A lot has changed in this past year. You have to watch what you do and say and it doesn’t really matter if you put an age restriction warning. Not that I was planning on doing anything bad! Also the whole adpocalypse thing
I want to do YouTube for fun, but I would be lying if I said that I wouldn’t like to be paid to be a content creator. It feels like the more time passes, the more that “dream” (I guess you could call it) is out of reach. It sucks. Anyone feel the same?
You can still do YouTube for fun, and you can still become a paid creator.
It is unlikely that YouTube will take your channel down or remove your videos unless you are doing something pretty outrageous. You can still accumulate a healthy following, it's just that advertisers may prefer not to have their products on your videos if you are cursing or covering controversial subjects.
There are so many other ways to be paid for your content though, most successful YouTubers say that they do not rely on ad revenue at all. I listened to a video by Roberto Blake yesterday in which he said that he considers ad revenue as being like a tip jar.
I really want that Amazontube to become an actual thing.
I really want that too, but I don't expect it will be any different to YouTube as far as ad revenue is concerned. If Amazon want to attract advertisers they will have exactly the same challenges as YouTube.
In my opinion many creators are hoping for the impossible. To be able to say what they want about any subject at all and in any form they choose...and to be paid well for it.
Those days are gone, and they are unlikely to ever come back. Just like any other business, you can make plenty of money with YouTube if you work hard, are focussed, and have a consistent quality product.