Tyler Oakley, Jenna Marbles, Pewdiepie, PrankvsPrank, Shaytards. If any of these names are familiar to you, then you are part of the billions of people who watch YouTube videos. YouTube has been a growing source for entertainment since it's launch in 2005. From funny cat videos to people showcasing their amazing talents, YouTube has brought us some of the most noteworthy videos of the past decade. But there is another side to YouTube.
YouTube has created the next generation of reality stars called "vloggers." What is a vlogger? A vlogger is a person who video blogs by either sitting in front of the camera and talking about their life and random topics, or they take the camera with them and just show what happens in their daily life. When you really think about it, vlogging is kind of like a new kind of reality TV. But what makes watching a vlog more appealing than watching the Kardashians or the Real Housewives?
Unlike reality TV, there is no scripted drama or production company following them around. It's just you, them, and a camera. I think this definitely make vlogs more appealing to make. Most of these YouTubers make over $1 million annually so they could afford a production crew. Many of them have been approached by networks to have their own television shows. So why YouTube? What makes this platform so special?
YouTube really has gifted us with this new kind of celebrity. These people share every intimate detail of their lives with us. We feel a connection with them even though they are perfect strangers. We've seen their engagements, weddings, child births, brain surgeries, and watched them experience coutless other everyday struggles. We are there through the ups and through the downs. And in a way it feels like they are there for us too. They vlog so they can entertain but also so they can encourage. They want their viewers to know that there is a bright side to everything and that life will get better. That is what makes them better than watching reality TV.
Instead of doing it for the money or the fame, they do it because they love it. If they can inspire one person, then they've been successful. And I think that's what makes them appealing. We connect with them and other viewers and form this community. And although we view them as celebrities, they don't seem unreachable. They are honest about life and they are it makes it easier to relate. They feel like family or friends that you see every day. And I have yet to see another platform provide that type of relationship. Social Media, like YouTube and even Vine, has taken your average, everyday person who lives in the middle of nowhere and made them into an instantly recognizable face. Seeing people just like us do things we would normally is awesome because it mean we could just like them. The more we see real people doing real things, like raising families and doing laundry, the more less attractive the fake reality TV shows become. Being able to turn on a camera and make a genuine connection with millions of other people all around the world is truly special. I hope one day all of these YouTubers become as successful as the people on TV, because they've earned it.
