Short answer? Yes. But also no. Let me explain.
I use YouTube every day. I post baking videos, I watch home repair hacks, and I get sucked into music rabbit holes. It feels social. It also feels like TV. Weird mix, right?
If you’re curious about my full breakdown on the topic, I put together an even deeper dive here.
So… is it social media?
Yes, YouTube is social media. Why? Because people post content, people react, and people talk to each other. I see comments, likes, shares, live chats, and even polls. There are creators, fans, and a whole sense of “we’re here together.” That’s social. If you want a more data-driven perspective on whether YouTube truly fits the social platform mold, you can skim this industry explainer too.
But sometimes YouTube is just lean-back watching. I’ll throw on a documentary and fold laundry. No chatting. No posting. Just me and the screen. So it swings both ways.
How I use it like social media (real stuff)
- I run a small baking channel. I posted a banana bread video last fall. I pinned a comment with the recipe and oven temps. People replied with tweaks—brown butter, extra cinnamon, gluten-free flour. I hearted the smart ones and thanked them. That felt like a chat thread.
- I hosted a live stream while testing pumpkin muffins. The chat flew by. I turned on slow mode. Folks asked about pan size. Someone sent a Super Chat with a pumpkin emoji. I laughed and showed my burnt first batch. We all had a moment.
- I ran a poll in my Community tab: “Apple crisp or pumpkin muffins next?” Pumpkin won by a mile. I posted it that weekend. People felt heard.
- I tried a 30-second Short showing a frosting hack. It reached a bunch of new folks who don’t watch long videos. They found my channel and stuck around. Shorts work like quick social posts.
- I joined a guitar teacher’s channel membership. I used the custom emojis during his live Q&A. He read my name out loud. Tiny joy, big grin.
Outside of YouTube, I sometimes hunt down written recipes for deeper detail. One site I keep bookmarking is ChadBites, because Chad pairs crystal-clear step-by-step photos with practical tips you can print, save, or adapt for your own kitchen experiments.
Side note: A while back I actually built a tiny social app from scratch just to understand these dynamics better—spoiler, the comment feature was the hardest part.
When it doesn’t feel social
Sometimes I watch woodworking builds on my TV at night and never touch the comments. I binge cooking shows while chopping onions. I listen to long podcasts on road trips. No posting. No replies. It’s more like Netflix with a search bar. And that’s okay.
What makes it social, plain and simple
Need a refresher on the latest interactive bells and whistles YouTube keeps rolling out? Sprout Social maintains a handy roundup of its newest features that’s worth a peek.
- Comments and threaded replies
- Likes, hearts, and pinning
- Subscriptions and the Home feed
- Live chat during streams
- Community posts, polls, and members-only perks
- Shorts with quick reactions and trends
- Collabs, tags, and playlists that link creators
And if you're hunting for weirder corners of the web, my no-filter list of “dirty” social networks proves that every community comes with its own quirks.
You can also add a simple like button to your own site with the free tool from LikeButton, giving visitors an instant way to react outside of YouTube.
You can even spot trends. I saw the “one-bowl cookie” wave. Then every baker did their spin. That’s classic social energy.
What it doesn’t have (and why that matters)
- No real DMs. YouTube cut private messaging years ago. So deeper chats move to Discord, Instagram, or email.
- No big “friends list” feel like Facebook. It’s more builder-fan than friend-friend.
- The algorithm rules. YouTube suggests what it thinks you want. You can shape it with likes and watch time, but it still steers the boat.
When I went searching for less algorithm-heavy hangouts, I tested a bunch of Facebook alternatives and realized how much the private-message gap on YouTube actually stings.
Honestly, that last bit can be good or bad. I’ve found gems. I’ve also lost an hour on cat videos. No regrets… kind of.
My creator side: quick nerd note
I peek at analytics a lot. Watch time tells me if people stick around. CTR tells me if the thumbnail earns a click. Retention graphs show my “uh-oh, folks dropped at minute two” moments. When I fix pacing or trim fluff, comments get kinder. Community grows. It feels very social when feedback shapes the next video.
Safety and vibe
I keep comments clean. I filter words, and I hide spam fast. Most people are sweet and curious. A few are spicy. That’s the internet. I try to keep my kitchen cozy and kind.
Spending a year poking around adult-focused social platforms taught me just how important solid moderation tools are. The same lesson rang true after spending a full year on NSFW-heavy sites—healthy boundaries keep the fun parts fun.
Tiny tips if you care about the social side
- Pin a helpful comment so new folks see answers fast.
- Use polls—people love voting on the next recipe or topic.
- Show up in live chat for your favorite channels; you’ll get seen.
- Use chapters. People thank you. They really do.
- Heart good comments. It makes someone’s day.
The verdict
Yes, YouTube is social media. It’s also a giant video library and a comfy couch. You share, you talk, you join lives, you vote on stuff, you learn, you laugh, you lurk. Some days you chat. Some days you just watch.
Me? I’ll be here, whisk in one hand, phone in the other, reading your muffin tips. Come say hi—or just enjoy the show.