Linus_Sebastian

Linus Sebastian

Linus Sebastian

Canadian YouTuber (born 1986)

Linus Gabriel Sebastian (born August 20, 1986) is a Canadian YouTuber best known for creating and hosting YouTube channels that cover technology. On November 24, 2008, he started publishing videos on his main channel Linus Tech Tips (LTT) which has 15.5 million subscribers and 7.52 billion views as of January 2024. His channels have a combined subscriber base of over 27 million.

Quick Facts Personal information, Born ...

From 2007 to 2013, he was a regular presenter of technology videos for the now defunct Canadian computer retailer NCIX. He is also the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Linus Media Group (LMG).[1] On July 1, 2023, Sebastian stepped down as LMG's CEO, and took the role as Chief Vision Officer.[2]

Biography

Linus Gabriel Sebastian was born on August 20, 1986,[3] and grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.[4] He was diagnosed with ADHD as a child.[5] He grew up on a farm with siblings[6] and has been married to Yvonne Ho since May 20, 2011.[7]

Sebastian used to work for the now-defunct Canadian online computer store NCIX.[8] He was asked by the company to be the host for its technology channel, which was created to help demonstrate products.[9] Sebastian was assisted by an unidentified cameraperson and editor, and worked with limited resources, shooting videos with a camera borrowed from the son of the company's president.[10]

Due to high costs and low viewership during the early days of the channel, Sebastian was instructed to create the Linus Tech Tips channel as a cheaper offshoot of the NCIX channel, to allow for lower production values without affecting the NCIX brand. He described TigerDirect and Newegg as competitors.[10] Linus Tech Tips was created on November 24, 2008.[11] He eventually left NCIX to found Linus Media Group (LMG) following a dispute regarding company management. He negotiated an agreement in which he could keep Linus Tech Tips as a property of LMG, as long as he signed a non-compete clause.[12]

In a 2014 interview with technology startup website Tech.co, Sebastian said that his favourite YouTubers were TotalBiscuit, Marques Brownlee, and Austin Evans.[13]

In September 2021, Sebastian disclosed a personal investment of nearly $225,000 in Framework Computer, a manufacturer of modular laptops.[14]

In August 2023 controversy emerged via an investigative video by youtube creator Gamers Nexus, which described issues specific to both Sebastian as an individual, and of Linus media group as a whole. The report detailed how Sebastian had negatively reviewed a water block made by Billet Labs which had been installed on hardware that it wasn't designed to be used on. Sebastian failed to return the water block to Billet Labs as agreed, instead selling it at auction. Systemic issues relating to rushed and inaccurate content where also highlighted. [15] Due to Gamers Nexus' investigation, combined with full documentation of the claims, the story was verified and recirculated by mainstream media. [16] [17] [18]

Prior to the above scandal, Sebastian had announced in May 2023 that he would be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer at Linus Media Group and that he would be transitioning into a creative role entitled Chief Vision Officer effective July 1, 2023.[19]

Recognition

In 2015, Inc. magazine ranked Sebastian fourth in a list of the "Top 30 Power Players in Tech".[20]

See also

Notes

  1. Subscribers, broken down by channel:
    • 15.4 million (Linus Tech Tips)
    • 4.28 million (Techquickie)
    • 1.87 million (TechLinked)
    • 2.22 million (ShortCircuit)
    • 1.29 million (Channel Super Fun)
    • 567 thousand (LMG Clips)
    • 585 thousand (Mac Address)
    • 244 thousand (LinusCatTips)
    • 144 thousand (They're Just Movies)
    • 417 thousand (GameLinked)
  2. Views, broken down by channel:
    • 7.52 billion (Linus Tech Tips)
    • 828.4 million (Techquickie)
    • 462 million (TechLinked)
    • 484.2 million (ShortCircuit)
    • 355.1 million (Channel Super Fun)
    • 217.6 million (LMG Clips)
    • 105.5 million (Mac Address)
    • 11.27 million (LinusCatTips)
    • 4.41 million (They're Just Movies)
    • 4.34 million (GameLinked)

References

  1. [1]
    "Linus Media Group". May 19, 2023. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. [2]
    Plunkett, Luke (May 19, 2023). "Popular Tech YouTuber Linus Is Stepping Down As CEO Of His Companies". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Linus Tech Tips [@LinusTech] (August 20, 2014). "Me: Holy crap I'm gonna be 29 in an hour! Wife: 28.... Me: Oh, that's better Wife: My goodness..." (Tweet). Retrieved October 22, 2016 – via Twitter.
  4. [4]
    I Make Questionable Choices Sometimes... Linus Media Group. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. [5]
    LinusTechTips (January 28, 2022). r/PCMasterRace Hates Me... The WAN Show (YouTube video). Event occurs at 1:48:30. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. [6]
    Sebastian, Linus (September 14, 2022). This Is So Embarrassing! (Video). Linus Media Group. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. [7]
    Sebastian, Linus (October 27, 2017). "Bixby Showcase – It does more than you might think!". Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017 – via YouTube.
  8. [8]
    "I'm Linus Sebastian of LinusTechTips, and This Is How I Work". LifeHacker. July 29, 2015. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  9. [9]
    Ovide, Shira (February 15, 2022). "This YouTube Star Is Also a Retail Empire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "How I became: LinusTechTips (Linus Sebastian)". How I became. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via YouTube.
  11. [11]
    "About". Linus Tech Tips. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via YouTube.
  12. [12]
    "Why Linus Left NCIX". Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via YouTube.
  13. [13]
    Diab, Ann. "Secrets of the Most Successful Tech YouTube Content Creators Revealed". Tech.co. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  14. [14]
    Sebastian, Linus (September 15, 2021). I'm Legally Obligated to Disclose This - Framework investment. Linus Tech Tips. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  15. [15]
    Burke, Stephen (August 14, 2023). "The Problem with Linus Tech Tips: Accuracy, Ethics, & Responsibility". www.youtube.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. [16]
    published, Andy Chalk (August 15, 2023). "The recent criticism of Linus Tech Tips, explained". PC Gamer. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  17. [17]
    Cranz, Alex (August 16, 2023). "Linus Tech Tips pauses production as controversy swirls". The Verge. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  18. [18]
    Donovan, Imogen (August 17, 2023). "What's happening with Linus Tech Tips and why has it halted production?". NME. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  19. [19]
    I'm Stepping Down.., archived from the original on May 19, 2023, retrieved June 4, 2023
  20. [20]
    Rampton, John (July 21, 2015). "30 Power Players in Tech You Need to Know". Inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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