience expects you to make more, which is really awesome. But it kinda ties you into this cycle where you have to constantly be making more. And if you're the one doing it, then it has to be you. It's your face, your mind, your projects. And it really is stressful and it's a constant grind. I think that's why we see so many creators today suffering from mental health issues and needing to take breaks.

I was at that point myself two years ago, ready to quit YouTube for the third time when I read a book called The E Myth, and that changed my life. I started building systems instead of building videos. I hired my first employee, started putting together training programs, started to become more of a leader, and started treating the YouTube production more like a business as well, one that was gonna stick around longer than I would.

And now here we are today with 14 employees making five videos a week. We're finally at a place now, where we've built a really good machine that I think looks really promising. We've got the platform, we've got the content that we produce every day, and now I'm bringing in the employees that can spend all day tinkering and prototyping and playing in a sustainable way that's not gonna burn them out. So, looking forward, The King of Random movement has a very bright future.

We're starting to roll out project kits that people can do at home. We're thinking about putting together a King of Random camp, where people can get together and build things. We're writing books, we're selling merchandise. We'd might even find a way to put project kits in schools so that teacher and kids could do these things in class. The only real guarantee in life is change. So, whatever the future holds for me and The King of Random, one thing's for sure. I'm sure we're all gonna learn a lot. And the journey, no doubt, will be random. Stay random my friends and we'll see you in the next video.

We'd like to say a HUGE thanks to Grant for taking us on his journey. Tune in next week for a brand new episode.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

YouTube superstar The King of Random nearly quit the platform three times - luckily he stayed and now has over 11.3 million subscribers, and 2.4 billion views. Read his story here.

How to Get More Views on YouTube Like The King of Random

Dünyada en fazla ilham veren bazı Youtuber'lara odaklanan yeni heyecan verici serinin ilkine hoş geldiniz. Bu Youtuberların içerik yolculuklarına ve başarılarının arkasındaki hikayeye bir göz atıyoruz.

Bu bölümde, spotumuzu milyonların 'The King of Random' olarak bildiği Grant Thomson'a çeviriyoruz. Grant, kendisi ve takımı için doğru iş/hayat dengesini kurmadan önce Youtube'ı neredeyse 3 kez bırakıyordu. Onun '

11.3 milyondan fazla abone, ve 2.4 milyar görüntülenmeye

 sahip olmaktan gurur duyuyor ve kendisi Youtube içerik konusunda sağlam bir iş kurdu. Aşağıda Grant'ın hikayesinin tam dökümünü okuyabilirsiniz:

YouTube İçerik Oluşturucusu Yolculuğu: The King of Random

Selam millet. Benim adım intenette The King of Random olarak bilinen Grant Thompson. Geçtiğimiz son 8 yılda, dünyanın nasıl çalıştığını ve toplumumuzun mekaniğini, piroteknikten peçete katlanmaya ve kaynak yapmaktan ekmek yapımına kadar her şeyi bulmaya kadar zaman ayırdığım bu konularda gerçekten çok tutkuluyum. Şu ana kadar öğrendiklerimi videoya çektim ve kişisel tecrübelerimden öğrendiğim bilgileri dünyanın geri kalanıyla paylaşabileyim diye Youtube kanalıma koydum. Youtube kanalımızın şimdi 10 milyondan fazla abonesi ve 2 milyar görüntülenmesi var. Şimdi sizlere bunun nasıl başladığını göstereceğim çünkü bu benim içerik oluşturucusu hikayem.

Şimdi size burada Youtube'a girmeden önceki hayatımızın süper hızlı bir özetini sunacağım. Benim gibi bir çocuğu büyümek için ellerinden gelenin en iyisini yapmaya çalışan harika bir ebeveynler tarafından Kanada'da dünyaya geldim. Ve muhtemelen dışarıdaki pek çok diğer çocuklar gibi okulda uğraştım ve kendine az güvenen biri olarak büyüdüm. Ben ayrıca zorbalığıa uğradım ve dikkat çekmek için baş belası oldum ve bunların sonunca başım kanunla derde girdi..

Fakat 14 yaşaımda, hayatımın sorumluluğunu almaya karar verdim. Uçurumdan atlama, rafting, dağcılık ve skydiving gibi ekstrem sporlarda keyif aramaya başladım. Ve 19'uma geldiğimde, İngiltere'de bir kilise gönüllüsü olarak hizmet etmek için Kanada'dan ayrıldım. Ve sonrasında memlekete döndüğümde bir uçak satın aldım ve Northwest Territories'te petrol sondaj platformu üzerinde çalışmaya, dinamit patlatmaya ve petrol için sondaj yapmaya karar verdim.

