Do celebrities really let their fans into their lives through vlogs and livestreams? MEGA Entertainment finds out
Back in the day, YouTube made stars. So-called ordinary people became famous because of the platform and how their content would reach different audiences all over the world. Think Zoella, Tyler Oakley, Justin Bieber, Bretman Rock, and Troye Sivan. Their video blogs (or vlogs) paved the way for them to become celebrities.
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But today, especially in the Philippines, it’s the other way around. Celebrities have taken over YouTube. And when we say celebrities, we mean those who have established their names long before starting their vlogs. Artistas like Bea Alonzo, Kathryn Bernardo, and even Maricel Soriano, who were in television before hopping into the YouTube sphere. We seem to love their content because of three reasons: One, they are themselves and play no characters; Two, they show a different side of their “star” persona; And three, they seem to be real individuals to us. But are they, really? MEGA Entertainment weighs in on the vlog effect and how these stars, through vlogs, are keeping us close, but not quite.
No roles to play
One of the reasons why celebrity vlogs tend to appeal to their fans is because of the lack of characters a particular star is playing. They are themselves when they shoot their own vlogs. For instance, we see Jessy Mendiola as the wife, mother, and homemaker, not as the celebrity. With this mere lack of fictional persona, we feel like we are already crossing the boundaries of celebrity and fan interactions.
This goes the same for the livestreams of our K-Pop idols. Stripped off of their makeup, stage outfits, and backtracks, they are “real people” to us. In a way, vlogs and lives do make them the humans that they are to us. Though these celebrities also plan their content like Q&A, challenges, and filtered video clips, they project all these as themselves.
What also adds to their closeness to us is our ability to bring them with us in our pockets. Nowadays, it is easier to watch vlogs on our phones or our other portable gadgets. We can watch our favorite stars anywhere and anytime. With that, though there may be screens and more between us, they feel closer than ever.
A medium reminder
Not to burst a fangirl’s bubble, but all of us can use a note from time to time: Celebrities also use their vlogs to gain more traction. While showing another side of themselves is a part of their agenda, this chosen medium is always profitable and advantageous for their careers. Ultimately, only these big names can answer this question—what message are they trying to give their fans, and are they effectively passing it on through vlogs?
Communication theorist Marshall McLuhan established the theory that, “medium is the message.” That means one message can change depending on how we deliver it to the receivers, making the medium the ultimate game changer for a message.
Let’s take Kathryn Bernardo as an example. Since 2018, she and on and off-screen partner Daniel Padilla have addressed their relationship status in interviews. They have starred in different films and series since then. But to KathNiels, the chemistry hits different in Kathryn’s vlog, wherein she asks Daniel questions she has never asked him before. The message is the same: We are together, and we are in love. We are in a relationship. But when one watches it in Kathryn’s vlog, the message is more sincere and real. This is what a vlog, a medium used by celebrities nowadays, can do to keep fans on their toes on how realer can their favorites still go.
At the end of the day, it really just boils down to consumption with caution. While vlogs seem to depict a more reachable image of our idols, they, too, are curated. Though it may look like we are closer to them than ever, we still have layers of distances such as our screens and our personal lives keeping them apart from us. And that, truly, is what you call a respectable distance.
Featured Image: BEA ALONZO, MARICEL SORIANO, and JESSY MENDIOLA (via Instagram)
