Ever since around 2006, I have watched videos on the popular video site YouTube. I remember the early days of YouTubers like Dave Days and Shane Dawson, which bring me such joy to look back on now as an adult. Now I still watch YouTubers like Shane and jacksfilms, people I look up to and aspire to be like. They've created content that has stuck with me and brought me closer to my friends and family. The YouTubers themselves and their content make me grateful for a site like YouTube, and here are a few reasons why.
1. They've brought me so much laughter.
This one is a big one. I love comedic videos, and YouTubers like Shane Dawson, jacksfilms, danisnotonfire, etc. make it easy for me to relax after a long day by simply laughing. They each have their own brand of comedy that brings me such joy, and I love that I can connect with them through their comedy.
2. They inspire me every day.
The YouTubers I watch daily are doing exactly what they love to do — entertain and spread positivity. I want to be like them by making people around me laugh; I want to make my family and friends smile whenever I can. The people I watch on YouTube use their platform to inspire the same creativity they're utilizing, and it definitely is working with me.
3. They're not afraid to be who they are.
When I wrote this reason, the first YouTuber who came to mind was Shane Dawson, whom I mentioned above. He is arguably one of the most authentic YouTubers I've ever come across. He lets his comedy be as weird as his colorful personality, which I personally enjoy. He is also very open when it comes to his personal issues, such as his struggle with body dysmorphia and embracing his sexuality. He is genuine in every aspect of his life and is not afraid to be himself unapologetically.
4.) They're just like us!
There was a popular series of videos that popped up on a lot of YouTuber's radars called "Draw My Life" in which the YouTuber you're watching tells you all about their lives through drawings. The one Draw My Life that sticks out is by popular YouTube gamer, Markiplier. He talks about how his parents got divorced and how he didn't feel he was on the right track in life for a while (he was originally in school to be an engineer), which are two big issues that a lot of people face. The main struggle Mark had was losing his dad to cancer. I myself have a mother who is sick with breast cancer and am very close to people who lost their parent or relative to cancer. These people we watch for positivity also deal with struggles we face in everyday life, which makes them even more real to their viewers.
5.) They bring people together.
Whether it's a community of viewers or me and my mom, YouTubers have a special way of using their content to bring people together. I've watched the comedy YouTuber Jacksfilms for a couple years, and one day I was watching his popular series called "Your Grammar Sucks," in which people send him screengrabs of people using horrible grammar. While watching, my mom asked to watch too and from there she was hooked. We started watching him daily together, branching off to other videos he does. We even shared headphones during her chemotherapy sessions to watch his daily series called "Yesterday I Asked You" (a.k.a. YIAY) where he asks questions and reads his favorite viewer answers. It made us get closer together and now in daily conversation we'll both slip in references to his videos.
6.) They're always there, supporting and bringing happiness to their viewers.
Every YouTuber I watch interacts with their fans in some way, making sure they know that they are there for support. Their mission to make their viewers happy comes to a personal level whether it's answering comments or replying to tweets, they make sure their audience knows they're there. Even just making a video that makes their support to their fans known is one thing I've come to love about the YouTubers I watch.
7.) They don't hide from their fans.
The YouTubers I watch are very open with what goes on behind closed doors. Charles Trippy, an avid vlogger who holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive vlogs, lives his life on camera. This can be very hard for privacy reasons, but he lets it all be out there for the world to see. Even when he went through a public divorce, he didn't shut the camera off. He even documented his struggle with cancer as well, something he feels will help other people struggling too. People like him aren't afraid to be themselves and put themselves out there, especially when it means sacrificing some privacy. They know they have to be open and real with their fans in order to truly connect.
8.) They make dark days bright.
The two main YouTubers I watch, Shane Dawson and Jacksfilms, make every day better. They made the days where I was worried about my mom's cancer diagnosis somehow less sad. They cheer me up when I'm down and bring me even higher when I'm happy. I am grateful to have such wonderful role models in my life to bring more positivity and brighten the dark days. They are great people. I've had the honor to meet Shane before, and he was honestly so wonderful. He truly appreciates the support he gets and loves putting smiles on our faces. YouTubers like him make this world a brighter and better place.
