YouTube app users are streaming a lot of video for very long periods of time. Who, what, how, devices, patterns, trends — These are all useful bits of information you may be able to plug into your overall online presence.
Android users like streaming
This summer, the YouTube app showed video is king.
TechCrunch recently reported that in July 2017, American users of the Android YouTube app spent almost a billion hours watching YouTube videos. According to Tech Crunch, “that’s the largest amount of time spent on any one streaming video app in a month.”
The article added the Android app accounted for about 80 percent — 9.5 billon hours — of the 12 billion hours “consumers spent using the top 10 video streaming apps on Android during the 12 months,” that ended in July. The 12 billion hours number is, according to Tech Crunch, up 45 percent from last year.
Although this number seems high, it’s not unexpected. After all, many people are getting more of their video content via mobile devices and streaming services.
How the competitors stack up
According to App Annie, the other four streaming services that fall behind YouTube use are:
Top apps by peak time spent in a month
2. Netflix
3. Twitch
4. Hulu
5. Amazon Video
Top apps by average monthly time spent
2. Netflix
3. Hulu
4. Twitch
5. Fox News
While other streaming services have fallen behind, news sites are on the rise.
Top apps by peak monthly active users
2. Netflix
3. ESPN
4. Amazon Video
5. CNN News
Top apps by average monthly active users
2. Netflix
3. ESPN
4. CNN News
5. Amazon Video
Expanding reach
This year, YouTube launched YouTube TV to compete with Sling TV, another live-streaming TV service. YouTube TV allows users to stream live TV and records to a cloud DVR through the service’s app for $35 a month. TechCrunch reported the new service is “available to half of U.S. households as of August, and continuing to expand.”
YouTube also is making money — and gaining users — via YouTube Red. Red is an “optional service that offers premium features like offline access to videos, an ad-free experience, background play for music and original programming,” TechCrunch explained. “That’s helped YouTube climb to the top revenue charts, as well, where it ranks the number 3 video-streaming app (across iOS and Android) by peak revenue in a month, and number 4 by average revenue in a month.”
Video, cam and live streams
Although YouTube may not be the best channel for cam models, video is your bread and butter, as are live performances and streams. So, the more people gravitate toward video content, the more views you potentially could get.
Also, YouTube’s success, as well as other streaming service’s live video content’s success, is a great indicator your live content will become more popular. Be mindful of opportunity and keep those creative juices flowing. There is room to connect with users in many of mainstream spaces.
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Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com.
There are ways to harness the power that is YouTube — like Lele Pons from Venezuela does. You don’t have to “get it,” but it’s worth considering.