Trends have come and gone on YouTube since the site was launched almost two decades ago. Popular videos have ranged from bizarre challenges like the Mannequin Challenge in 2016 where people would pose still while the song, “Black Beatles,” by Rae Sremmurd played in the background to the new rise videos of people giving interviews in public places. Throughout all of these trends however one has withstood the test of time: Vlogs.
What is Vlogging?
The word “vlog” means a video blog. It is often used in the context of someone filming bits and parts of their day that they felt were important and essentially serves as a video diary. An example of a vlog could be someone documenting their first day of school or even something as simple as them reading. The beauty of a vlog is that it can be anything, ranging from the world’s most mundane task or an exciting, event filled day. It just has to be interesting to the person filming.
Did you know YouTube’s first ever video was actually a vlog? It was titled, “Me at the Zoo,” and was uploaded by the site’s co-founder Jawed Karmin. The video is very brief, just being a clip of Karmin talking about the elephants at the zoo. Vlogging has always been a big community on YouTube.
During the 2010s, vlogging became mainstream and it was typical content to see your favorite influencer post a vlog about their day. Vlogging grew to be so big that during the holiday season influencers started a trend called “Vlogmas,” where they would post a vlog every day starting on Dec. 1st and not stopping till Christmas Day. This vlog craze would slowly start to die down and wouldn’t become popular again until recent years.
Vlogging and YouTube
YouTubers like Emma Chamberlain, David Dobrik and Casey Neistat have revolutionized vlogging. Each of these influencers has taken their own personal spin on what vlogging looks like to them. Emma Chamberlain, posts relatively laid-back vlogs sharing her current travels and getting ready for events like the MET and Paris Fashion Week.
David Dobrik’s videos were often kept short but action packed. His vlogs often consisted of his friend group who were dubbed the “Vlog Squad.” Casey Neistat’s vlogs would often take a more cinematic approach to the filming and editing process.
Not only did these creators restore the popularity of vlogs on YouTube once again, but they also aided in the transition of vlogs branching out to other social media platforms. For example, on their TikTok, they may post a more intimate video sharing what a day in their life filming and editing a vlog for YouTube may look like.
Vlogging is for all
During this new wave of vlogging, it has now become normalized for anyone to make vlogs and it isn’t just for influencers anymore. It’s not uncommon while scrolling on TikTok to see someone sharing themselves getting ready for a football game or what a day in their life looks like as a college student.
You probably posted a vlog today without even realizing it. If you posted a video on your private story sharing what you had for breakfast or how a class went, that’s a vlog.
Even big companies now have started using vlogs as a marketing strategy. An example of this could be them having an intern do a “take over,” where they post to the company’s social media showing what a day in their life at said company looks like.
In this day and age with technology, we are so used to new information being readily available for us and are constantly looking for avenues to improve the speed of communication. Instead of calling your friend to see how their day went, all you have to do now is check their social media and see if they have posted about their day.
Next time you post a vlog, tag us on TikTok @VALLEYmag!
