Linus Media Group
{{Short description|Canadian entertainment company}}
{{Redirect|ShortCircuit|the electrical circuit|Short circuit||Short circuit (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Linus Media Group Inc.
| logo = Linus Media Group logo new.svg
| type = Private
| industry = Entertainment
| founders = {{Unbulleted list
| Yvonne Ho
}}
| key_people = {{ubl|Terren Tong (CEO)|Yvonne Ho (CFO)|Nick Light (COO)|Luke Lafreniere (CTO)|Linus Sebastian (CVO)}}
| num_employees = 79 (as of October 2024){{Cite web |title=Our Team — Linus Media Group |url=https://linusmediagroup.com/our-team |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014121907/https://linusmediagroup.com/our-team |archive-date=2024-10-14 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Linus Media Group}}
| divisions = LTT Labs
| subsid = {{ubl|Floatplane Media Inc.|Creator Warehouse Inc.|LTX Expo Inc.}}
| hq_location_city = Surrey, British Columbia
| hq_location_country = Canada
| founded = {{start date and age|2012|10|03}}{{cite web | url = https://orgbook.gov.bc.ca/entity/BC0951860 | title = Linus Media Group Inc. | website = OrgBook BC | publisher = Government of British Columbia | access-date = 2023-05-20}} in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
| website = {{URL|https://linusmediagroup.com}}
}}
File:2018 Linus Tech Tips logo.svg
File:Linus in a promotional video 2013.jpg
Linus Media Group Inc. (LMG) is a privately held Canadian digital media entertainment company with a focus on technology, founded by Linus Sebastian and Yvonne Ho in 2012. The company owns and operates several technology-oriented YouTube channels and podcasts, most notably Linus Tech Tips (LTT), as their production agency and distributor.{{cite web |last=Ovide |first=Shira |date=February 15, 2022 |title=This YouTube Star Is Also a Retail Empire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/technology/linus-sebastian-youtube-company.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313230138/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/technology/linus-sebastian-youtube-company.html |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}} Linus Tech Tips was later developed into an internet forum on January 2, 2013.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-05 |title=Linus Tech Tips Forum – Join the Tech Community for PC Builds and Gaming |url=https://www.forumdirectory.com/directory/linus-tech-tips-forum.336/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=ForumDirectory |language=en-US}}
LMG's other channels, including Techquickie, TechLinked, ShortCircuit, and GameLinked have amassed a total of {{Rounddown|{{Sum|15.4|4.22|1.84|2.16|1.26|0.537|0.542|0.244|0.141|0.048}}|2}} million subscribers, resulting in {{Rounddown|{{Sum|6.888|0.7966|0.433|0.439|0.3168|0.1906|0.0880|0.01110|0.004348}}|2}} billion video views between them.
After 10 years as the CEO, Sebastian stepped down effective July 1, 2023, replaced by Terren Tong. Sebastian and his wife, Yvonne Ho, remain the owners, and Sebastian transitioned to chief visionary officer.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Mark |date=2023-05-22 |title=Linus Sebastian is Stepping Down as Linus Tech Tips CEO |url=https://overclock3d.net/news/misc/linus_sebastian_is_stepping_down_as_linus_tech_tips_ceo/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=OC3D |language=en-UK}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=Popular Tech YouTuber Linus Is Stepping Down As CEO Of His Companies |url=https://kotaku.com/linus-tech-tips-youtube-retire-step-down-quit-ceo-pc-1850452995 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carnevale |first=Robert |date=2023-05-19 |title=Linus, Tech Youtuber, Steps Down as CEO of Linus Media Group |url=https://www.thewrap.com/linus-sebastian-tech-tips-ceo-resignation/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}
History
British Columbia native Linus Sebastian and several others launched Linus Media Group in January 2013 out of a garage,{{cite news |title=The History of Linus Media Group |publisher=Linus Media Group |url=http://www.linusmediagroup.com/history/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130212029/http://www.linusmediagroup.com/history/ |archive-date=November 30, 2015}} while the company was incorporated in October 2012. Previously Sebastian worked for the now-defunct Canadian online computer retailer NCIX and later on was a host for the retailer's online video content.