<videovortex> Dutch TV VPRO documentary on YouTubers

[Geert Lovink]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--VqhKD3WxI

Kids that want to become a YouTuber or a YouTube star as they grow up, that’s the unexpected outcome of the YouTube generation. A number of professional YouTubers give us a glimpse into the wonderful world of the YouTube industry. In ‘YouTube, YouTubers and You’, VPRO backlight meets with famous YouTubers like Kwebbelkop, and explores how YouTube and the almighty YouTube algorithm impact people’s lives. Original title: YouTubeland, Like and Subscribe In this YouTube documentary, we will question what outstanding earnings model is behind YouTube, and how will this model determine our future media landscape?

YouTube has become one of the most powerful online platforms in this fast-moving world, with thousands of YouTubers looking to get to the sacred YouTube Golden play button. Nowadays, almost every kid in the world is dreaming of becoming a rich and famous YouTube star thanks to the video platform. How will YouTube and YouTubers determine our future media landscape? YouTube exists for 12 years now and has turned the media landscape upside down, bringing fame and wealth to many at hand. Both makers and advertisers are faced with this dominant position.

Every day, hordes of young people start their own YouTube channel and aim to score YouTube money thanks to the YouTube Ad revenue, but also thanks to the influencers marketing. Will they be part of the richest YouTubers or the top 10 YouTubers? A true gold fever that causes these YouTube creators to constantly look up the boundaries in various YouTube challenges.

The most successful Dutch YouTuber, Kwebbelkop, has more than seven million YouTube subscribers on his gaming YouTube channel. All of his subscribers watch massively every day how he plays video games or vlogs about his personal life. His success is huge. He is constantly recognized on the street and lives with his girlfriend Azzy, who is also a YouTuber, in a luxurious apartment in Amsterdam. With Kwebbelkop, we visit VidCon in Los Angeles, the main meeting place for YouTuber fans, online influencers and the platform industry. However, not everyone on YouTube is so successful. YouTube has a huge cemetery of videos without views.

A glimpse in the kitchen in the world of the YouTubers, the marketers, the managers, the career and advertising opportunities, but also the psychological consequences of an online earnings model with 'You' as a unique selling point, from the first YouTube video to the first YouTube button, what does it take to be a YouTuber today?

Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2017. © VPRO Backlight October 2017