Some of YouTube’s biggest names have abandoned the internet for 24 hours.
Approximately 35 of Gleam’s 44 creators, including Joe and Zoe Sugg, Marcus Butler, Louise Pentland, and Jonathan and Anna Saccone-Joly, are participating in a 24-hour internet “red-out” for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.
I’m going offline as part of the #RedOut. Want to know why? https://t.co/DgMbbdbaw5 pic.twitter.com/EKAFWRdC9n
— Zoë (@Zoella) March 12, 2017
The participating creators uploaded #RedOut videos and posters to their YouTube channels and social media accounts at 6pm BST on 12 March, announcing that they would stay offline for the next day as a way of promoting awareness of injustices faced by the young and vulnerable.
The idea has proven divisive. Some have suggested raising awareness by not posting at all seems counterproductive, while many others have applauded the campaign:
psa to poeple who are pissed about the #Redout announcement:
read this. pic.twitter.com/xwZbVEydnO— lauren|pb (@ciitysounds) March 12, 2017
TAKE! ADVANTAGE! OF! YOUR! PLATFORM! TO! RAISE! AWARENESS! BY! ACTUALLY! TALKING! ABOUT! IT! NOT! JUST! GOING! OFFLINE! #RedOut
— joselette (@impIicitroye) March 12, 2017
Love the idea of #Redout !! Wish it was for longer than 24 hours though 😯
— eve (@evebennettx) March 12, 2017
how👏is👏going👏offline👏going👏to👏make👏money👏and👏raise👏awareness👏there👏are👏more👏effective👏ways👏 #RedOut 👏
— abby (@fooIscon) March 12, 2017
Comic Relief officials have teased that there will be more to come as part of the campaign, urging fans to see what happens when the creators come back online at 6pm on 13 March.
More information about the campaign, and details on how to donate to Comic Relief, can be found on the #RedOut website here. Red Nose Day will take place on Friday 24 March.
Want more?
Check out how the YouTube community reacted to #LittleButLoved. Alternatively, find out more about the three new zones SitC will be adding this year.
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