{{cite web |title=I'm Linus Sebastian of LinusTechTips, and This Is How I Work |url=http://lifehacker.com/im-linus-sebastian-of-linustechtips-and-this-is-how-i-1719745217 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110172436/https://lifehacker.com/im-linus-sebastian-of-linustechtips-and-this-is-how-i-1719745217 |archive-date=January 10, 2018 |access-date=January 3, 2016 |website=LifeHacker|date=July 29, 2015 }} Due to high costs and low viewership during the early days of the channel, Sebastian was instructed to create the Linus Tech Tips channel as a cheaper offshoot of the NCIX channel, to allow for lower production values without affecting the NCIX brand. He described TigerDirect and Newegg as competitors.{{cite web|work=How I became|title=How I became: LinusTechTips (Linus Sebastian)|date=March 24, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJbLHLnTrd4&t=0m50s|via=YouTube|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017175359/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJbLHLnTrd4|url-status=live}} Linus Tech Tips was created on November 24, 2008.{{cite web|title=About|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips/about|work=Linus Tech Tips|via=YouTube|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313110834/https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips/about|url-status=live}} He eventually left NCIX following a dispute regarding company management, negotiating an agreement in which he could keep the channel as long as he signed a non-compete clause.{{cite web|title=Why Linus Left NCIX| date=August 2, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUz10TAmsXA&t=99s|via=YouTube|access-date=March 25, 2021}} Within two years of its establishment, in 2014, Tubefilter named Linus Tech Tips as being within the "top 1% of Google's preferred advertising channels" on YouTube for the technology category.{{cite news|title=Meet The Top 1% Of YouTube's "Google Preferred" Channels For Advertisers (Exclusive)|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/04/18/youtube-google-preferred-channels-top-1-percent-advertisers/|publisher=Tubefilter|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193010/http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/04/18/youtube-google-preferred-channels-top-1-percent-advertisers/|url-status=live}}
Currently, LMG is headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.{{Cite web |title=Linus Media Group |url=https://linusmediagroup.com/# }} {{As of|2024|October|post=,}} it has over 100 full-time employees.{{Cite web |title=Our Team — Linus Media Group |url=https://linusmediagroup.com/our-team |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014121907/https://linusmediagroup.com/our-team |archive-date=2024-10-14 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Linus Media Group}}
The company has several subsidiaries:
{{Anchor|LTT Labs}}
In 2022, Sebastian announced the creation of LTT Labs, a division dedicated to testing the validity of manufacturer claims.{{Citation |title=The Future of this Channel - LTT Labs Building Tour | date=June 14, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FaFMHqpKGY |access-date=April 16, 2023 |language=en}}
On May 18, 2023, Sebastian announced that he would be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer and would be transitioning into a creative role, effective July 1, 2023. Terren Tong, previously an executive of Corsair Gaming and whom Sebastian worked under during his time at NCIX, was named to replace Sebastian as CEO. In the announcement, Sebastian mentioned he had received a buyout offer for the company from an unnamed entity, valuing it at around $100 million. Sebastian declined the offer.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/linus-tech-tips-youtube-retire-step-down-quit-ceo-pc-1850452995|title=Linus Is Stepping Down As CEO Of Linus Media Group|work=Kotaku|publisher=G/O Media|access-date=May 19, 2023|date=May 19, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519045615/https://kotaku.com/linus-tech-tips-youtube-retire-step-down-quit-ceo-pc-1850452995|archivedate=May 19, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Linus Sebastian doesn't want to be the boss anymore |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/19/23729721/linus-sebastian-doesnt-want-to-be-the-boss-anymore |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519160927/https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/19/23729721/linus-sebastian-doesnt-want-to-be-the-boss-anymore |archivedate=May 19, 2023 |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media}}{{cite web |last=Thubron |first=Rob |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Linus Sebastian is stepping down as CEO of Linus Media Group, rejects $100 million takeover offer |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/98751-linus-sebastian-stepping-down-ceo-linus-media-group.html |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519145920/https://www.techspot.com/news/98751-linus-sebastian-stepping-down-ceo-linus-media-group.html |archivedate=May 19, 2023 |work=TechSpot}}
