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Laura Ruiz
Professor Griffith
English 113B- 2:00 PM MW
22 February 2016
Better Role Models
It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say that in the later future there may be none or maybe
just one T.V in a single household and the reason for that is the web. The web has transformed
into something entirely new from what we started out with. Starting out with a simple program
that just turned into people using it just for emails. Computers were mostly used by company to
help their business and maybe one person that invested in a computer. It was uncommon for a
family to have a computer even then it would be a hassle because back then the network was
connected to your phone line. Now just like television a computer is in every home, however
now having access to the web comes easier with a laptop and a smartphone. With easier access to
the web their had to be website other than just sending a email to have peoples so addicted to it.
Thats when social media websites came into the picture and changed the way people use them.
It is no surprise that with the webs impact on the people that it practically overtook the
entertainment industry and more specifically fame that comes from entertainment. You dont
have to be on main stream media like movies or T.V to become a known household name. With a
big jump in social media website like twitter, YouTube and vine people are able to be creative
and be themselves which lead them to get a following. YouTube allows anyone upload a video to
their website and the more the views and likes the video gets people receive money for the video.
With this change the web helps people show their interest to the world which is beneficial

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because is expresses talent, show people that they arent alone, and bring attention to talented
people.
The first thought that come to people minds when they think about life before the web is
having answers to any question at their finger tips. To some extent that is true, before the web
trying to find a answer to a question they have. Also another question is how student did their
research for their school work without having access to many sources at their finger tips.
Before the web was communication between a friend or family would mean that someone would
write a letter and mail it to that person that love in a different state. All of those things changed
when the web came around, however the one that had a huge change is entertainment. Before he
web it was television that was a big deal, however when the web came YouTube came along and
took over the entertainment industry. In 2011 article posted by Dezine guide names the 15 most
popular used of the web and they stated that Video websites such as YouTubeare used for
both promotional and entertainment purposes. YouTube allows peoples to upload a video to the
web for it to be watched around the world, as more and more people started to use this platform
some people used it as a way to show the world of their talent. The more it became poplar the
more people started to build a career on it by making video of them either doing make up, a
comedy sketch, playing video games. The more the videos would bring in like, views, and
subscribers to the platform they would get money from the video. For people who pursued fame
in the music industry many of them would upload a video on YouTube of them singing to grow a
fan base. One of these successful cases is an artist by the name of Troye Sivan, YouTuber turned
upcoming artist. He began by uploading videos of him either singing or just talking to a camera
like any other YouTuber. However what gave him recognition was his singing and later on he
was signed by Capitol records, introducing his EP during the huge YouTube convention known

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as Vidcon. Just minutes after the fan base he had on YouTube made the ep #1 on the iTunes list
for months, the same exact thing happened with his second EP and his first album Blue
Neighborhood was released.
With this new form of entertainment it attracted more with the youth in society, so
whether it is a beauty guru, a prankster, singer, gamer, or comedian YouTuber. It was stated in
paper where they sourced an A, Swidler where he points out the connection of media and a youth
identity In cultures where media are available, media can provide materials that adolescents use
toward the construction of an identity.(Swidler 1986). This connection still makes sense even
with this knew form of entertainment because seeing people that they would relate to would help
them form their own identity. The YouTubers create a community and family with their
subscribers because on a daily occasion these people watch their videos. It is a form of escape for
the viewers because for 6 to 8 minutes a day they would be watch vlogs, comedy sketches,
tutorial, or hauls of their role models and just be updated and escaped from their own struggle or
anxiety they have. The more the platform became popular the more YouTube creators wanted to
expand their content, which would only work with the help of their subscribers. Upon this
expansion YouTubers got book deals where they had a knew platform to write about their life
lessons. In the example of Hannah Hart YouTuber and creator of My Drunk Kitchen, her book
was designed to be a self help/ cooking book which landed a #1 spot on the New York Time best
seller. Along with the book she has an organization which she created into a series called Have a
Hart Day. Her subscribers and occasionally herself with offer their services to a local charity
organization and help. With her charity work, book and role model in the LGBT community she
bring in a good name to YouTube stars. Other youtuber consist of Grace Helbig, Mamrie Hart

