I've been watching Youtube videos for a good four years or so now, obviously in that time the whole website has gone through many changes and has grown in popularity. However, the main concept remains the same: people producing content for other people to see. Recently there has been a lot of conversation about Youtube culture and the gap between makers/watchers and considering I don't really make videos I thought I'd write a short written response.
Inevitably the Youtube 'audience' is always going to be grouped together as one mass, which automatically means that it can be easy to forget that it is made up of lots of individuals. Within every audience there are going to be different ages, genders and personalities. Although there will always be some people who scream and shout when they see one of their favourite Youtubers - not every person will respond in that way. When I randomly met a well known Youtuber in London last year with a couple of my friends I realised how difficult it can be to express what you want to say concisely in a short period of time. Although our short exchange contained no shouting or screaming I did fear I would be classified as mere 'fan' who couldn't string an intelligent sentence together. I've never been to a gathering/meetup/convention but I can see how different these events are to bumping into a Youtuber in the street unexpectedly. I think the gap between the content makers and the viewers are emphasised at these events in particular because of the two 'groups'. The audience can become the 'other', something that needs to be controlled a restrained which I think can seem condescending.
Regarding 'idolisation' I have mixed feelings. Part of me thinks it's good for younger people to be inspired by 'real people' rather than the overly edited photos of the usual celebrities seen in glossy magazines. With both Youtubers and celebrities, you can never completely know them, you just get what they present and construct. I think it's good to have flawed, imperfect people in the public eye because realistically nobody is perfect - everybody makes mistakes and I think that's a good thing for young people to see. Perhaps the term 'idol' is the wrong word to be using but I understand the pressure some Youtubers must face when they have to maintain a standard for their audience. I do think that most viewers though just enjoy the content produced and can be inspired by it, they do not expect Youtubers to be perfect all the time.
I know I haven't suggested any answers or changes to solve some of these issues but I think it helps to talk about them and give the viewers, particularly those who don't make videos themselves, a voice.
Laura.
Song: It's Funny How Things Change by Becky CJ
Also see Charlie's Video: Here
