Caroline Bast

Lacee Nisbett

EN 102

3/7/19

Research Argument

Since winter of 2005, everyone around the world has had the ability to post videos, of

whatever length they desire, to the website we all know as YouTube. More recently, however,

blogging and vlogging has become more popular throughout the social media world today. While

blogging, which came first, would be described as writing about an event, situation, or topic on a

website that is updated regularly, vlogging is extremely similar in the sense that a creator is

doing the same thing, just in front of a camera. While this type of expression through online

blogs and video content is definitely still on the uprising, there have been arguments on whether

or not mentionable blogs and creator names have had a positive influence on their viewers. When

someone is explaining their opinions either in a written post or voiced online, controversy and

bias have an effect on the audience as they are not expected to think the same way. Therefore,

many people might form their own opinions on the blogging and vlogging subject itself. For

example, some might find social media entertainment immature and silly, with not much purpose

besides getting a laugh out of the viewers. However, this form of expression has allowed

millions of people globally to feel accepted and come out of their comfort zones, just from being

inspired by their favorite influencers, who ultimately, have their fans best interests.

While the main reason a creator may start a blog or a vlog is most likely for enjoyment

purposes, social media entertainment has always had teaching purposes as well. Monica
Condruz, author of the article “Blogging, Vlogging - From Entertainment to Education”,

explains that both blogs and vlogs have educational aspects that increase the desire to learn in the

major audience of adolescents. In recent years, “classic television is increasingly losing ground

to online videos, and in our country the situation is no different than the media landscape across

borders,” (Condruz 372). All over the world, online video entertainment has become much more

prominent than television programs. However, in a similar aspect, bloggers and vloggers will

most likely announce scheduled uploading times in order to take advantage of when they will get

the most views. Considering technology is constantly improving and the internet has taken over

our society, there isn’t much of a surprise that “the attention we pay, on average, to an online

video is much higher than the one paid on TV,” (372). When it comes to education, e-learning,

or learning through videos, is a very popular and beneficial approach to learning as it allows

students to understand new concepts through different approaches that goes beyond researching

through textbooks. For example, “classic platforms of online courses are not the only e-learning

tools for young people, noting that they still use YouTube, vlogs, Wikipedia and forums,” (373).

As education continues to improve, so will the quality of information that is able to be found

online as well as the information that is presented in vlogs and other YouTube videos.

When it comes to talking about the LGBT community, I am no expert. However, it is

important to note that those in that community who participate in vlogging and blogging have

provided so many lessons for their viewers in order to make them feel as though they can be

accepted no matter who they are. In Stephen Boylan’s blog article, “Year of the Vlog”, he

mentions how while of course there is the insanely funny side to YouTube where pointless

videos are made in order to get a laugh out of watchers, there are also creators who make videos
to show their following their true selves. Boylan makes it obvious in the opening of the article

that he has “FOGO (Fear of Getting Older),” (25), and doesn’t always understand what he sees

as the immature side of YouTube. However, what Boylan very humbly understands is that

creators are just “a person and a camera. It isn't this celebrity behind bodyguards and velvet

ropes. YouTube is about acceptance, no matter who you are,” (25). When filming and uploading

a video online, there is no major difference in anything a straight creator would do compared to

creator who identifies as something else. But like mentioned before, a content creator should

always be themselves if they want to gain an authentic following. Therefore, “their content does

occasionally have a slightly more queer twist than their straight counterparts, there’s not much to

set them apart on a day-to-day basis,” (25). As a viewer myself, I look up to those I watch as I

expect them to upload every video exactly how ​they ​want in order to teach those like me that

there is never a reason for a person to not be themselves. YouTube, vlogging, and blogging

inspires people who branch out of their comfort zone and realize that who they are is never a

burden. In fact, YouTube is “such an open platform [that] provides a short, discreet, and

immediate support for any teenagers having difficulty with their sexuality,” (25). YouTube is

filled with billions of different types of videos to go with any category imaginable. Anyone has

the ability to upload in the same exact way that anyone has the ability to be accepted.

