Cost of Living How YouTube ate the world
Sep 26, 2025
Mikkel Skuderud, an economist from the University of Waterloo, dives into the implications of H-1B visa changes and how they could benefit Canada. He explains how a transparent immigration system is crucial for attracting skilled talent. The discussion highlights the potential economic boost from high-skill workers and warns against politicizing temporary worker programs. Additionally, the conversation touches on YouTube's dominance in media and its impact on attention, emphasizing the importance of Canada’s welcoming stance in a competitive global talent market.
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Episode notes
A Young User's YouTube Habit
- Shahraj Ali says YouTube made up about 80% of his media diet and replaced regular TV for him.
- He uses it for hobbies, news, and winding down rather than paying for cable or streaming.
Infrastructure Is A Competitive Moat
- Google's existing global infrastructure and ad expertise let YouTube scale new content categories cheaply.
- That structural advantage makes competing with YouTube extremely costly for startups.
Dominance Raises Sovereignty Issues
- YouTube's dominance raises questions about digital sovereignty and who controls what audiences can watch.
- Without public alternatives, governments may need to build infrastructure to retain influence over media exposure.
