Lincolnshire-based YouTube vloggers
Following the worldwide successes of YouTube sensations like Zoella, Pewdiepie and Casey Neistat, the past eight years has seen a rise in the number of young people trying to make it big in the vlogging world.
Three Lincoln-based YouTube stars share the inside scoop on the industry- from the scrutiny and negativity that can come with being in the public eye, to the confidence and creativity that the community allows them to express.
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First of all, if you’ve never heard the words ‘vlog’ or ‘vlogger’, let us enlighten you.
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Certainly not aimed towards the camera shy, 'vlogging' is a modernised version of blogging. Where people would traditionally upload their thoughts and interests to a written blog, it has since become popular for people to record themselves in front of a camera and upload it to the internet.
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So, ‘vlog’ is short for ‘video blog’.
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It may seem unusual, but the types videos that vloggers produce is extremely vast- from makeup tutorials to gaming videos, there is a place in the community for any interest. And whilst most vloggers begin producing their videos simply as a hobby, the popularity that some stars reach means they’re able to make a living from their content.
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Vloggers like Zoella, who has over 12 million subscribers on her channel, consider YouTube to be their full-time job. Having such a large and influential platform to speak on attracts big name brands that are certainly a stable source of income. Sponsorship deals, advertisements and collaborations can often be enough for a vlogger to make a career from.
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However, reaching stardom in the vlogging community can often be a long and challenging process.
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One vlogger who knows this well is Lincoln-based 19-year-old Charlotte Price. Charlotte first began making YouTube videos in June 2016 and has since earned herself over 1,100 subscribers on her channel.
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The passion and enjoyment that Charlotte has for creating online videos is clear. She positions herself in her bedroom with colourful art work, family photographs and fairy lights glistening behind her, whilst her friendly personality shines through just as brightly- whether she’s discussing her favourite winter clothing items, or bringing light to the topic of mental health.
Charlotte said: “I stopped dancing and performing to focus on my A-Levels when I was still in sixth form, which was something I really enjoyed doing, so I love that I still get to be creative and share my personality and other passions with people online through my videos!”
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But vlogging isn’t always as easy as it may seem from the outside and it can often have a negative impact upon the seemingly confident person sitting in front of the camera. Charlotte reflected for a while on her life this time last year and revealed that: “When I had begun vlogging, I went through a difficult time in Sixth Form where I was bullied. When people found my channel, it gave them another reason and platform to be nasty on.
“I think the worst thing about YouTube is that people will pick apart your life, despite only seeing a tiny segment of your day- or they’ll judge you for a tiny slip up that you make.”
By uploading personal videos to such a popular social media platform, some might argue that vloggers are welcoming scrutiny and judgement by viewers from all over the world. For some, it comes as an expected consequence of sharing so much of your life online, but for others, it can have a crucial effect on the content that they publish.
Brandon Wisdom, a 20-year-old vlogger and full-time student produces content on topics ranging from his experiences as a university undergraduate, to Pokemon and musical theatre. He, too, claims to have experienced negativity since he first began vlogging four years ago, but he believes that scrutiny and negative comments should be expected online.
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He said: “I’ve learned to ignore mindless hate, and I’ve developed a thicker skin for constructive criticism […] moving past online trolling and taking feedback on board has helped me grow, both for my channel and for myself.”
But for some vloggers like 21-year-old Eleanor Hall, it’s not always as easy for her to open herself up to critique or to feel confident when sharing aspects of her life with more than 700 subscribers. Eleanor’s vlogs- whether she is talking about her childhood crushes, or answering personal questions asked by viewers- are honest and revealing, despite her qualms towards the vulnerable position that YouTube creators often find themselves in.
She said: “My channel doesn’t have lots of subscribers, but anyone in the world could have access to my videos. It’s something that makes me feel very vulnerable sometimes- knowing that anybody, anywhere could be watching me.”
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Although the vlogging industry has its downfalls, it also comes with an abundance of positives. It opens up an accessible world of individuals who share similar interests and passions and provides a platform for these individuals to become a united community.
Reflecting on her year and a half on YouTube, vlogger Charlotte said: “Despite some of the negativity that’s associated and experienced alongside vlogging, creating my channel is probably the best thing I’ve ever done.
“I’ve become part of a wonderful online community, been given some amazing opportunities, and it has given me a boost of confidence in a way that nothing else could.”