Strangely, I was never a YouTube girly growing up. I didn’t watch the makeup tutorials, the fashion hauls or the weird challenge videos.
I’ve never watched a Zoella video, didn’t know who Jake and Logan Paul were until a few years ago and still don’t know what a muckbang is.
Anyone who was a famous YouTuber, I didn’t know who they were. I couldn’t wrap my head around sitting down to watch another ordinary person talk to the camera about what they got up to that day.
Why would I waste my time with that when I could be watching Netflix?
Oh how things have changed.
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1. There’s something comforting about watching people do nothing
My favourite form of video to watch on YouTube is probably what I couldn’t wrap my head around years ago: ordinary vlogs. Watching people go about their lives doing basically nothing.
I watched Olivia Neill buy pasta jars for 30 minutes. I watch someone redecorate their bedroom for 20 minutes. And I watched someone wake up, go to Trader Joes, do a Trader Joes haul and then make dinner for 45 minutes.
But it’s strangely…comforting.
It feels like I’m catching up with a friend on what they’ve been up to recently and seeing how they spent their weekend. I feel somewhat of a connection to the creator by seeing inside their living space, being shown parts of their lives, their friends, their pets and hobbies.
It is strange but you start rooting for them, wishing them well in what they’re getting up to, seeing them secure brand deals on their videos and having a good time.
2. I use it as a form of manifestation
98% of the creators I watch are based in New York or America. I only follow two creators that are based in the UK and that’s Jack Edwards and Victoria Magrath.
I love watching people go about their ordinary lives in New York and seeing the food spots they go to, the bars they go to or just their mundane tasks like going to Trader Joes.
Sometimes I see it as a form of manifesting. Seeing what my life could look like on YouTube in the future if I ever (when I) make it back to living in New York.
To be honest, it’s probably my coping mechanism for when I’m not in New York, watching other people go about their lives in the city and living vicariously through them when I’m having my lunch or when I’m at the gym.
3. I feel closer to the creators I follow through YouTube
Creators seem to be more vulnerable on YouTube than they are on TikTok or Instagram. They’ll often say their YouTube viewers know the ‘real them’. As they see the good times, the bad and everything in between.
Through YouTube I’ll know more about what a creator is doing day to day. What they’re going through and exciting things they have coming up.
It helps working in my industry as I’ll feel like I know the influencers more than I can do than through Instagram or TikTok.
Although, it doesn’t help me that much since the YouTubers I watch are American, but it still helps.
4. There’s more of a community feel on YouTube
If you ever need to be reminded that there are nice people in the world, read YouTube comments on your favourite creator’s videos.
These people are invested heavily in the creator and always post kind words of inspiration and sympathy with the creator when they need it. Especially since these viewers are willing to sit and watch 30 minutes of your content, you know they’re engaged.
Compare that to a 10 second TikTok that gets posted out to anyone and everyone and you’ll open yourself to god-knows-what in the comments box.
The YouTube community is the best.
5. I like looking back on my life and sharing with others
For personal reasons, I love making YouTube videos because I can look back on my travels and watch them. You have no idea how many times I want to sit and watch my New York videos. But I restrain myself in case I end up booking another flight.
Related: Am I a Vlogger now?
Being able to sit down on my sofa and watch my Bali travels on the big screen is such a lovely thing to have. Along with all of my other travel videos.
I don’t know what the future holds for me on YouTube besides travel content for the moment. But I’m hoping to delve out a little wider and create more lifestyle-type videos. But we’ll see what happens.
You can find my YouTube channel here.
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