5 Popular OG YouTubers: Who Are They and Where Are They Now

What Are OG YouTubers

As someone active online since the early 2000s, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the rise and evolution of YouTube’s early trends. Throughout this journey, OG YouTubers have consistently been the driving force behind these trends. It was they who pioneered the video formats we now take for granted: reaction videos, comedy sketches, vlogs, video essays, and more.

Are OG YouTubers still active? Some have retired or moved on to other fields, while others remain active; a few have even made successful comebacks and returned to the spotlight. This article will focus on 5 well-known veteran YouTubers, exploring the reasons behind their rise to fame and what they’re up to today.

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5 Popular OG YouTubers

Below are detailed profiles of 5 well-known OG YouTubers I’ve selected.

#1 PewDiePie

Active Status: He is still active on YouTube, where he mainly creates gaming videos and vlogs.

I believe that whether the early YouTube user or a current one is no stranger to PewDiePie. After all, he is the gaming YouTuber with the most subscribers. He rose to fame in 2013 with a video showcasing his gameplay of the horror game Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and has since become a leading figure in the field.

To date, PewDiePie has amassed over 100 million subscribers, and I am undoubtedly one of them. These days, PewDiePie has gradually stepped back from the gaming scene and shifted his focus to producing more lifestyle videos, primarily showcasing his daily life in Japan with his wife and children.

#2 Smosh

Active Status: He is still active on YouTube, posting comedy videos.

I consider Smosh to be one of the best OG YouTubers. Over the years, they’ve brought me endless joy. As far as I know, although the Smosh channel has remained active, it has also experienced its share of ups and downs over the past two decades. The channel initially rose to fame with lip-sync videos by Ian and Anthony, which helped define the style of early YouTube comedy videos.

However, in 2017, Anthony left Smosh, while Ian continued to run the channel with new members. Fortunately, Anthony announced his return in 2023, teaming up with Ian once again to run the channel and to continue releasing a steady stream of short comedy sketches and challenge videos.

#3 CaseyNeistat

Active Status: He is still active, mainly creating vlogs, adventure movies, and DIY videos.

As YouTube has grown, countless vlogs have emerged on the platform, and Casey Neistat is widely regarded as a true pioneer in the field. Although Jawed Karim’s 2005 video “Me at the Zoo” established the vlog format, Casey Neistat ignited the vlogging craze with his unique style of capturing everyday life through cinematic storytelling.

Starting in 2015, he posted a vlog every day for 800 consecutive days, covering everything from adventures and product reviews to travel. Moreover, Casey Neistat’s videos showcase a wide range of editing and filming techniques to his audience, making him a role model for many video bloggers today.

#4 Tyler Oakley

Active Status: He is not active on YouTube now, but still streaming on Twitch.

Tyler Oakley is an LGBTQ+ rights advocate I’ve been following for years. I recommend him because I’ve always admired the way he shares his insights on various cultural phenomena, political issues, and social pressures.

When discussing these topics, Tyler Oakley is neither overly serious nor preachy; instead, he expresses his views in a humorous, engaging, and captivating way. This is precisely why he quickly amassed a large following.

In 2020, Taylor Oakley announced that he would be taking a break from YouTube. However, he remains active on Twitch, where he continues to engage with his fans. In addition, he co-hosts the podcast Psychobabble with friends, sharing his insights on pop culture with the public.

#5 Caspar

Active Status: He is currently not active on YouTube and is focusing on business investments.

Speaking of Casper Lee, you may have forgotten about him; he hasn’t been in the public eye for years. Casper was once one of the most famous bloggers who rose to fame in 2010 thanks to his humorous video podcasts and comedy videos.

Now, having learned about Casper’s life journey, I’ve come to realize that he is someone with a very clear vision for life and an exceptionally broad perspective. After getting his first taste of fame, Caspar Lee focused on creating content for YouTube.

But when Casper realized the platform was already saturated with creators and the competition was fierce, he stopped uploading videos and turned his attention to entrepreneurship.

How to Watch the OG YouTubers’ Video Offline

Sometimes, when I want to watch these videos offline, I use a third-party download tool to save them to my device in advance. I highly recommend MiniTool Video Converter. It has a clean interface and lets me download videos from YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok for free.

Meanwhile, MiniTool Video Converter offers a batch download feature, allowing me to download up to 10 videos at a time. The next section will explain in detail how to save YouTube videos with MiniTool Video Converter.

Step 1: Download and Install MiniTool Video Converter

Click the button below to download and install MiniTool Video Converter on the PC.

MiniTool uTube DownloaderClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2: Copy and Analyze the Video URL

1. Open the browser and go to the YouTube website. Then, find the target OG YouTuber’s video and copy its URL from the address bar.

2. Launch MiniTool Video Converter.

3. Navigate to the Download Video module and click the Paste URL option.

4. Then, paste the copied URL into the box and click the Download option to start analyzing the video URL.

Step 3: Download the Video

1. In the new interface, select an output format and resolution for the YouTube video.

2. Click the Download option again to begin downloading.

Step 4: Check the Downloaded Video

1. When the video downloading process ends, it will automatically switch to the Completed section, where the downloaded video is listed.

2. Then, click the Play icon to check the downloaded YouTube video and click the Folder icon to locate it.

Bottom Line

This article profiles five OG YouTubers who have had a profound impact on the platform’s development, whether they are still active today or have moved on to other fields. Additionally, if you’d like to watch their classic videos offline, try using MiniTool Video Converter to save them.