PaymoneyWubby ASMR video was just restored by YouTube!

You kind of hit the nail on the head with the "longing for company" bit. I remember many years ago when most ASMR vids weren't majority young women smiling into a camera and tapping on things and whispering. It got its start in people doing things like keyboard sounds or recording rain sounds with no talking and putting it up on YouTube. I think creators realized they could cast a wider net with what they're doing now. Like you said, more power to the people who enjoy those videos, but I miss the times of the YT ASMR scene being a really small mixed bag of people trying to find stuff to relax to in the background and not trying to promote their brand or whatever. Just my two cents, not worth more or less than anybody else's.

/r/videos Thread Parent Link - youtube.com