by Joseph Knoop
YouTube gaming legend Felix Kjellberg AKA "PewDiePie" is turning off comments on his YouTube channel, announcing the decision in his latest video update.
The announcement comes after a brief vacation/hiatus by Kjellberg in New Orleans, where he said he chose to not check messages or tweets for the duration of his trip.
In the relatively heartfelt video (you won't find any trademark screaming here) Kjellberg elaborates that the comments section on his channel has ceased to be a functional method of communicating for fans and himself.
"It felt like you bros weren't really there," Kjellberg said. "I don't see it much anymore, that type of support."
YouTube comments had devolved into people spamming, self-advertising their own content, or simply provoking negative reactions, Kjellberg said.
Kjellberg went on to say that he'd pursue audience reaction through Twitter and Reddit, where moderation is relatively higher than YouTube, planning to use specific hashtags for each video.
"I just want to connect with you bros," Kjellberg said. "That's all I care about. If you bros aren't with me. what's the point, really?"
The announcement comes off the heels of recent controversies in the gaming industry, including the widespread harassment of female indie game developer Zoe Quinn and critic Anita Sarkeesian. It stands to reason that if industry figures like Kjellberg (who champions 30 million subscribers to his YouTube channel) are taking measures to reduce the negativity, it won't be long before others follow suit.
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Source: PewDiePie
Image: Stalkerr
