View source for Biography:HowToBasic

{{Short description|Australian YouTube channel}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name                 = HowToBasic
| logo                 = HowToBasic.png
| logo_size            = 
| image                = 
| caption              = 
| channel_name         = HowToBasic
| birth_name           = 
| birth_date           = 
| birth_place          = 
| nationality          = {{wipe|Australia}}<ref name="forbesfacereveal">{{cite magazine|last1=Eordogh|first1=Fruzsina|title=The Most Epic Face Reveal Video That Wasn't|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/fruzsinaeordogh/2018/03/26/the-most-epic-face-reveal-video-that-wasnt/#272f2e002fe7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401080229/https://www.forbes.com/sites/fruzsinaeordogh/2018/03/26/the-most-epic-face-reveal-video-that-wasnt/#272f2e002fe7|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2018|access-date=31 March 2018|magazine={{wipe|Forbes}}|date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
| residence            = 
| website              = 
| pseudonym            = 
| years_active         = 2011–present
<ref name="gazettereview1">{{cite web|last1=Deml|first1=Jessica|title=How To Basic Net Worth 2018|url=https://gazettereview.com/2018/02/howtobasic-net-worth/|website=The Minneapolis Gazette Review|access-date=31 March 2018|date=2 February 2018}}</ref>
| genre                = {{Flatlist|
* Surreal humour
* Black comedy
* Visual gags}}
| subscribers          = 17.5 million
| views                = 3.69 billion
| network              = WBD Ad Sales<ref name="tubefilterinterview">{{cite web|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title=YouTube Millionaires: How To Basic Breaks Out Of His Shell|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/06/27/youtube-millionaires-how-to-basic/|website=[[Company:Tubefilter|Tubefilter]]|access-date=31 March 2018|date=27 June 2013}}</ref>
| associated_acts      = {{Flatlist|
* [[Biography:Joji (musician)|Filthy Frank]]
* [[Biography:Michael Stevens (educator)|Michael Stevens]]
* [[Biography:IDubbbz|iDubbbz]]
* William Osman}}
| silver_year          = 2012
| gold_year            = 2013
| diamond_year         = 2018
| stats_update         = 23 August 2023
| silver_button        = yes
| gold_button          = yes
| diamond_button       = yes
}}

'''HowToBasic''' is an Australian<ref name="forbesfacereveal"/> [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] comedy channel that is part of the WBD Ad Sales network,<ref name="aussiesyoutube">{{Cite web|title = Can you make money out of YouTube? You bet, just ask these Germans.|url = http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/australian-youtube-stars-are-million-dollar-hot-property-complete-with-agents-20150122-12w00c.html|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 23 January 2015|access-date = 9 November 2015}}</ref> with over 17 million subscribers. The creator of the videos does not speak or show his face, and remains anonymous.<ref name="forbesfacereveal"/> The channel primarily features bizarre and destructive visual gags disguised as how-to tutorials. The channel first gained popularity in 2013.

{{As of|2023|2}}, HowToBasic is the 5th biggest Australian YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/top/country/au/mostsubscribed|title=Top 250 YouTubers Channels in Australia - Socialblade YouTube Stats - YouTube Statistics|website=socialblade.com}}</ref> The channel's estimated net worth is US$2 million {{As of|2018|11|lc=y}}.<ref name="forbesfacereveal" /><ref name="gazettereview1" />

The channel was briefly suspended on two occasions: once in 2014 and again in late 2015 on presumed violations of YouTube's policy on misleading content. Soon after each time, the channel was restored and the suspension lifted.<ref name="forbesfacereveal" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = UPDATED: Popular YouTube Channel HowToBasic Terminated Without Warning|url = http://moargeek.com/2014/12/23/popular-youtube-channel-howtobasic-terminated-without-warning/|website = MOARGeek| date=23 December 2014 |access-date = 9 December 2015}}</ref>

==Description and history==
The channel intentionally [[Clickbait|clickbait]]s first-time viewers to believe it is a how-to channel, with video titles, thumbnails, descriptions, as well as the channel's general description, claiming its videos to be tutorials on different subjects, with a particular emphasis on cooking. The actual content of the videos, instead, shows the unidentified man interacting in point of view with food and objects in many ways, mostly by throwing, destroying, and creating a large mess out of them. Some videos have employed additional gags, with guest actors and related footage appearing. Originally, the videos were genuine tutorials of very simple actions, such as "How to pick up an umbrella" (his first video) or "How to pour Drinks".<ref name="forbesfacereveal"/>

A common theme in the videos is that a large assortment of chicken eggs are thrown and destroyed.<ref name="forbesfacereveal" /><ref name="tubefilterinterview">{{cite web|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title=YouTube Millionaires: How To Basic Breaks Out Of His Shell|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/06/27/youtube-millionaires-how-to-basic/|website=[[Company:Tubefilter|Tubefilter]]|access-date=31 March 2018|date=27 June 2013}}</ref> Many of the videos include a running gag in which the man gives a thumbs-up or sometimes the [[Engineering:Finger gun|finger gun]] or the middle finger in front of the camera while pointing the camera at the mess created, often grunting affirmatively. This is typically just before the scene ends.<ref name="forbesfacereveal" /><ref name="tubefilterinterview"/> Occasionally, HowToBasic participates in certain holidays and trending topics; some of the videos also feature guest appearances.

On 24 March 2018, HowToBasic released what appeared to be a face reveal video. However, the video turned out to be a parody and a compilation of popular YouTubers claiming themselves to be the creator of the channel, ultimately continuing the legitimate creator's anonymity. Over 80 individuals had a cameo in the video, including [[Biography:Michael Stevens (educator)|Michael Stevens]] of ''Vsauce'', [[Biography:Markiplier|Markiplier]], Casey Neistat, Daym Drops, h3h3productions, jacksfilms, Andy Milonakis, [[Biography:IDubbbz|iDubbbz]], Boogie2988, [[Biography:JonTron|JonTron]], Maxmoefoe, Jacksepticeye, RoomieOfficial, Aunty Donna, and Post Malone.<ref name="tubefilter1">{{cite web|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title=All-Star Cast Of YouTubers Helps Egg-Smasher HowToBasic Parody The Face Reveal Format|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/03/28/how-to-basic-face-reveal/|website=[[Company:Tubefilter|Tubefilter]]|access-date=31 March 2018|date=28 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="dailydot1">{{cite news|last1=Katzowitz|first1=Josh|title=The HowToBasic YouTube channel finally reveals its creator—sort of.|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/howtobasic-youtube-face-reveal/|work=[[Company:The Daily Dot|The Daily Dot]]|access-date=31 March 2018|date=26 March 2018}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In June 2013, the man behind HowToBasic was interviewed as part of a 6:00 PM Australian News Bulletin by Nine News Perth, broadcast on STW. The station preserved his anonymity upon his request.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Perth teen's bizarre videos become internet hit|url = http://www.9news.com.au/technology/2013/05/24/13/22/perth-teens-videos-become-internet-hit|website = Nine News| date=24 May 2013 |access-date = 9 November 2015}}</ref>

In ''The Amazing World of Gumball'' season 4 episode "The Traitor", Gumball makes a sandwich in a similar manner to HowToBasic's messy tutorials.

==See also==
* List of YouTubers

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDB title|6416336}}


[[Category:Internet memes]]

{{Sourceattribution|HowToBasic}}