On November 17, 2024, Mac Address, Techquickie and Gamelinked each announced that their channel was going on hiatus for an indeterminate amount of time.{{Cite web |title=Post from Mac Address |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx0zY07tsWuVB7CJUEQfLI1CvJjl3_ZeWL |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=YouTube |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Post from Techquickie |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx82Z8_8yU0bfUMDo7ZGi-nTUZ7j6NAfmE |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=YouTube |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Post from GameLinked |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxj2bqp9-NYwwrqj3GAfQYy4RM5aECLxu6 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=YouTube |language=en}}
= March 2023 hack =
On March 23, 2023, Linus Tech Tips, TechLinked, and Techquickie were hacked and subsequently terminated due to a security breach.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2023 |title=Popular YouTube Channel Linus Tech Tips Pulled After Scammer Hack |url=https://kotaku.com/linus-tech-tips-elon-musk-hardware-youtube-crypto-scam-1850257599 |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=Kotaku |language=en}} The hackers changed the channel names, changing the main channel name to Tesla and started broadcasting two identical live streams which appeared to show deepfakes of Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, and others having a conversation about Ethereum, GPT-4, and other topics.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=March 23, 2023 |title=The Linus Tech Tips YouTube hack is the latest in a line of crypto scam breaches |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/23/23653115/linus-tech-tips-youtube-hack-crypto-scam |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} The hackers also unlisted many videos and later re-published them as well as uploaded videos with titles that stated "DONOTUPLOAD" and subsequently changed the name to LinusTechTipsTemp to seem more legitimate.{{Cite web |last=Howarth |first=Jack |date=March 23, 2023 |title=LTT YouTube channel hacked to promote Deep Fake scam |url=https://www.wepc.com/news/ltt-youtube-channel-hacked/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=WePC |language=en-US}} Sometime before 11:51 am UTC, all hacked channels were terminated,{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2023 |title=Linus Tech Tips - YouTube |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/linustechtips |access-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323075140/https://www.youtube.com/user/linustechtips |archive-date=March 23, 2023 }} although it is unclear if it was by the hackers or by YouTube. Around 3 pm UTC, Sebastian published a message on Floatplane, saying that he had everything "locked down" and that he is working with Google to get everything reinstated.{{Cite web |author1=Mark Tyson |date=March 23, 2023 |title=Linus Tech Tips YouTube Channel Hacked to Promote Crypto Scams |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/linus-tech-tips-youtube-channel-hacked-to-promote-crypto-scams |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}} At approximately 3 am UTC, all hacked channels were reinstated, with most unauthorized changes reverted some time later. A video was later published on the Linus Tech Tips channel about the incident explaining that an employee had downloaded a Trojan horse in the guise of a PDF file from a seemingly legitimate sponsor email.{{Citation |title=My Channel Was Deleted Last Night | date=March 24, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGXaAWbzl5A |access-date=March 24, 2023 |language=en |via=YouTube}}
= Community Guidelines Strike =
On September 7, 2024, Linus Tech Tips released a video stating that one of their recent videos in the series, How to De-Google Your Life was taken down by Google{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apdZ7xmytiQ |title=Why Our Video Got Taken Down |date=2024-09-07 |last=Linus Tech Tips |access-date=2024-09-29 |via=YouTube}} due to an alleged breach of YouTube's terms of service. The video stated that Linus Media Group released a video explaining how to use an Ad Blocker to bypass YouTube's advertisements in a video, which is in breach of the YouTube Terms of Service.{{Cite web |title=Terms of Service |url=https://www.youtube.com/t/terms?sjid=12073966928627573882-NC#c3e2907ca8 |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.youtube.com}} As this was their first community guidelines strike, the channel did not suffer any additional sanctions.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=Community Guidelines strike basics on YouTube |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802032 |url-status=live |website=YouTube Help Center}}
