I wrote this early last week before I knew my favorite of favorites, Ze Frank, would be at VidCon this Summer, meaning that I will be at VidCon this Summer. Most (or, possibly all) of my favorite YouTubers will be there!
I know everyone is very well versed in using YouTube to watch funny videos or, more importantly, Lady Gaga videos. But, YouTube is much bigger than all of that. What’s more interesting is the user generated content. YouTube is a huge community with an unfortunate amount of hate, but enough awesome to make up for it.
I started getting into YouTube in early 2007. At first I watched mostly weight loss vlogs. Slowly I got into the more mainstream YouTubers, who mostly fall into the comedy category. Then I started watching the makeup gurus. At some point, I started making my own videos. Now, many of my favorite big time YouTubers are making vlogs and I love it.
If you don’t have one already, create yourself a YouTube account and start subscribing (so you can view videos kind of like you would in a reader). Here are my suggestions for people to follow. Ask Phampants and Jaime (both 20sbers who vlog) for many more, because they are way more involved in the YouTube community than I am.
Michael Buckley was one of the first big time YouTubers I ever watched. His main thing is the What The Buck Show, a celebrity gossip show, but I prefer his vlogs. Here’s one he posted right before Christmas that I just loved. His school year vlogs inspired my school year blogs.
You’ve probably heard me talk about the Vlog Brothers before. They were inspired by the king of vlogging, Ze Frank, and they’re pretty much made of awesome. John Green is a YA novelist and Hank Green is an eco blogger/musician. You will laugh and cry and get inspired. Here’s one of my favorites from John.
Shay Carl describes himself as loud and obnoxious. That’s probably accurate, but he’s also hilarious and surprisingly insightful. On his main channel, he does comedy sketches, but on his second channel, he’s been doing a daily vlog for every day of his 29th year. He has an awesome wife and the cutest children. Mommytard = beautiful and so patient. Sontard = an awesome dancer. Princesstard = crazy. Babytard = absolutely adorable. (Charles Trippy also does daily vlogs and I watch every day.)
Lisa Nova is easily one of the most talented people on YouTube. I have watched some of her videos millions of times. She does Affirmation Girl, Sarah Palin, Gabby Grant, Teenie Weenie, Ashley Morehouse, The Hills, and Dumb Water. Most recently, she’s teamed up with KassemG for Hot Girlz. The series is hilarious. Here’s the first episode:
For political commentary, I turn to The Young Turks. Cenk is a former Republican turned liberal and I love his political commentary (as well as his criticism of mainstream media). They do a full 3 hour radio/live streaming show every day and then post highlights on YouTube. They also talk about pop culture stories. Here’s one of my favorite videos from earlier this year:
You’ve seen the Kelly videos, right? Shoes? Let Me Borrow That Top? That’s Liam Sullivan. He makes a ton of good videos, but here’s Let Me Borrow That Top, because it’s a must see.
I love makeup, so I obviously love the YouTube Makeup Gurus, even if they are partly responsible for some of my debt. A few of my favorites: pixiwoo, MakeupByTiffanyD, Lisasz09, pinkiecharm, michele1218, and emilynoel83. But, my most favorite of all is Laura (lollipop26):
Most of the weight loss vloggers who I first started watched years ago no longer make videos, either because they lost the weight or just disappeared. But, there is still a very big weight loss community on YouTube. Weight Loss Losers is a collaboration channel with 7 different vloggers. It’s a good place to get started, if you’re interested.
He’s too big to even have to mention (he recently reached 1 million subscribers), but I’ve only just started watching Shane Dawson and he really is great. His videos are funny, but he just seems like an awesome guy too. Here’s one of his sketches:
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I’m subscribed to like, 70 channels on youtube. I really love livelavalive (mitchel davis), he’s basically the only channel I never miss any videos on. I watch them all. Then there are other vloggers and also musicians I really love. Meghan Tonjes just had her first album released on iTunes. :) So so amazing.
I have to admit I also love mememolly, charlieissocoollike and nerimon. :)
Thanks for sharing all of these, Ashley! I could get lost in YouTube all day, and now I have a ton of new ones to check out! :)
A whole new world! I have a YouTube account with a grand total of two videos on it, haha – and I’ve only ever used it for music videos or videos of cats doing funny and sweet things. It never really entered my radar that it could actually be useful – and it looks incredible!! I’m going to have to start checking it out a little bit more :)
Oh my, thank you for my procrastination tools for the next week!
I’m definitely a non-vlogger– I’m super awkward in front of a camera and hate the sound of my voice, so blogging is staying in written form for me. I definitely have to give props to those who can go on camera.
I just sat and watched all of those. They were fantastic; however, this is also why I can’t watch YouTube. I lose all sense of time and get incredibly absorbed. I can totally see myself watching The Hot Girlz and Shane Dawson a LOT. Okay, time to get off the couch!
Though I’ve definitely made use of YouTube, I’ve definitely never really knew about the people who use that as their main forum (as opposed to a written blog). The Young Turks were definitely on my radar but other than that, it’s all pretty unknown to me. Because of your prompting, I’ll have to delve into that world, though I also request more vlogs from you as well!
I\’ve just been laughing my ass off at that Lisa Nova one – absolutely class. I think it may be getting posted on my facebook wall tonight. :)
Weirdly enough, although I’m on youtube all the time, I’ve never actually thought to sign up. I think I will be now though. Cheers Ashley!
I should make a blog post about YouTubers too. Also, the fact that you’re a YTer & Nerdfighter makes you so awesome!
I really don’t watch YouTube regularly, but there are so many good suggestions here I might change my habits! I seem to spend all my time reading blogs, chatting, emailing, and writing. I do watch things people link to though, and sometimes I hunt out specific clips. It’s amazing how much original content is out there.
haha my favorite out of all those is definitrly vlogbrothers! nerdfighters ftw! Thanks for sharing! Now I have more procrastination material!
Eeek! These are some awesome ones. (And omg, I totally remember zefrank.com when I was like 15!) I love the YouTube vloggers and have always wanted to be amongst them. There needs to be a 20sb support group or something for it.
My favorites are Charlieissocoollike, Steven and Rohan. All adorable boys who are charmingly nerdy, dorky, awkward, funny and… much younger than I. Or, you know. Gay.
I’m video shy!!! But recently my boyfriend made a short video of us sledding…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpQmZyEPbSI
Thankfully my voice is replaced with music! But I still look so silly.
Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot get into the YouTube thing. Sure, I’ll watch a recommended video here and there, but I tend to stay away.
I love YouTube. I love vlogging. I love the YouTube community so much, I spend more time there lately than I do on my own blog.
Thanks for the mention. <3
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