How Jubilee Gained Over 50M Views

Jubilee's rapid rise to YouTube fame can be attributed to their strategic use of a compelling video format and their ability to capitalize on cultural trends.

Jubilee’s success in gaining over 50 million views in just one month comes from their use of one popular video format. Their first video, “Can 25 Liberal College Students Outsmart 1 Conservative?” quickly caught people’s attention because of its exciting and high-stakes idea.

The format worked well because it had one person debating against a much larger group. This created tension and made viewers curious to see how the lone conservative would handle the debate. In just 24 hours, the video had over 1 million views, more than double their average view count. The stark contrast in viewpoints and the potential for heated debate added to the excitement, driving significant viewership and engagement, which ultimately resulted in a higher viewership potential for the video formats.

The success of this first initial video laid the foundation for Jubilee's rapid growth. By consistently producing content that leverages this format, they were able to tap into a wide audience.

This fast success helped the video become one of their most popular, attracting both new and returning viewers.

Thumbnail featuring five images of Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk engaged in debates, highlighting intense moments from their discussions on hot political topics.
Ben Shapiro & Charlie Kirk in debates

Not only that, but they developed this further by trendjacking.

"Trendjacking" refers to the practice of capitalizing on an ongoing popular trend, event, or conversation to draw attention to a particular brand, idea, or piece of content.

Aligning with something that's already being widely discussed results in the content becoming more relevant and visible to a larger audience. It's a strategic way to leverage existing cultural momentum.

In this case, the YouTubers tapped into the widespread buzz around the U.S. presidential election. The election was the hot topic, generating massive amounts of media coverage, social media engagement, and public discussion.

Inserting themselves into this already popular conversation meant they were able to tap into the existing interest and excitement surrounding the political race.

5 thumbnails that feature a political debate
5 thumbnails that feature a political debate

But why does this format work?

The first reason is that it creates a David vs. Goliath scenario that immediately draws viewers in.

This format is a well-known archetype where an underdog battles a more powerful opponent. The tension created by this dynamic is compelling because it taps into our fascination with the idea of one individual standing up to overwhelming odds.

Audiences are instinctively drawn to the drama of seeing a small, seemingly powerless figure take on a much larger, more dominant force.

The outcome becomes suspenseful and emotionally charged. This scenario immediately generates a sense of conflict that keeps viewers engaged, as they are curious to see how the "underdog" can handle this.

A frame of the video with the title "Can 235 Liberal College Students Outsmart 1 Conservative?"

This format allows for conflict through contrast by having people on opposite ends of a debate in one setting.

The topics chosen are often highly controversial or emotionally charged which spark strong reactions from both sides of the debate. This emotional intensity increases the likelihood of viewers clicking on the content to see how the discussion is handled

Additionally, structuring the debate with one individual facing off against a larger group (such as 25 others) the stakes are heightened for the lone debater. This dynamic naturally draws viewers in, as they feel compelled to either support or oppose the "underdog," further amplifying engagement with the content.

This dynamic pulls viewers into the debate, as they either root for the individual or want to see the larger group succeed. The sense of conflict and the desire to see how the underdog handles the pressure create a stronger connection to the content, encouraging more interaction and engagement.

A thumbnail with Ben Shapiro with the title "1 Republican vs. 25 Kamala Harris Voters"

They further improve this format taking advantage of social hacking.

Including prominent debaters helps to intrigue their audience into watching the content.

By doing so, they tap into the existing popularity and credibility of these individuals to pique the audience's curiosity. Featuring such personalities not only boosts the content's appeal but also encourages viewers to engage more deeply with the material, leveraging the social influence of these debaters to draw in a broader audience.

Including these high-profile debaters also encourages deeper engagement with the material. Viewers who are familiar with the personalities are more inclined to watch, comment, and share their opinions, leading to more interaction with the content.

The debates become more than just a discussion of ideas - they also become a platform for fans to express their views and align themselves with their favourite figures. This social influence creates a snowball effect, where the involvement of prominent personalities attracts new viewers and keeps existing ones engaged.

Jubilee is able to use this influence to attract a broader audience, resulting in higher viewership, more engagement, and a larger fan base overall.

A visual with 3 thumbnails and showing the social following of 3 people on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube

Jubilee's viral success, gaining over 50 million views in a month, can be credited to their captivating "David vs. Goliath" format. By posting a video titled "Can 25 Liberal College Students Outsmart 1 Conservative?" they instantly hooked viewers with the tension of one individual debating a larger group. This dynamic created curiosity and suspense, resulting in over 1 million views within a day, more than double their average.

Capitalizing on this momentum, Jubilee released four more videos in the same format, but their success was further amplified by trendjacking. By aligning their content with the buzz around the U.S. presidential election, they ensured their videos stayed relevant and reached a broader audience. This strategic move tapped into the ongoing political conversation, making their content timely and highly visible.

Jubilee enhanced its format by tapping into the emotional intensity of controversial debates and featuring influential personalities like Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk. These social influencers attracted more viewers, leveraging their credibility to expand the reach of Jubilee’s videos. This helped Jubilee dominate the viral YouTube space.