How LeftTube Is Rebranding Liberal Philosophy
A group of YouTubers are countering toxic, far-right discourse online by stealing their strategies
“Are you watching closely?” the magician asks. Splayed cards on a table shuffle and spin, forming a neat deck from a disorderly pile. A white-gloved hand reaches out and plucks the top card, showing it to the viewer: the ace of hearts. Then the screen goes black, and a title appears: “Sex Work.”
Thus begins a nearly 45-minute discussion of sex work on Philosophy Tube, one of the most popular philosophy channels on YouTube. The magician is our host, Oliver Thorn, who with Shakespearean flair takes us through a discussion on the laws and stigma affecting sex workers. His videos are often like this, weaving multiple layers of narrative together in a way that both educates and entertains, covering trans rights, abortion, and the philosophy of Antifa using relatable concepts and characters.
Philosophy Tube is a rising star of a group called LeftTube, or BreadTube, named after the 1892 book The Conquest of Bread by the anarchist Peter Kropotkin. These channels are gaining momentum as they try to counter the rise of the far-right online.
As toxic, extremist messages on YouTube have become more common, more attention is being paid to…