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and Tyler Oakley just to name a few other big YouTube names that also have made a change in
their community and even help them.
When the Web came along it was known as being escaped and the more it expanded the
easier it was. At first it started you could get lose because you would surf the web, doing research
and answering any question they had. When social medias websites like Twitter, Instagram,
Tumblr, and YouTube came along it made your time on the the web fly faster. YouTube is a
frequent escape that people go to, so when people frequently check in on their favorite Youtubers
it would make sense that they make a connection with them. When convention events like
Vidcon which is specifically for Youtubers and their fans, they host panels and meet and greets.
When you hear fans talk about their favorite role model it gets personal because they have a
sense of gratitude toward them. On a personal level many fans say that the person had helped
them through a tough time. Many YouTubers themselves have expressed a similar problem they
have like anxiety, depression, cancer or an eating disorder. Some youtubers opened up about
their problems and make video discussing their situation. In these videos they discuss how they
developed their problem, how they deal with it and how they are still dealing with. With these
very personal videos they upload, it a way for them to say to their fans that they have flaws too
and to get to know them on a personal level. When the fans watch these videos the fans they
dont feel alone and they find the videos helpful. One of the more popular ones that help people
are coming out video, some of the most recent videos by bug YouTube stars are Ingrid Nilsen,
Troye Sivan and Joey Graceffa. All of the people are now seen as a face and a voice of of the
LGBT community. One of the the most known faces of the community is Tyler Oakley and in his
work he has brought a lot to help the community Tyler has helped make a difference for The
Trevor Project while sending a crucial message to LGBTQ youth: you are not alone (Trevor

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project). Tyler not only uses his video to help the youth of the lgbt to help accept themselves, but
his voice and action helps beyond that. With the help of his fans he to help him with his birthday
fundraiser for the foundation, meeting their deadline they raised up hundred of thousand of
dollars for the LGBTQ foundation. Other lgbtq Youtubers like Troye Sivan have helped the
community be accepted with his coming out video, including his music and music video in
which he had no problem expressing his sexuality. Youtuber Ingrid Nilsen known for her being a
beauty guru in her recent venture of coming out she broke the stereotypical look on lesbian and
showing females that it was okay to be themselves and that it can be a struggle. Three out of the
many other youtubers in the LGBTQ community that have helped shaped a brighter future for
the community and helping their fans in the process.
It is overly expressed the negative the recent and takeover the web has done to the youth.
As well how that can have a direct correlation to how their will be an a dark outcome to the
future. However when they use fact or examples they simply scrap the surface as to why they see
nothing put the negative. With a great majority of the youth using YouTube as a platform for
entertainment the adults dont see the new truth that they are learning. With YouTube allowing
people to show their talent and smarts with no restrictions it shows a new outlook in the world
that is changing. The youth is learning how to form their own opinion and look on the world that
is different from their parents and how their parents looked and learned from their world. The
community that these talented and smart creators gather it build a safe haven from the the world
they sometime feel trapped over overwhelmed in. In this community for a little moment they feel
save enough to be themselves and even express their talents and thought to others that are similar
to them. The web has changed the way people choose and look up to their role models because
they know see them as regular people just like them.

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Works Cited
Arnett,JeffreyJensen."Adolescents'UsesofMediaforSelfSocialization."JournalofYouth
Adolescence24.5(1995):51933.Web.20Feb.2016.
Dezineguide."15MostPopularUsesofWeb."13Oct.2011.Web.20Feb.2016.
"TylerOakley'sBirthdayFundraiserSupportsLGBTQFutures."TylerOakley'sBirthday
FundraiserSupportsLGBTQFutures.Web.24Feb.2016.