YouTube has a lot to answer for when more and more truly worthwhile causes are failing for lack of funds while a semi-literate 24-year-old accrues instant wealth from acting the idiot in his bedroom.
Like thousands of immature youths before him, Joe Sugg found it amusing to film his gawkish ramblings and upload them to YouTube. A tidal wave of unthinking followers now replay his videos to such an extent that in next to no time he has become obscenely rich.
OK, it’s not YouTube’s direct fault that Sugg (who, you might well have asked) is raking in a fortune while thousands of far more genuinely deserving causes go penniless. But it is only through its existence that such skewing of society’s priorities has become possible.
In a matter of months, Sugg, a roof thatcher in an English village, has jumped from scraping by on an apprentice wage to estimated earnings of £500,000 a year. And that’s only for starters. The inevitable book deal, documentary and ticketed live appearances that accompany such nonentities ensure this is merely a base figure.
The foundation of Sugg’s obscene income (far more than the Prime Minister’s or that of innumerable people with taxing, responsible, even life-affecting jobs) is the revenue from the advertisements that accompany YouTube’s videos. With an estimated “audience” of 5.2 million he is creaming it – and so is YouTube.
And it all comes from acting like a right dick and mouthing the sort of unthinking, random thoughts that tend to fester so many young heads. Plus the equally unthinking support of millions just like him.
If only all this support – and, more especially, money – could be channelled into some meaningful, useful, deserving, positive purpose. Every day there comes news of an individual, an organisation, a cause, a project that is facing failure or closure (even death) through lack of funding.
Many such would welcome even as little as one per cent of Sugg’s income in order to struggle on, to survive.
There is, however, little hope of that happening. After all, this cynically dressed and groomed peacock has an admirable example to emulate in the form of his slightly older sister, Zoe, who is categorised as “an internet sensation” famously known – like so many instant identities – by a single moniker: Zoella.
Big sister is even more ridiculously rich for doing little that contributes an iota of benefit to the welfare or wellbeing of our impoverished society.
One cannot help but think society is being suckered (or is it Suggered?) by Joe, Zoe, their imitators and their followers.
Sadly, there is no answer; no remedy. Unless, of course, these mindless parasites have a Eureka moment and decide to turn all their preening and prancing to some philanthropic and purposeful use.
And, yes, pigs might one day fly.