For your blog post identify an area that you are most interested in, and identify a couple sources of research about that and present in your post what the research literature (even just 2 studies) says about this.
When the Super Bowl came to Minneaoplis last year, one of the many celebrities seen exploring the city was YouTuber, David Dobrik. At the time I had no idea who he was but almost everyone I knew seemed to be big fans of his. I eventually looked him up after I heard he created a “vlog” of his time in Minneapolis which included him going to a frat party on campus. After I discovered David Dobrik’s YouTube channel I found myself spending hours watching many other YouTubers videos. Now, I can say I understand the obsession with YouTube that many people have. YouTube serves many purposes as a video-sharing website, such as streaming movies, tv shows, and music videos. However, I am curious of the effect “creators” may be having on teenagers behavior and mood. With the rise in popularity of many YouTubers, it seems necessary to see how individuals between 12 and 18 years old are being influenced by them.
In a 2016 Google report, the influence of YouTubers on millennials and teenagers was surveyed. One impact concluded from the survey was the relatability teenagers felt with YouTubers, reporting that 70% of teenage subscribers felt they relate to creators more than traditional celebrities. Another statistic from the report shows that 4 in 10 subscribers feel that their favorite creator understand them better than their friends. I think that these two statistics from the report are very interesting because they how strongly teenagers feel about creators. They seem to them as people they can relate to and people that understand them. The statistic about teenagers feeling more understood by creators than their friends is a bit shocking to me because it shows the way teenagers may deal with socialization problems. If the are feeling misunderstood by the people they know they may turn to YouTubers. This survey shows that the growing creator community is having a real impact on teenagers.
In a study from Westenberg (2016), Westenberg examines the influence YouTube has on teenagers behavior. After surveying and interviewing a group of teenagers, it was concluded that YouTubers have an overall positive influence on teenagers. Teenagers expressed that they learn practical tips and tricks, get inspired on clothing and that creators have an overall positive influence on their mood and wellbeing. I think the statements from the surveyed teenagers shows the good influence creators have on teenagers behavioral development. The platform creators have allows them to influence the daily lives of teenagers from impacting their mood and even the clothes they purchase and wear. The study also looks at how many parents are unaware of this community that means a lot in their teenager’s life.
With all of the possible positive influences YouTube creators have on many of their teenage viewers lives, there is still the possibility for negative influences. One specific concern is the concern for YouTube creators, specifically women, whose content is focused on fashion and beauty. Many have voiced concern about creators whose videos are centered on makeup, clothes, and looks because of the impression it could leave on young girls. I think this is a fair concern for people to have because there is already tons of pressure put on girls and women in this world to look a certain way. Their content could influence adolescent girls to be more focused on their looks and what they wear. The amount of subscribers many of these YouTubers have can run into the millions which means their content can reach a wide range of people so it is crucial that they are conscientious of what they say and do.
When I decided to write about the impacts an application such as YouTube may have on the development in teenagers, I did not realize how difficult it would be to find research. What drew me to this perspective was the rise in YouTube viewing I have personally seen in the last year. I have two young nieces in elementary school that are growing up in this generation where technology is everything to them. One of my nieces had begun to upload ‘vlogs’ with her friends on her YouTube channel. I also work with school aged kids who talk a lot about their love for YouTube and certain YouTubers. From the research I could find, I take from it that YouTube creators are becoming more influential role models for children and adolescents to look up to than traditional celebrities. The research is showing that they are having an overall positive impact in individual’s lives, they increase the well-being and mood in individuals which affects their behavior and actions. However, I definitely think there needs to be more research on this perspective because the popularity in YouTube and creators is only going to increase so parents and caregivers should understand the impact of it.
References
Conversation, T. (2017, May 26). Beauty, fashion, looking ‘hot’: The messages Youtube is sending to girls. Retrieved from https://www.mamamia.com.au/how-bloggers-influence-teenagers/
O’Neil-Hart, C., & Blumenstein, H. (2016, July). Why YouTube Stars Are More Influential Than Traditional Celebrities. Retrieved from https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/youtube-stars-influence/
Westenberg, W. (2016). The Influence of YouTubers on teenagers (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Twente.
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