I recently came across a blog post by the famous internet sensation ‘Zoella’. In this post, Zoe Sugg discusses how the hate comments on her daily vlogs have stopped her from uploading more.
Firstly, let me explain what vlogging is; vlogging originates from the word blogging, and it used as an act of sharing your thoughts and opinions in a video. However, more recently many vlogging videos have expanded in type and some have become an online version of a reality show. People post a video from about 5minutes to 20minutes or even longer, which shows what they are doing throughout the day. Many people such as the 'Shaytards' or 'FunForLouis' have taken on daily vlogging. One particular youtube channel, 'CTFxC' has even won a Guinness World Record for "the most consecutive daily personal video blogs posted on Youtube [for] 1,565 videos".
Firstly, let me explain what vlogging is; vlogging originates from the word blogging, and it used as an act of sharing your thoughts and opinions in a video. However, more recently many vlogging videos have expanded in type and some have become an online version of a reality show. People post a video from about 5minutes to 20minutes or even longer, which shows what they are doing throughout the day. Many people such as the 'Shaytards' or 'FunForLouis' have taken on daily vlogging. One particular youtube channel, 'CTFxC' has even won a Guinness World Record for "the most consecutive daily personal video blogs posted on Youtube [for] 1,565 videos".
What interests me is why these people decide to start putting such personal content online. Why would you spend so much time producing content which may never be recognised by a large audience? But then again, your content may end up going viral or being recognised by a lot of people and it could lead to Youtube being your career. After looking up an interview with a few 'Youtubers', the general reply was that people put up videos because they genuinely enjoy it. Regardless of if one person views it our thousands do, they always film things which they actually enjoy so numbers don’t matter. And they also love the impact it has on their community.
Other than this though, families such as the 'Shaytards' put up their videos not just because they enjoy it but also as a form of keeping memories. This particular family has young children and have been vlogging for a few years, so they can always look back on their kids growing up, 2 of which even have their birth filmed and uploaded to youtube. While looking online I also found something quite interesting which vlogger Alfie Deyes commented on: "Having creative control, as well as carrying out the whole process myself – shooting, editing and post-production – of all my videos is important". And I think this is a very relevant factor, and something which I would find appealing myself. Youtube gives you your own space and time to upload content. Yes, some of the bigger ‘Youtubers’ are part of a PR company but I think that most videos are content which they actually want to produce especially when it comes to a 'day-in-the-life' video. Some daily vloggers have spoken about how they have been offered to have a reality show on television, but they denied this as they felt that it would lead to the production company taking full reign over the content produced and potentially lead to the vlogger losing its close bond with the audience.
While reading Zoella's blog post, I found a few interesting points which I would like to share with you;
It is admirable that these content producers so easily and willingly putting up parts of their lives online for the entertainment of others. Overall, from the amount of videos I have seen on Youtube and from the articles and interviews I have read, the general comments are that the people who upload content do so happily. They enjoy the interaction they get with their subscribers and many Youtubers even have a community name for their viewers to make them feel like they are a part of something.
So at the end of the day, what Youtube is offering is a sense of belonging and happiness bar the negative comments which seem to have taken over Youtube. I think that these psychological aspects will keep on bringing people to the platform and motivate them to carry on creating content.
While reading Zoella's blog post, I found a few interesting points which I would like to share with you;
- "When someone posts parts of their life online, you are giving them a little piece of you, but I want to emphasise that point... "just a little piece".
- I am only human, and no human is perfect, but you only know the online version of me. You don't know everything that goes on behind the cameras and you don't know the entire ups and downs I might face, or the anxiety struggles I may have.
It is admirable that these content producers so easily and willingly putting up parts of their lives online for the entertainment of others. Overall, from the amount of videos I have seen on Youtube and from the articles and interviews I have read, the general comments are that the people who upload content do so happily. They enjoy the interaction they get with their subscribers and many Youtubers even have a community name for their viewers to make them feel like they are a part of something.
So at the end of the day, what Youtube is offering is a sense of belonging and happiness bar the negative comments which seem to have taken over Youtube. I think that these psychological aspects will keep on bringing people to the platform and motivate them to carry on creating content.
References and Sources Used:
CHAWLA, D., 2014. The Young Vloggers and their Fans who are Changing the Face of Youth Culture. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/28/vloggers-changing-future-advertising
DENNIS, J., 2015. Life as a Vlogger: What's It Like?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/life-youtube-vlogger-whats-like/
HARVEY, D., 2013. Meet the Vloggers: Self Employed and 'Worth a Fortune'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/24726895/meet-the-vloggers-self-employed-and-worth-a-fortune
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2656209/The-teen-phenomenon-thats-taking-Youtube.html
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/cf/86/63cf866e263208c558d49d7965d80c12.jpg
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11393587/Why-vloggers-are-a-waste-of-time-and-money-for-brands.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex8IyWcGLBs&list=PLKXMmgFbpJLJ7HzlHCii1LCutTpkTMXb4&index=32
http://www.zoella.co.uk/2014/11/why-i-stopped-daily-vlogging-hate-on.html
CHAWLA, D., 2014. The Young Vloggers and their Fans who are Changing the Face of Youth Culture. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/28/vloggers-changing-future-advertising
DENNIS, J., 2015. Life as a Vlogger: What's It Like?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/life-youtube-vlogger-whats-like/
HARVEY, D., 2013. Meet the Vloggers: Self Employed and 'Worth a Fortune'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/24726895/meet-the-vloggers-self-employed-and-worth-a-fortune
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2656209/The-teen-phenomenon-thats-taking-Youtube.html
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/cf/86/63cf866e263208c558d49d7965d80c12.jpg
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11393587/Why-vloggers-are-a-waste-of-time-and-money-for-brands.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex8IyWcGLBs&list=PLKXMmgFbpJLJ7HzlHCii1LCutTpkTMXb4&index=32
http://www.zoella.co.uk/2014/11/why-i-stopped-daily-vlogging-hate-on.html