FYI logo

Mukbangs Are Destroying YouTube

"Mukbang" comes from a combination of "muk-da," which means to eat in Korean, and "bang-song," which means broadcast in Korean.

By andy lawsonPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
Like
Zach Choi ASMR

Mukbangs, videos of people eating in front of a camera, have exploded in popularity on YouTube over the last five years. But why? To find out I went to speak with some local mukbangers and experts about this growing trend. Among those interviewed were: The Famous Paul, Pueblo Bonito Burrito, and Jay-Zeezer.

"I started doing mukbangs for fun at first, but then I realized people actually wanted to see me eat," Said Pueblo Bonito Burrito when asked about the motivation behind his Youtube videos. His most popular video is one in which he eats a five-pound burrito with an entire bottle of hot sauce.

"It's the big personalities that keep people coming back for more," Jay-Zeezer told us when asked what makes mukbangs so popular. His most-watched video is one in which he eats three Big Macs while doing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes." At the time of writing his channel had over 10 million subscribers.

Some people have argued that mukbangs are a repulsive, vulgar display of gluttony and excess, but most experts agree that this stigma has been largely outdated since the early 2010s. "In my opinion, what makes mukbangs so popular is they're so relatable," Famous Paul said in a comment to his interview. "I mean, who hasn't been so hungry they'd eat a whole plane or a city bus?" Paul is most well-known for eating an entire airplane on camera. When contacted he had just finished eating an entire school bus.

Recently, mukbang videos have taken on a life of their own. Some even say that they are encouraging obesity and overconsumption of junk foods such as Cheetos, KFC, and McDonald's.

For example, Nikocado Avocado became popular on YouTube for vlogging about his life as a plant-based eater. However, he recently switched from plant-based eating to a standard American diet. His videos feature him eating large portions for the camera and since switching his diet, he has piled on the pounds.

YouTubers like Courtreezy who produces viral commentary videos have expressed concern about Nikocado's health. Nikocado has admitted that he is now disabled as a result of his overeating and his videos continue to rack up millions of views.

Why are these videos so popular? Some admit that they watch mukbangs for entertainment purposes and some watch them watch other people eating the food that they crave.

Either way, these videos have gained significant popularity in recent years. Is it healthy to watch these videos? Is

it healthy to become so caught up with these videos? It is hard to say whether or not this trend will be sticking around for the long haul, but some experts think that mukbangs are here to stay.

It's a new form of reality TV. People like to watch other people's lives, there is something interesting about watching other people eat, get ready, or go about their daily lives. People enjoy seeing how other people live their lives and this includes seeing what other people eat.

Gone are the days where people watch YouTubers eat normal portions of food. Now, mukbangs are huge feasts with enough food to feed an entire village. Some mukbang videos include people eating five Big Macs or seven pizzas in one sitting. Is this healthy? No! Should it be encouraged? Probably not but YouTube profits massively from these videos.

International fast-food chains advertise their products on these videos and they pay YouTube millions therefore, I doubt these videos will stop anytime soon.

Pop Culture
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.