Make your video more inclusive

How to make your video more inclusive?

Are you looking for the ways as how to make your content more inclusive and appeal to a broader audience then you are reading the right article!

We’re gonna cover tips on how your YouTube channel can faster greater inclusion and show you, how your channel can be a force for good.

What I’ll dive into today comes from research from leading institutions that quite a few top YouTube creators and partner organizations. Before we jump in, it’s important to talk about the difference between diversity and inclusion.

Diversity means different voices can be represented but inclusion means those different voices are actually being heard. It’s Presence Vs. Power. Another way to think about the distinction is diversity is inviting different people to a party while inclusion is actually asking everyone to dance. So, let’s talk about the opportunity here.

On-screen representation in media is improving but it’s not fully reflecting the diversity of the world. Are you ready for some stats? In the U.S., women are 51% of the population but only 40% of television broadcast leads. Multicultural people comprise 39% of the population but just 22% of broadcast leads.

Here’s another one 20% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 identify as LGBTQ+ while they only represent 9% of prime time regulars. And one more: 13% of Americans have a disability but only 2% are actually seen as prime time regulars on TV.

But YouTube is different. Unlike traditional media, YouTube provides a forum for user-generated videos. Therefore, you, as a creator have the opportunity to help address representation gaps. So, why should you care? YouTube videos are highly consumed and tremendously powerful. It’s the most widely used online platform for U.S. adults and teens and 41% of YouTube users are multicultural.

Like other media, YouTube videos reflect and shape culture and can influence the public’s perceptions of certain subjects, careers, and marginalized people. All media can either reinforce biases and stereotypes or it can be a tool to help counter stereotypes and reduce biases. Increasing diversity in media is not only good for society it’s also good for business.

In film, a more diverse cast can boost gross revenue. At every budget level a film that has at least a 30% non-white cast out performs less-diverse films on the opening weekend at the box office. It’s also worth noting that many of the most successful movies have appealed to diverse audiences. So, how can your YouTube channel help foster greater inclusion? It’s important to remember, we all have unconscious bias which can influence the people we choose to work with the topics we cover and which perspectives we decide to include.

If you’re ready to explore how you can make your videos more inclusive and help level the playing field on YouTube here are some questions you can ask yourself to get started. Who’s on my team? Diversity is a driver of innovation. Teams that have diverse perspectives are more creative and more innovative. What topics are covered and what perspectives are included in my videos? Start by looking at the type of videos you’re making. Consider the topics you discuss and the view points you include especially those that may differ from your own. What do people see when they visit to your channel?

When thinking about what appears in a video like talent, voice over, or animations is there diversity among the voices represented? We tend to default to what feels easiest so decision-making can be largely driven by convenience. Consider going beyond your usual circles and sources.

How do I engage and support other creators? Think about how you can engage creators who have diverse perspectives and consider how your channel can support creators from under-represented communities. May be do a collab! How do I think about audiences when making my content? Consider who’s tuning in to your channel and if your videos are truly welcoming a diverse audience.

I know I just gave you a lot—a lot of questions and stats! But this is a great opportunity to use your own channel to increase inclusion.

Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading the article!