Confessions of a YouTube Addict

It is amazing to me that there are still so many people yet to discover the joy of YouTube.  But I have to remind myself - that is not really a reflection on them, it is a reflection on me. You see, I have become somewhat of a YouTube addict.

My name is Gwen…and I am a YouTubeaholic. This is my confession.

At first the addiction started with TV shows. When I came home from the UK there were a number shows that I missed, but I discovered whole episodes uploaded on YouTube. Now, nearly 9 years later, the list of shows that I am able to watch has expanded thanks to those willing to flout copyright laws.

TV shows and networks around the world are catching up though, with many now having their own channels releasing content on their terms, which will likely lead to the downfall of the channels illegally uploading. My favourites are the channels for Britain’s GotTalent and Jimmy Fallon.  Mainly because you don’t really need to see whole episodes of these shows. The best bits are usually what YouTubers get to see.

So that was how my addiction began. Innocently enough, but my viewing habits expanded. I don’t even remember how, but I soon discovered what I thought for a time YouTube was really made for. And I don’t mean cat videos. I mean FanVids.

It was so encouraging for me to find a community of people who are in love with the same shows, movies and characters that I am, but they have the talent to express it in a video.  The quality of videos can vary greatly, but if you find a good one, there is nothing better. I am a huge fan of KatSw3. She hasn’t released anything in a year, but every now and then I go back and re-watch some of her excellent creations. So check out her stuff and while you are at it, search for a fanvid for something you love. I guarantee you will find it and you will take comfort in the fact that there are people out there who are as obsessed as you are.

While you are doing that, you may stumble upon fanvids with a twist. Channels like How It ShouldHave Ended, CinemaSins, Bad LipReading and the Honest Trailers on the Screen Junkies Channel have taken the fanvid premise and added some sass. These channels provide heckles in video form but they are fun and they are indiscriminate. No one is safe and for some reason it makes what they do ok.

If comedy is your thing, look no further. There are so many comedians writing and creating content for YouTube. I am a fan of Convos with my2 Year Old, Tripp and Tyler, Stuart Edge and DavidMitchell’s Soapbox, but I must admit I have barely scratched the surface of what is available.

As a fan of Jane Austen, I have subscribed to PemberleyDigital and The LizzyBennett Diaries. These are modern retellings of Jane Austen stories, presented as a vlog. There are other classics stories that are being retold in a similar fashion (Peter Pan, Jane Eyre) and I am sure this will increase. I am still discovering more and more original shows created for YouTube and I get the sense that this is not necessarily being seen as a stepping stone to something bigger. There is a community of people around the world passionate about creating content for YouTube.

This is one of the greatest things about YouTube. It has given people a creative outlet that previously only existed on a television screen or in a movie theatre. Now there are YouTubers creating and releasing this content themselves. You see YouTube is not just a place where people can watch people fall down stairs or propose to their girlfriend. It has become a legitimate career. We are getting to the point when kids can start dreaming of being a YouTuber when they grow up. That thought really excites me because surely the more options people have to do what they love for a living, the better.

The Fine Bros are a great example of this. In my opinion, they are leading the pack in terms of creating content that has a worldwide reach. Every month these Emmy Winners  create a video that is amongst the most-viewed in the world. Their React series (Kids React, Teens React, YouTubers React and Elders React) is both entertaining and insightful.

If you are a movie junkie like me, you’ll love AMC Theatres. They have a daily news show and they do spoiler reviews of big blockbusters. If you’d appreciate short, sharp movie reviews, my favourites at the moment are Chris Stuckman and SchmoesKnow.

My favourite vloggers are Rhett and Link on Good MythicalMorning and Good MythicalMore. I think a good vlogger is someone who is likeable, relatable and fun - and these dudes from North Carolina really fit the bill. I can imagine having a good games night with them.

Prefer something to feed your soul and spirit? Then you’ll love ExploreGod. I love this channel so much! The tone of it is just right for me and there are real gems of truth to be found there.

If I haven't mentioned anything you think you'll like, everything else you could possibly be interested in; war, history, art, science, music; can probably be found on WatchMojo.

I have suddenly realised that this confession has turned into a promotion. To be honest, I probably don’t see being a YouTube addict as being such a bad thing. In fact, I love it.

I love the community feel that you can get from it. I love that if I think of a TV show or movie that I haven’t seen in years, I can search on YouTube and probably find something – from a fanvid to an entire movie. I love that I am exposed to talent that I probably would never have known existed if YouTube wasn’t around.

My name is Gwen…and I love YouTube.