Between Flat-Earthers and Fitness Coaches: Who is Citing Scientific Publications in YouTube Video Descriptions?

TL;DR

This study analyzes YouTube channels citing research publications, revealing their thematic focus, operational dynamics, and the impact of academic actors in science communication, highlighting challenges in audience engagement and diversity in referenced research.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of research citation practices on YouTube, emphasizing the roles of individual and institutional channels in science dissemination.

Findings

Science and engineering content dominate cited research

Academic channels face challenges in attracting wider audiences

Channels reference diverse publications with varied impact focus

Abstract

In this study, we undertake an extensive analysis of YouTube channels that reference research publications in their video descriptions, offering a unique insight into the intersection of digital media and academia. Our investigation focuses on three principal aspects: the background of YouTube channel owners, their thematic focus, and the nature of their operational dynamics, specifically addressing whether they work individually or in groups. Our results highlight a strong emphasis on content related to science and engineering, as well as health, particularly in channels managed by individual researchers and academic institutions. However, there is a notable variation in the popularity of these channels, with professional YouTubers and commercial media entities often outperforming in terms of viewer engagement metrics like likes, comments, and views. This underscores the challenge academic channels face in attracting a wider audience. Further, we explore the role of academic actors on YouTube, scrutinizing their impact in disseminating research and the types of publications they reference. Despite a general inclination towards professional academic topics, these channels displayed a varied effectiveness in spotlighting highly cited research. Often, they referenced a wide array of publications, indicating a diverse but not necessarily impact-focused approach to content selection.