The majority of high schoolers have embraced YouTube as their social media platform of choice, with recent studies showing that the majority of high schoolers spend exponentially more time on the video-sharing service than on the wealth of other social media options out there.

The viewing tastes of high schoolers change on a whim as new content gets uploaded daily. Things trend quickly and seemingly out of nowhere, so it always pays to ask your high school-aged children what they’re watching.

However, we still have enough information to compile an extensive list of the most popular YouTube channels teenagers are watching. Here’s a list of the 8 most watched and talked about YouTube channels among high schoolers:

1) PewDiePie

One of the most controversial YouTubers out there, PewDiePie has found himself in hot water for some of his off-script moments. However, he remains exceedingly popular with high schoolers as he’s basically the YouTube godfather for the service’s gaming content scene.

2) NigaHiga

Ryan Higa does a fantastic job walking a tightrope between outrageous humor and content that is appropriate for most ages. His comedy skits are some of the most-watched videos on the platform with all age groups, but the 28-year-old Hawaiian really seems to resonate with tweens and teens. 

3) Zoella

Zoella is huge with the female teenage demographic, cultivating a beauty/lifestyle channel that also touches on pertinent health issues, such as battling anxiety. With deft editing and a keen sense of her audience, Zoella has a strong cultural foothold with teenage girls (and teenagers of all genders) around the world.

4) AsapSCIENCE

This extremely popular YouTube channel takes traditional science themes and makes it palatable for younger viewers. It’s such an entertaining channel that it teaches you and you don’t even know you’re being taught!

5) Joey Graceffa

An American Teen Choice nominee, Graceffa does a lot of crossover videos/challenges with other famous YouTubers. His web series, “Storytellers,” has gone viral with high schoolers around the globe. One of the most popular vlogs on the service among tweens and teens.

6) Shane Dawson

Dawson parlayed his YouTube celebrity into a successful music career after posting popular parodies of music videos and TV shows. Whether it’s his comedy sketches or his original musical content, Dawson resonates with high schoolers in undeniable fashion.

7) KSI

KSI has built one of the most popular gaming channels on a YouTube platform full of gaming stars. Some of his interviews with top celebrities, such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, have gone viral and given him cultural cache with high schoolers everywhere.

8) Joe Weller

Weller is a jack of all trades, posting anything and everything he can to get a humorous rise out of his audience. Whether it’s exploring haunted houses or mimicking wrestling moves in a pool, Weller has slapstick chops that keep high schoolers laughing for hours.

Concluding Thoughts

This selection of eight top YouTube channels among high schoolers is a good introduction to the type of content popular with teens and tweens around the world. The content varies and tastes change, but there’s a good chance you’ll be able to spark a conversation with your high school-aged children by just mentioning one of the eight channels above!