Notable videos
On January 2, 2016, Linus Tech Tips released a video demonstrating a computer capable of supporting seven individual users at once, with an estimated total cost of $30,000.{{cite news|last1=Richards|first1=Rae Michelle|title=EVER WANTED TO BUILD A$30,000 COMPUTER? BECAUSE THIS GUY DID IT!|url=http://www.brokenjoysticks.net/2016/01/03/ever-wanted-to-build-a-30000-computer-because-this-guy-did-it/|access-date=January 7, 2016|publisher=Broken Joy Sticks|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109072809/http://www.brokenjoysticks.net/2016/01/03/ever-wanted-to-build-a-30000-computer-because-this-guy-did-it/|url-status=live}} The video made technology news on a number of websites.{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Imad|title=$30,000 gaming PC defies logic, lets seven people game at once|url=http://www.dailydot.com/technology/ultra-expensive-gaming-computer-linustechtips/|access-date=January 7, 2016|publisher=DailyDot|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423164229/http://www.dailydot.com/technology/ultra-expensive-gaming-computer-linustechtips/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Youtuber gasta equivalente a R$ 120 mil para montar supercomputador |language=pt-br |trans-title=Youtuber spend equivalent to R$ 120,000 (US$ 30,000) to build supercomputer |publisher=UOL |url=http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2016/01/06/youtuber-gasta-equivalente-a-r-120-mil-para-montar-supercomputador.htm |url-status=live |access-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108225933/http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2016/01/06/youtuber-gasta-equivalente-a-r-120-mil-para-montar-supercomputador.htm |archive-date=January 8, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Utomo|first1=Riandanu Madi|title=Computer Can Be Played By 7 People Simultaneously|url=http://teknologi.metrotvnews.com/read/2016/01/04/207687/komputer-ini-dapat-dimainkan-7-orang-secara-bersamaan|access-date=January 7, 2016|publisher=Metro TV News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105234035/http://teknologi.metrotvnews.com/read/2016/01/04/207687/komputer-ini-dapat-dimainkan-7-orang-secara-bersamaan|archive-date=January 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}
In August 2017, the Linus Tech Tips channel uploaded a two part video where they were able to game at 16K resolution (15360 by 8640 pixels) using sixteen 4K monitors in a 4 by 4 configuration.{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=August 3, 2017 |title=What kind of gaming rig can run at 16K resolution? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/08/what-does-it-take-to-power-gaming-at-16k-resolution/ |access-date=January 27, 2021 |website=Ars Technica}}
In April 2018, the Linus Tech Tips channel uploaded a video claiming that Apple refused to repair Sebastian's iMac Pro after Linus Tech Tips staff damaged it in a product teardown,{{Cite web|title=YouTube channel claims Apple is refusing to fix its broken iMac Pro|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/youtube-channel-claims-apple-is-refusing-to-fix-its-broken-imac-pro|date=April 19, 2018|last=Hanson|first=Matt|website=TechRadar|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=September 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907235642/https://www.techradar.com/news/youtube-channel-claims-apple-is-refusing-to-fix-its-broken-imac-pro|url-status=live}} a refusal that VentureBeat speculated is illegal.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/04/18/apple-refuses-to-fix-imac-pro-damaged-in-youtube-teardown/|title=Apple refuses to fix iMac Pro damaged in YouTube teardown|last=Horwitz|first=Jeremy|date=April 18, 2018|website=VentureBeat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106032235/https://venturebeat.com/2018/04/18/apple-refuses-to-fix-imac-pro-damaged-in-youtube-teardown/|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=November 5, 2018}}
In December 2018, Linus Tech Tips released a four-part series detailing their experience buying a gaming PC from 6 systems integrators representing 3 different market tiers. The series has gained over 12 million views and was covered in PC Gamer.{{cite web |last1=Lilly |first1=Paul |title=Linus Tech Tips finds a range of issues in $1,500 gaming PCs |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/linus-tech-tips-finds-a-range-of-issues-in-dollar1500-gaming-pcs/ |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future US Inc |access-date=February 27, 2019 |date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227182010/https://www.pcgamer.com/linus-tech-tips-finds-a-range-of-issues-in-dollar1500-gaming-pcs/ |url-status=live }}
