Social media has had various, far-reaching impacts on the way we, as a society, interact and communicate. It is now easier than ever to reach somebody, or find out details about someone’s life or whereabouts, and that makes us more connected than ever. Most social media websites and apps are available to everyone, and only require a short amount of time and information to join. One such website is YouTube, a site that allows anyone to post an original video, and interact with other videomakers in the online community. The site enables anyone with a camera and ideas to create and share their thoughts.
However, some creators become more popular than others. Nowadays, many creators on the site have reached more than one million subscribers, with the most subscribed channel belonging to Felix Kjellberg (also known as PewDiePie) with nearly 38 million subscribers. When these uber-popular YouTube creators go to gatherings, such as Vidcon and Playlist Live, they are greeted by thousands of screaming fans waiting to get an autograph or picture. However, unlike traditional celebrities who deal with their notoriety on a daily basis, many of these creators aren’t at all used to a life of extreme fame. Despite this, there is no way to deny that a large (and growing) number of people watch the content of popular YouTubers, and consider themselves fans of these creators.
I’ve been a huge fan of YouTube for several years, and I’ve witnessed the transition from an integrative creative community to a site that is more divided into YouTube celebrities and their audiences. Although the site still operates on the same principle of letting anyone upload their own content, it’s now much harder for those who want to start making videos to find the courage to actually do it. New creators can find it intimidating to put their thoughts out there if they don’t have an expensive camera, extensive editing experience and a scripted video with a catchy title. While all of these things are good and improve the quality of videos, none of them are necessary to film a video worth watching.
Another part of the debate involving today’s YouTube culture is the question of how to reconcile popular creators and their viewers in a way that makes it both easy and safe for them to interact while still maintaining the close-knit community that is YouTube. Many famous creators have made videos discussing this topic from their point of view, such as Louise Pentland (sprinkleofglitter) and Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoollike), encouraging their viewers to continue the conversation in the comments and by creating their own responses. Personally, I thought this was a great way to address the issue of YouTube celebrity culture, by making a video and speaking directly to other creators and viewers and using it as the medium for the discussion itself.
I think the more interaction between these creators and their viewers, the better: they are both part of the same awesome online community, and one should not be put on a pedestal over the other, since without either, YouTube wouldn’t be able to function! And as for new aspiring creators, do not be discouraged by the types of videos that are most popular, and don’t worry about whether or not you have HD resolution in your videos. If you have an idea worth sharing, share it.
