The Views: Brent Rivera From Viner To Controversial YouTuber

Brent rivera - youtube

Brent Rivera is an American social media personality, actor, and content creator known for his comedic videos and viral internet presence. He first rose to fame on the now-defunct platform Vine and has since built a massive following on YouTube and TikTok. Rivera’s content often features pranks, challenges, and collaborations with friends and family, especially his sister, Lexi Rivera. Beyond his social media work, he’s also acted in TV shows and movies and is the founder of Amp Studios, a digital content company that helps support other influencers.

Handle: Rivera’s YouTube handle can be found at @brentrivera, and his Instagram account is @brentrivera. His TikTok account’s handle is @brentrivera.

Series: He has a series in which he travels to different unique or strange places and shows them on his YouTube channel. In one video he spends a night in an underwater hotel.

Creators:  Rivera often posts videos with his sister Lexi Rivera and a group of regulars called the Amp Squad including Andrew Davila, Eva Gutowski, and many others.

Platform: While Rivera started on Vine, he mostly posts content on both TikTok and YouTube.

Genre/Genres: Prank, and vlog style videos.

Subscribers/Followers: He has 37.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 50.1 million followers on TikTok. He also has 24 million followers on Instagram.

Brent Rivera first rose to fame on the now-defunct platform Vine, where he gained popularity for his short, funny videos. His content on Vine often featured relatable humor, skits, and lighthearted takes on everyday situations. He started his Vine account around 2013, and quickly gained popularity on the App.

His YouTube channel regularly boasts videos with over ten million views, emerging as a popular yet controversial creator. He has received criticism for targeting his content to children, while often posting mature content sprinkled in between videos targeted at a younger audience. For example, he posted a video titled “TOUCH MY BODY CHALLENGE (GONE WRONG)”, and a week later posted a video about a human-sized glue trap.  He has also been accused of copying content from other creators. He was accused of plagiarizing a video by TikToker Joshua Slavin, where both posed as food critics, with Rivera's version mirroring Slavin's script closely. 

Despite his many controversies, he has remained a massively popular creator.  In one of his most popular videos“LITTLE KIDS NOWADAYS!!”, he spends the day babysitting his 11-year-old cousin, Nicolette. The video begins with Brent picking Nicolette up from school. Afterward, they stop at Starbucks, where Nicolette orders her drink with specific preferences. The day continues with a trip to the park, where they engage in playful activities, although Nicolette shows some shyness when interacting with other children. Through his day with his 11-year-old cousin, Nicolette, Brent humorously points out how children today are more tech-savvy, mature, and particular about their preferences compared to when he was younger. The video touches on themes like the growing influence of technology, evolving social interactions, and the increased individuality in children’s tastes and choices. It reflects on how childhood is shaped by modern trends.

Brent Rivera’s audience has grown because he knows how to make fun, relatable content that feels easy to connect with. His videos are fast, and full of energy, often featuring challenges, pranks, and skits targeted to his young audience. A big part of his appeal comes from the people around him, like his sister Lexi Rivera and friends Pierson Wodzynski and Ben Azelart. Their close friendships and playful chemistry make the videos feel natural and fun, creating a sense of community that keeps fans coming back.

What also helps Brent stand out is how well he adapts to different social media platforms. From his early days on Vine to his success on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, he’s always stayed on top of trends and kept his content fresh. His videos are well-edited and designed to grab attention, and working with other popular creators has helped him reach even more people. It’s this mix of creativity, strong relationships, and knowing what his audience enjoys that’s kept his success going strong.

Brent Rivera’s success is built on his engaging personality, strong collaborations, and ability to adapt to different social media platforms. However, his career hasn’t been without controversy. He’s faced criticism for copying content, public conflicts with other creators, and issuing false copyright claims. Additionally, his content has been called out for being inappropriate for his young audience. While Rivera’s fanbase is mostly teens and preteens, some videos feature suggestive humor or pranks that some viewers and parents find unsuitable. Despite these issues, Rivera remains a popular and influential figure in the world of social media, continuing to grow his audience with entertaining and viral content.