Ryan Higa, better known as Nigahiga online, was one of the first major YouTube stars. Joining in 2006, he quickly built an audience with funny skits and infectious parody songs. For over 5 years, Ryan was a top creator on the platform.
But in September 2018, a shocking announcement suddenly hit his loyal fans worldwide.
After over a decade on YouTube, Nigahiga was leaving.
Why would one of the most popular entertainers on the platform quit at his peak? Here’s the full story behind Ryan’s decision to leave YouTube and what’s happened since.
The Rise of a YouTube Legend
When Ryan Higa uploaded his first video as “Nigahiga” in 2006, YouTube looked very different than today. The site had only launched the year before and online video was still a novelty.
But his quirky humor and creativity quickly struck a chord in the blossoming creator community. Gaining over 180,000 subscribers within 8 months, the unknown high school kid became one of YouTube’s first homegrown superstars.
Over the next 5 years, everything Ryan touched turned to gold. His sketches like “The ipod Human” and rants like “Parents Suck” made him one of the most recognizable personalities on YouTube.
Nigahiga even seized the top channel spot between 2009 and 2011 edging out mainstream stars like Smosh and Jenna Marbles. Ryan’s videos amassed views other YouTubers couldn’t fathom.
He remains the 15th most-subscribed individual creator with over 21 million fans subscribed. Ryan is also one of only 15 channels in history to join the exclusive Billion Views Club.
Clearly, Nigahiga had mastered the art of YouTube entertainment. So why would he ever leave?
The Mounting Pressures of Fame
For over 5 years, Ryan churned out pop culture parodies, sketch characters, rap battles, and vlogs to the delight of a growing subscriber base. Fans couldn’t get enough of his infectious humor.
However, the relentless grind soon took a toll on the young entertainer. In multiple interviews over the years, Ryan opened up about burnout and the growing demands of YouTube fame.
He disclosed issues like privacy invasions, hacks, harassment, and even incidents of stalkers tracking down his home address. At one point, vandals spray painted explicit images on his parents’ house.
These worsening troubles coincided with bigger shifts on YouTube itself.
The Changing Landscape of YouTube
When Ryan started his channel, YouTube still focused mostly on viewers and creators. But over the next decade, Google’s increasing control transformed things drastically.
YouTube began relying more on data, algorithms, and policies set by managers rather than community feedback. [1] For creators, the new site optimization meant making content that served YouTube’s bottom line first.
This emerging tension between corporate directives and creator autonomy took a big toll on passion and enjoyment for trailblazers like Nigahiga. Still, the pressure to keep audiences happy and brands sponsoring forced Ryan to continue putting out videos.
After all, this was his full-time livelihood now supporting his family and friends too. Quitting amid millions of expecting fans seemed unfeasible, even as continuing eroded his spirit.
By the Numbers: Creators Under Pressure
How much do popular YouTube creators struggle with burnout andstress? Statistics paint a sober picture.
- 61% of YouTubers making videos feel burned out [2]
- 45% say they don’t enjoy creating content anymore [3]
- 77% have dealt with creator burnout in their career [4]
- 43% list an “excessive workload” as the #1 cause [5]
With Nigahiga joining 21 million other channels now competing for views, taking breaks felt riskier. The grind seemed endless.
But eventually, Ryan realized even financial security couldn‘t offset creative stagnation and declining mental health.
After over a decade pouring everything into YouTube, he grappled with a tough choice:
Keep chasing fame at the cost of happiness or walk away on his own terms?
The Breaking Point: Leaving YouTube
In September 2018, Nigahiga shocked fans by uploading a video called “Goodbye YouTube…For Now".
An emotional Ryan finally shared his struggles coping with the platform‘s downsides. The non-stop workload and losing his passion had drained too much energy and enjoyment.
After advised from family and friends, Ryan knew he need to step back – perhaps permanently.
For the first time in over 10 years, Ryan announced he was pressing pause on YouTube and Nigahiga. He no longer found satisfaction in the weekly video grind. Interactions began feeling more transactional than genuine.
Privately, Ryan also dealt with depression and questions around self-identity. Who was he without YouTube fame?
Ultimately, the chance to rediscover his creative purpose outweighed any reasons to stay.