Tehlikeli bir işti ancak, para kazandığım para uçtuğum zamanlarda uçağımın akaryakıtını ve masraflarını ödemem için yeterliydi. 22 yaşımdayken Uzun mesafeli tanker kamyon şoförü olarak lisans aldım. Daha sonra uçak sürmek ve Hawaiili turistleri otobüsle gezdirmek için Oahu, Hawaii'ye taşındım. Oradayken, ticari uçak pilotu oldum ve gerisin geri 23 yaşımda Skywest Hava yollarında çalışmak için doğduğum topraklara geri döndüm. Ve bu sabit kariyerle birlikte 26 yaşında evlendim, 11 ev satın aldım ve 29 yaşında yarı emekli oldum. Dört çocuğumuz var ve hepsi de erkek. İşte o sıralarda, dünyada işlerin nasıl yürüdüğünü öğrenmeye dört elle sarıldık ve YouTube'da video yapmaya başlamaya karar verdik.

Pek çok insan bana King Of Random'a nasıl başladığımı soruyor. Biraz geçmişe dönersek 2009'da ekonomi sallanmaya başlamıştı ve ortalıkta başka bir Büyük Buhran olacağına dair dedikodular dönüyordu. Bakmam gereken bir karım ve çocuklarım vardı, bu sorumluluğu çok ciddiye aldım. Bu yüzden, toplumumuzdaki ampul, elektrik ve filtrelenmiş su gibi önemli şeylerin nasıl çalıştığını yakından anlamak için kişisel bir yolculuğa başladım.

Onların nasıl yapıldığını ve ihtiyacım olursa evde nasıl yapabileceğimi bilmek istedim. Bu sebepten, sonraki yılı, reklamlardan ücretsiz olarak alabileceğim her şeyi kurcalamakla ve denemekle geçirdim. Ve bu süreçte aklımı yerinden oynatacak keşifler yaptım. Mikro dalganın parçalarından elektrikli kaynak makinası yaptım. Şekerden bir roket motoru inşa ettim. Cam şişelerden ve tuzlu sudan elde ettiğim yüksek voltajlı elektirikle oynadım.

Ve o zamanlar için gerçekten eğlenceli olan şey, bu rastgele deneyimleri arkadaşlarımla paylaştığımda, insanlar şu şekilde sormaya başladı, bu adam da kim?Niçin o bu tür şeyleri biliyor? Ve oldukça sık bir şekilde en yeni tutulularımı ağabeyimle paylaştım ve her zaman bu arkadaşının etrafta dolanıp durduğunu ve o benim tüm bu rastgele projelerimi dinleyerek geri bildirimde bulundu. Bir gün dedi ki "Adamım sanki King of Random gibisin" İşte bu ismin hikayesinini geldiği yer burası.

Denemekte olduğum şeylerin biraz tuhaf olduğunu hissedebiliyordum. Ve genel olarak insanlar daha fazlasını öğrenmek için alışılmadık bir şekilde ilgiliydi. Böylece ben de nasıl video yapılacağını öğrenmeye ve bu fikirleri YouTube'da paylaşmaya karar verdim.

2010'da ilk youtube kanalımı açtım. Ve o zamanlar tarihler 01.03.2010. 814 gösterdiğinde ünlü bir Youtuber olmayı gerçekten planlamıyordum. Bu sadece rastgele bir sayıydı, ama bana bir şeyler yükleyebileceğim bir yer verdi. Bu yüzden, su şişeleri kullanarak ateş yakmaya ya da roketler ve rastgele şeyler inşa etmeye nasıl başlayacağına dair faydalı web kameramla küçük videolar yapmak için kolları sıvadım, çünkü paylaşmanın iyi olacağını düşündüm. Ve öyle görülüyor ki inter, yüz binlerce insanın onları izlediği konusunda hemfikir.

Şimdi, 2011'in sonunda bu konuda gerçekten ciddi olmaya başladım. Bunu bir işe çevirebilirim diye düşündüm, çünkü benden başka hiç kimse paylaştığım içerik türüne benzer içerik üretmiyordu ve buna ihtiyaç var gibi görünüyordu. YouTube, içerik oluşturuculara para kazandırma teklifinde bulundu, bu yüzden kanalım para kazanmaya başladı ve dedim ki, bunu bir deney olarak yapacağım. Buradaki fikir, 100.000 görüntülenme elde edebilecek kadar iyi 100 video yaptım, muhtemelen buna değerdi. Ve bu süreçte, her halukarda tutkunu olduğum yeni şeyler öğrenmeye de müthiş bir bahanem oldu.

Want To Get More YouTube Views & Subscribers?

Youtube süperstarı The King of Random, hemen hemen neredeyse 3 kez Youtube'u bıraktı - neyse ki devam etti ve şimdi 11.3 milyon abonesi ve 2.4 milyar görüntülenmesi var. Hikayeyi buradan okuyun.

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