In 2021, Linus Tech Tips released a three-part series showing the process of making an 18-carat gold Xbox Series X controller. The first video showed the prototyping, the second the making of the gold shells, and the third the reactions of employees at their headquarters.{{Cite web|title=Xbox Series X Controller Made From Solid Gold Is Very Expensive|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/xbox-series-x-s-controller-made-from-solid-gold-very-expensive/|access-date=March 17, 2021|website=ComicBook.com|date=March 10, 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web | last=Bonthuys | first=Darryn | title=The Most Expensive Xbox Controller In The World Is A Solid Gold Masterpiece | website=GameSpot | date=2021-03-09 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-most-expensive-xbox-controller-in-the-world-is-a-solid-gold-masterpiece/1100-6488573/ | access-date=2023-11-07}}
Controversies
= Allegations of misconduct by GamersNexus =
{{update|date=January 2025}}
On June 24, 2023, Linus Tech Tips uploaded a video demonstrating a prototype dual water block from Billet Labs.{{Cite AV media | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2hey3mNnN0 | title = Who let them do this?? - The $800 Solid Copper Cooler | website = YouTube | publisher = Linus Tech Tips | date = June 24, 2023 | access-date = August 17, 2023}} The video involved Linus and fellow LMG employee Adam Sondergard testing the block with a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, even though the unit had been specifically designed for the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. Sondergard advised that they re-test the block using a 3090 Ti; however, Sebastian decided to publish the video of testing with the 4090, justifying this by saying that re-testing would not change the outcome of the video. Sebastian concluded that the dual design had no advantages and criticized the building experience, saying that consumers should not buy the product.
The review led to a video from GamersNexus, a tech YouTube channel, in which GamersNexus editor-in-chief Steve Burke stated that Linus Tech Tips had sold the prototype during a silent charity auction at LTX 2023 without the consent of Billet Labs. More broadly, GamersNexus accused Linus Tech Tips of "rushing content out the door" and tarnishing its "accuracy, ethics, and responsibility". They cited a number of videos in which Linus Tech Tips had made mistakes which in the eyes of GamersNexus were corrected in an insufficient manner, or not at all.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-recent-criticism-of-linus-tech-tips-explained/ |title=The recent criticism of Linus Tech Tips, explained |date=August 15, 2023 |last=Chalk |first=Andy |work=PC Gamer |access-date=August 15, 2023}}{{cite web | first=Oliver | last=Nickel | title=Das Drama um Linus Tech Tips | website=Golem.de | url=https://www.golem.de/news/gamers-nexus-und-co-das-drama-um-linus-tech-tips-2308-176766.html | language=de | access-date=2023-08-16}}
Sebastian made a written response to GamersNexus, saying that the company had experienced "growing pains" and would strive to increase the quality of their work in the future, but he defended not retesting the prototype with the proper graphics card as he saw that it would not improve the results and called the product an "egregious waste of money." Burke criticized this response as "unhinged" and "unapologetic." Linus Media Group later agreed to compensate Billet Labs for the cost of the prototype.
A video featuring Sebastian, CEO Terren Tong, and CFO Yvonne Ho was later published to the Linus Tech Tips channel on August 16, 2023 apologizing for the handling of the prototype water block along with their response to the situation. In the video, Linus Media Group also announced that video production would be paused for a week while changes were made at the company.{{cite web | last = Cranz | first = Alex | url = https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/16/23834190/linus-tech-tips-gamersnexus-madison-reeves-controversy | title = Linus Tech Tips pauses production as controversy swirls | website = The Verge | publisher = Vox Media | date = August 16, 2023 | access-date = August 16, 2023}} The production pause actually lasted 9 days, confirmed by Sebastian in a follow-up video. The apology video was criticized for being monetized as well as featuring jokes about sponsorships and links to the channel's store page. The video was demonetized by Linus Media Group following the criticism.