And with 21 million loyal subscribers, Nigahiga knew that he could come back if or when he wanted…
Seeking Fulfillment: Podcasting & Twitch
Initially after leaving YouTube, Ryan explored lower-pressure creative outlets like podcasting. He guest hosted popular shows like H3 and even had his own podcast “Off The Pill.”
But in 2019, Nigahiga announced his official “return” – not back to YouTube but as a Twitch streamer.
The growing live streaming platform offered a refreshing way to engage with fans directly. Ryan also saw more longevity and creative opportunities around gaming content vs the fading sketch comedy genre.
And most importantly, Twitch enabled Ryan to craft a career on his own terms – no algorithm games, no advertiser mandates, no identity crisis. Just Ryan being Ryan while playing games and commenting on viral memes.
Why I Left YouTube for Twitch Too
As a gamer who has created YouTube content, I fully understand Ryan‘s choice to switch. Unlike YouTube, platforms like Twitch focus first on streamers and fans rather than big corporate interests.
Sure Twitch has its own monetization programs via subscriptions. But ultimately creators have far more control over their "jobs". No mysterious algorithms dictate success – just the genuine reactions of viewers.
Combined with the collaborative community of streamers supporting each other, Twitch offers a creativity safe haven. Viewers crave authenticity and passion rather than perfectly polished videos made primarily for high ad revenue.
For personalities like Nigahiga burnt out by the incessant YouTube rat race, streaming allows them to rediscover their passion on their own terms. No longer chained to the weekly upload treadmill for millions of faceless subscribers, Twitch provides freedom.
And with enough loyal fans, you can earn a good living too without sacrificing mental health or creative fulfillment.
That‘s a win-win situation rare on a cesspit like YouTube nowadays. Good riddance!
The Future: A Nigahiga Comeback?
In 2022, Ryan remains happily streaming on Twitch multiple times a week to 1.2 million faithful followers. He’s found a sustainable balance catering to fans directly versus chasing the YouTube algorithm’s carrot forever.
But recently his return in a collab comedy video with old friends suggests Nigahiga productions could make a comeback:
- “Asian Boy Band” reunites Ryan with Kevin Wu, Victor Kim, and Dominic Sandoval – the beloved comedy group RHPC (Ryan Higa Production Company)
- At its peak, RHPC had 6 million subscribers and viral hits like “Ninja Melk”
- The group went on hiatus in 2015 to pursue solo projects
- Asian Boy Band video from June 2021 is closing in on 6 million views – RHPC’s most viewed in years!
The hugely positive response around RHPC’s resurrection and Ryan most prominent appearance in a sketch years shows a widespread appetite for Nigahiga’s signature comedy.
While continuing to stream, could Ryan reboot his YouTube channel with refreshed passion too? Even on a more limited basis, his comedic talents remain unmatched.
And likely the balance from a modest streaming career gives him flexibility for passion projects viewers crave. Stay tuned!
Key Takeaways: Leaving YouTube on Your Own Terms
So what key lessons emerge from Nigahiga‘s departure and career evolution for creators weighing their options?
Mental health over fame & money – at some point spirit-crushing playlists aren‘t worth it
Find fulfillment first – passionless videos feel transactional
Take back control – corporate platforms don‘t care about you
Explore alternatives like Twitch with creative flexibility
Come back different – retire formats losing meaning, start anew
Ryan took huge risks leaving YouTube’s stability for an unknown future. But chasing happiness doesn‘t always follow routines and rewards others dictate.
With enough self-awareness and courage, putting purpose over platforms can reveal exciting new paths – even for legends like Nigahiga.
Sources
[1] https://blog.video.ibm.com/business-video-best-practices/the-rise-and-fall-of-youtube-creators-due-to-algorithmic-changes/[2] https://www.parrotanalytics.com/blog/youtube-creator-burnout/
[3] https://www.parrotanalytics.com/blog/youtube-creator-burnout/
[4] https://www.morningbrew.com/emerging-tech/stories/2022/11/03/77-of-youtubers-surveyed-said-theyve-experienced-creator-burnout
[5] https://www.morningbrew.com/emerging-tech/stories/2022/11/03/77-of-youtubers-surveyed-said-theyve-experienced-creator-burnout