MrBeast, the internet’s most popular YouTuber, has recently faced criticism over a controversial tactic used in a sponsored segment of one of his videos. In his recent upload, ‘Survive 100 Days In Nuclear Bunker, Win $500,000,’ MrBeast featured an ad for the mobile game Monster Hunter Now, but it’s the way the ad was presented that has viewers up in arms.
The crux of the controversy lies in the ad’s progress bar. Initially, the bar advances quickly, giving the impression that the ad will be brief. However, as pointed out by X user Rhys Sullivan, the progress slows dramatically after reaching the halfway point, with the latter part of the ad dragging out significantly longer than anticipated. Sullivan observed, “It hits the halfway mark at 10 seconds, then the next half takes 35 seconds to complete.”
This deceptive approach has sparked a fierce debate among viewers. Some critics argue that the technique is a deliberate attempt to manipulate viewers into watching a longer ad. “That’s dark, tricks the user into wasting precious time,” one viewer commented, while another expressed disdain, saying, “Wow he has no respect for his audience at all. Noticed this and it wasn’t exactly subtle, super dishonest.”
The reaction from other YouTube personalities has been equally divided. Speedrun YouTuber Summoning Salt criticized the tactic as a blatant psychological deception, stating, “I hate this so much. It comes across as having no respect at all for your viewers. At least try to hide the psychological deception a little bit…”
However, not everyone shares this negative view. Some users defended the strategy, calling it a smart move. “This is a good strat,” one person said, while another remarked, “Honestly a 900iq strategy lol. I’m sure he has a deal with the Monster Hunter team to be compensated per lead his video creates instead of just a flat amount.”
Despite the mixed reactions, MrBeast has not yet responded to the backlash. The YouTuber’s last social media update, dated July 24, focused on announcing an independent investigation into allegations against his former employee, Ava Kris Tyson. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether MrBeast will address the controversy surrounding his ad strategy.
