YouTube Theory

Why has YouTube become so popular and vlogging become a viable career?  My theory is based on its personal connection and the reality of vloggers.  TV series and movies all have characters that we love.  Viewers could see themselves being best friends with a character or dating one.  But, in the end these imaginary connections are made with characters played by actresses and actors.  Since most often these characters don't exist, the imagined connection is impossible.  I never understood how videos of people living their lives or talking about their day could garner so much attention and following.  I think it is because just like with TV and movie characters we can develop a connection to the vloggers, except that the characters of most vloggers are real (exceptions: lonelygirl15, sexynerdgurl).  Thus, no matter how ridiculous having your imagined relationship with the character is, it is actually possible.  Furthermore, the characters of vloggers are infinite (except for in death), whereas TV series and movies finish or get cancelled.  Any connections imagined with these characters is lost.  Due to the excess number of sitcoms and movies, the loss is only momentary as we develop a new connection.  But with connections imagined through vlogs, even if the user stopped uploading videos and closed their channel the connection can still exist.  This is because that person is still the same character they were in their vlogs (themselves) and the connection is made with their personality.  If you bumped into one of these people on the street, they would still act and dress in the same way you got to know them in.  Whereas, for example, actresses playing a cute, awkward girl will most likely not be that awkward person in real life (and they were probably wearing outfits specific to their role).

For those of you who are confused and don't understand what these connections I'm talking about are, just look at arrested development.  Just 3 seasons aired and fans developed such strong connections that for years they've fought and prayed for a movie continuation.  Or look at long series like Friends, Seinfeld, Scrubs, etc.  These series finales are big TV events because viewers don't want to let go of their favourite characters.  They hold onto the connections they've made and then watch re-runs to keep them alive.  YouTube allows viewers to be entertained and create real(istic) connections to the people entertaining them, and that it why so many people subscribe to vlogs.  The same is probably true for reality shows to some people.