YouTube Stardom: Actual Job Prospects


Trisha Dantiani
1806174616


The breakout dream career option; seems as though every generation has one. In the 70s everyone wanted to be a rock star, in the 90s everyone wanted to be on TV. Now, in the digital era where social media is reigning high, it seems that Youtubers and Selebgrams have taken over the public sphere.
While parents still hold onto dreams of their child becoming a doctor or a lawyer, the new generation is growing up with dreams of being a Youtuber. And why wouldn’t they?
Following the success of social media platforms in placing influencer, KOLs, and public figures on a pedestal within the digital sphere where anyone can virtually find anything that suits their interests, Youtubers have gained enough power, influence, and fame to be regarded in the same ranks as A-list celebrities. They are even making enough to meet celebrities’ net worth by earning millions from views, likes, advertising and endorsements made on the video sharing platform.
At a glance, many people perceive Youtube fame (or any kind of social media stardom really) as an instant phenomenon; as easy as uploading a video at the press of a button and that user could become a YouTube star overnight. Though there are the occasional viral videos, this is a misconception for the most part as many for many Youtubers, once they get the exposure and recognition they were aiming for, they have to work hard to stay in the proverbial limelight by producing content that will get people to watch and subscribe to more videos so that they maintain staying power. It is not easy especially when Youtubers have reached high levels of fame as they are in the constant state of having to produce content their viewers want because one wrong move could cause the end of everything.
As an occupation, there’s only so much Youtube can offer for their users and with each passing day more and more people are copying the same gimmicks and trends as famous Youtubers in hopes of achieving the same level of fame. It is safe to say that becoming a Youtube star is a tough business because they become their own content creators while managing their own self-branding and image. Which is why in my opinion, being a YouTuber should not be the goal people strive to be, it should be used as a stepping-stone to get to more permanent life goals and career options. In fact, many Youtubers have gone on to become successful in other fields outside of YouTube. Starting their own business, publishing a book, and becoming spokespeople for well known brands.
The thing with having a career through YouTube is that it is unpredictable. Starting out there is the constant dilemma of following the trends or starting your own. Fame and fortune comes as quickly as it goes. With YouTube, everyone has the same opportunity as anyone else online to become a Youtuber.
Another reason, YouTube doesn’t have as much staying power as TV or other forms of entertainment; this is because YouTube is a heavily personalized experience which means every person consumes content differently. The same applies to Instagram, Twitter or other social media platforms.
In conclusion, YouTube is a great platform to kick start your future career, but it shouldn’t be the main goal in itself. IT can provide content creators with many resources and opportunities they never even dreamed of. The influence and power Youtubers possess cannot be denied; it is no wonder that today’s 3-8 year olds when asked what they want to be when they grow up, they could very well dream of becoming a Youtuber like Pewdiepie, Atta Halilintar or Awkarin.

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