{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Conor|date=2023-08-17|title=YouTube Channel Linus Tech Tips' Inaccuracies And Sexual Harassment Allegations, Explained|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/08/17/youtube-channel-linus-tech-tips-inaccuracies-and-sexual-harassment-allegations-explained/?sh=4948ba306c70|website=Forbes|url-access=limited|language=en-US|access-date=2023-08-18}}{{Cite web|last=Chalk|first=Andy|date=2023-08-17|title=Linus Tech Tips temporarily halts production, releases apology video: 'Linus made a clear and egregious judgment error'|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/linus-tech-tips-temporarily-halts-operations-puts-out-apology-video-linus-made-a-clear-and-egregious-judgment-error/|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US|access-date=2023-08-18}} The store page was also linked in the video's description, but Dexerto noted that this could have been automated by YouTube and not purposefully placed. In response to a comment on Floatplane, Linus Media Group's video sharing platform, suggesting the jokes be removed, Sebastian responded through the Linus Tech Tips account, saying that "We won't be able to make everyone perfectly happy, so what we're going to do is be ourselves—the best version of ourselves—and move past this", and asked "Is a little humor a bad thing...? Honest question".{{Cite web|last=Loynds|first=Joel|date=2023-08-16|title=Linus Tech Tips apology video under fire for being monetized & having jokes|url=https://www.dexerto.com/tech/linus-tech-tips-apology-video-under-fire-for-being-monetized-having-jokes-2252011/|website=Dexerto|language=en-US|access-date=2023-08-16}}
=Allegations of hostile work environment=
On August 16, 2023, former Linus Media Group employee Madison Reeve, who was previously hired after appearing in a Linus Tech Tips video with Sebastian for winning a competition and left the company in late 2021, alleged within a Twitter thread of a hostile work environment while she worked at the company, including instances of assault, sexism, and other inappropriate conduct. She was reportedly scolded for taking sick days, which drove her to commit self-harm, because she saw it as "the only way in my mind to take a day off without being harassed for a reason why".{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=To stop the speculation and DM's I am receiving. I chose to quit my role at LTT because it, and the working environment I was facing, were ruining my mental health |url=https://x.com/suuuoppp/status/1691693740254228741?s=46&t=Y6y69DTsmklTqHj3aw32wQ |website=Twitter (X)}}
Reeve said that she did not previously make these allegations public, because she "feared even more backlash from a community that was already attacking, defaming, and sending [her] death threats", and that her experience has been "eating away at [her] for 2 years." According to Reeve, the company suffered from problems with "ego and the bottom line" and that there was an "internal paranoia" about employees leaving the company and setting up their own content creation platforms.{{cite web|last=Ahmed|first=Sayem|title=Ex-Linus Tech Tips employee alleges mistreatment and poor conditions: 'no one gets a break'|date=2023-08-16|url=https://www.dexerto.com/tech/ex-linus-tech-tips-employee-alleges-mistreatment-and-poor-conditions-2251613/|website=Dexerto|language=en-US|access-date=2023-08-16}}{{cite web| last = Ethan | first = Gach | url = https://kotaku.com/linus-tech-tips-gamers-break-nexus-youtube-pc-gaming-1850743611 | title = Popular YouTube Channel Linus Tech Tips Taking Break Following Massive Controversy [Update] | website = Kotaku | publisher = G/O Media | date = August 16, 2023 | access-date = August 16, 2023}}
In an email to The Verge, Linus Sebastian said that Reeve's allegations "aren't consistent with [his] recollections", but said that Linus Media Group's human resources department would be conducting an internal review. In an additional comment, CEO Terren Tong said that along with the internal review of the allegations, the company would be hiring an outside investigator and publish its findings. The company published the outside investigator's findings in a statement in May 2024, stating the third-party investigator found the allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, abuse of power and retaliation were not substantiated. Allegations of process errors and miscommunication while onboarding Reeve were partially substantiated.