Like mentioned before, there are so many different types of videos and blogs that are able

to be found on the internet. For example, if looking at the two YouTube channels, ‘OKbaby’ and

‘David Dobrik’, it would be easy to spot the differences in maturity and content. ‘OKbaby’ is a

family vlog channel that consists of two married-to-be young adults and their two children with a

third one on the way. On the other hand, David Dobrik uploads much shorter vlogs with random
content from multiple days from filming. Often, this content includes clips of his friends

participating in immature activities as well as everyone always embarrassing each other, while

simultaneously flaunting how much money they all have. However, both channels have a strong

fan base and they both equally inspire millions of people even though the videos they post have

very minimal similarity. In one of David’s most popular videos where him and long time

girlfriend, Liza Koshy, break up, YouTube channel ‘Niamh Horton’ comments on how Liza and

David had the “​healthiest break up in Youtube history for the fandom and the creators,” (Niamh

Horton).​ While the comments on David’s video are always funny and referencing specific

moments in the vlogs, this comment stands out as it proves how real two people can be even

when they are standing behind a camera. Similarly, with ‘OKbaby’, the family YouTube

channel, when looking through comments on their videos, there are hundreds of comments from

other mothers who are constantly giving her advice. Kyra, the mother of the family, was advised

to ask the grocery store employees for help when bringing food out to the car considering she is

eight months pregnant. Aside from the motherly comments, there are also so many encouraging

comments on how well the family is doing with their kids. For example, ‘lissethelucia’

commented “I love how gracious you are Kyra. Seriously you guys are getting better and better,”

(lissethelucia). OKbaby have inspired so many people around the world to believe in themselves

as all of their subscribers have watched them since they had their first child and were struggling

to now with Kyra about to have her third child and living a completely different life than three

years ago.

While there are so many positive things about blogging and vlogging, they could also be

counter argued with some cons. Popular YouTube stars receive a payment from their videos
based on the amount of views they get and the sponsorships behind many videos. Therefore,

since these creators are making a base pay on each video, it is often seen that their payments go

to their heads considering. Many people argue that “becoming a blogger or posting a YouTube

video requires no real talent,” (hannahjones). Not only is it easy to sit down and talk in front of a

camera about nothing insanely important, that means it is also easy to make unnecessary money

that many creators flaunt. For example, David Dobrik buys all of his friends cars and puts his

money towards ridiculous things that can be used for something much more meaningful, like

charities. Alfie Deyes, another European video entertainer, “spoke about a £150 candle [he

bought], which most of their viewers need to pay for rent, bills and food,” (hannahjones). While

it is understandable that these creators are proud of their makings, it can also be seen as

immature and conceited when they overly speak on materialistic items that they have received.

Overall, the effect that online entertainment content has been major. Creators use so

many strategies to teach viewers to be themselves and to always remind them that these

YouTube and internet stars will always be a source of happiness and encouragement. Unless

completely necessary, these creators avoid speaking on negative topics that also alter the moods

of viewers. Like previously mentioned, vloggers and bloggers will always have their fans best

interests in mind. One thing that many people fail to remember, is that we are all human. We all

have the opportunity to make something of themselves in a way where everyone around the

world is able to see our true selves. Therefore, thanks to YouTube and just the easy click of an

online search engine, we are never far away from watching those whose main purpose is to

inspire others daily by just being themselves.

 Works Cited

Dobrik, David, director. ​We Broke Up.​ ​YouTube​, YouTube, 4 June 2018,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2HytHu5VBI.

Condruz, M. (2017). ​Blogging, Vlogging - From Entertainment to Education​. 13th ed. Bucharest,

Romania, pp.369-376.

Boylan, Stephen. “Year of the Vlog.” ​Gay Community News,​ no. 311, Nov. 2015, pp. 24–25.

EBSCOhost​,

libdata.lib.ua.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qth&AN=

110583792&site=eds-live&scope=site​.

OKbaby, OKbaby, director. ​I Made HER Think HER WATER BROKE! (36 Weeks Pregnant).​

YouTube​, YouTube, 23 Mar. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7kw3t1xEaM&t=650s.

Jones, Hannah. “The Negatives of Superstar Vloggers.” ​The Rise of Vloggers,​ 11 Jan. 2016,

www.blogs.buprojects.uk/2015-2016/hannahjones/2016/01/11/the-negatives-of-superstar-vlogge

rs/.