Why Is YouTube So Popular?

Dating back to 2005, YouTube has become the most popular video-sharing website on the Internet. In fact, as of December 2015, more than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month [1]. The site caters to just about every category you can think of, including entertainment, science and education, business and advertising, news and politics, and more. Although it has become immensely popular since its inception in 2005, many people aren’t sure why this is so; why does YouTube have such a large audience? This article explores some reasons why YouTube appeals to so many people worldwide.

The personalities

Because there are almost no rules, you're never really sure what to expect from a YouTuber. But that can be a good thing. YouTubers don't have to play by anybody's rules but their own—which means they can be just as quirky, entertaining and downright awesome as they want to be. It’s an opportunity for viewers and fans to get an honest look at somebody else's life in a way they might not be able to otherwise (like through social media). Viewers come back every day because they know they'll get something interesting—and maybe even exciting or thoughtful—to watch. And by being so open with his or her audience, a YouTuber is able to cultivate an incredibly close connection between fan and creator. This connection is what makes people feel like they know YouTubers personally—and why some of them feel like friends.

Lifestyle vloggers

A growing subset of YouTube stars are vloggers who shoot videos of their daily lives. Also known as life casters, these social media-savvy folks share a raw look at everything from how they get ready in the morning to what's on their plates for dinner. Some of them have found fame and success on channels like Hannah Hart's My Drunk Kitchen or Marie, Hart's You Deserve A Drink; others rely more on followings amassed by guest-starring in another video blogger's series. Either way, these vloggers give us a candid, uncensored peek into their worlds—which can be alluring or appalling (or both) depending on your perspective. If you want an inside look at what goes on behind closed doors, you'll find it here.

How YouTube makes it easy to watch videos

The beauty of YouTube, like any other platform, is that it has its own strengths and weaknesses. It allows us to see high-quality footage from around the world with a few clicks, and it allows for unprecedented accessibility for viewers. You can watch a video about a school in Cambodia at 8 p.m. on Wednesday from your office in New York City—and it feels like you're there! But what makes YouTube different than TV is not just access but immediacy; audiences can respond quickly to videos they love, which gives advertisers more opportunities to connect with their target audience as well as greater control over who sees their ads. This ability to interact directly with an audience also creates unique challenges: Because there are no censors or gatekeepers, anyone can post anything anywhere, so brands have had to develop new strategies for reaching customers and filtering out inappropriate content.

Unboxing videos and boxes

Most people know what an unboxing video is. It’s when someone gets a new product, such as a smartphone or vacuum cleaner, and then they record themselves opening it up and talking about it. These are very popular with YouTubers, who make up a significant percentage of all users on YouTube. Why are they so popular? We like to see what’s in that fancy box we just ordered online. It’s also interesting to see what kind of condition our item arrives in. Finally, we all want to be part of that unboxing experience. It just makes us feel good inside! And that’s why these videos are so popular.

The rise of live-streaming

No one wants to spend time editing video, nor do they want to spend money on having it professionally done. Thankfully, a number of startups have emerged that allow users to stream live video with little more than a webcam and an internet connection. Gone are the days when you had to be a huge company like Netflix or Hulu in order to get your shows out there. Now anyone can be a producer. It’s hard to imagine how big these platforms will become over time, but if we’ve learned anything from history, it’s that people love watching other people. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather watch my friend play Call of Duty online than sit through another episode of The Bachelor. And I’m sure I’m not alone.