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Conor |title=YouTube Channel Linus Tech Tips Says Sexual Harassment Allegations 'Not Substantiated' After Investigation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/05/23/youtube-channel-linus-tech-tips-says-sexual-harassment-allegations-not-substantiated-after-investigation/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite news |author1=Andy Edser |date=2024-05-23 |title=Alleged harassment and bullying at Linus Tech Tips 'not substantiated' and 'false' according to third-party investigation organised by tech channel |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/alleged-harassment-and-bullying-at-linus-tech-tips-not-substantiated-and-false-according-to-third-party-investigation-organised-by-tech-channel/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Linus Tech Tips reveals allegations from ex-employee "were false" following investigation |url=https://www.dexerto.com/tech/linus-tech-tips-reveals-allegations-ex-employee-were-false-following-investigation-2737147/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}
List of YouTube channels
class="wikitable sortable"
! Channel ! class="unsortable" | Description ! Subscribers ! Views{{efn-lr|Subscribers, videos and views updated as of April 15, 2025}} ! Videos ! Creation date ! class="unsortable" | Hosts |
Linus Tech Tips
| Flagship channel; long-form technology-related videos | 16.3 million | {{val|8.61|u=billion}} | 7,260 | November 25, 2008 |
Techquickie
| Short-form technology-related videos. | 4.33 million | {{val|904|u=million}} | 1,270 | January 15, 2012 {{Small|(hiatus since {{dts|November 29, 2024}})}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k3oG5xgQmc&t=115s |title=My Latest Business Is Not A Stupid Failure - WAN Show November 15, 2024 |date=2024-11-15 |last=Linus Tech Tips |access-date=2024-12-22 |via=YouTube}} |
Channel Super Fun
| Formerly active, miscellaneous videos and game show–esque challenges{{cite web |date=May 28, 2014 |title=Channel Super Fun: About |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelSuperFun/about |publisher=YouTube}} | {{val|1.27|u=million}} | {{val|381|u=million}} | 194 | May 28, 2014 | Dennis Liao |
TechLinked
| Technology and gaming news, produced thrice-weekly; also a podcast{{cite web |title=TechLinked |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/techlinked/id1559402520 |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Linus Media Group |publisher=Apple Podcasts}} | {{val|1.93|u=million}} | {{val|566|u=million}} | 1,085 | May 3, 2018 |
LMG Clips
| Highlight clips from popular videos and livestreams{{cite web |date=September 20, 2019 |title=LMG Clips: About |url=https://www.youtube.com/@LMGClips/about |archiveurl= |archivedate= |publisher=YouTube}} | {{val|586|u=thousand}} | {{val|290|u=million}} | 1,985 | September 21, 2019 |
They're Just Movies{{efn-lr|They're Just Movies was formerly known as Carpool Critics.}}
| Formerly active film-related vlogcast and podcast{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48byvBvZ3RU |title= THE FINAL EPISODE: Joker (2019) |date=December 30, 2022 |last=They're Just Movies |language=en |access-date=March 16, 2023}} | {{val|140|u=thousand}} | {{val|4.73|u=million}} | 161 | December 20, 2019 {{small|(ended {{dts|March 6, 2024}}}}){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fu3ANrPU7I |title=Dune: Part Two - A Masterpiece? |language=en |access-date=2024-03-31 |via=www.youtube.com}} |
ShortCircuit
| Technology-related unboxings{{cite web |last=Huerta |first=Gabriel |date=February 9, 2022 |title=Steam Deck: unboxing, release date, price and verified playable games |url=https://en.as.com/meristation/2022/02/09/news/1644363700_485186.html |work=Diario AS |publisher=Promotora de Informaciones, S.A.}} | {{val|2.37|u=million}} | {{val|623|u=million}} | 952 | January 24, 2020 |
Mac Address
| Apple-related videos, hosted by Jonathan Horst.{{cite web |date=June 8, 2022 |title=Something's Wrong with the M2 MacBook Air – WWDC22 TalkLinked |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/somethings-wrong-with-the-m2-macbook-air-wwdc22-talklinked/id1559402520 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |publisher=TechLinked (But Just the Audio) |via=Apple Podcasts}} | {{val|617|u=thousand}} | {{val|130|u=million}} | 122 | January 26, 2021 {{small|(hiatus since {{dts|November 30, 2024}}}}) | Jonathan Horst |
GameLinked
| Gaming news videos, produced twice-weekly. | {{val|478|u=thousand}} | {{val|33.1|u=million}} | 154 | July 22, 2022 {{small|{{nowrap|(launched {{dts|June 29, 2023}})}} (hiatus since {{dts|November 13, 2024}})}} |
PSU Circuit
| Standardized analytical insights into power supplies | 12.1 thousand | 124 thousand | 29 | February 29, 2024 {{small|{{nowrap|(launched {{dts|May 24, 2024}})}}}} |
Notes
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References
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