Vlogging influences of lonelygirl15

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Lonelygirl15 could not have existed before the concept of videoblogging (or vlogging) - people posting video of themselves online in a diary-like format -- became a reality.

Vlogging as a social phenomenon slowly started to take root in 2004, as the number of high-speed internet connections started to take off and improvements in streaming video and average home computer technology made vlogging possible. Activity grew in various areas of the web, such as the Yahoo videoblogging group, but even as of the summer of 2005, videoblogging was just a very small part of the greater blogosphere. One of the earliest popular videoblogs was Rocketboom (featuring Amanda Congdon). Meanwhile, youtube.com went live in "beta" format in May 2005.

In early 2006, Creator Miles Beckett was looking for a way to create and distribute content online. His first endeavor was Shoutboy.com, am ambitious idea for the budding doctor: "SHOUTBOY is an independent media network and we're using the newest internet technology to distribute shows directly to you on your schedule and on your terms. No cable company. No middleman. He's out back mowing the lawn." As Miles has stated in various interviews, the comedy videos posted at Shoutboy (mostly parody videos of President Bush), did "OK" but didn't get a lot of traffic.

At about this same time, Miles became aware of the existence of youtube.com. He reported in at least one press interview that he started exploring YouTube after the controversy involving Saturday Night Live's skit "Lazy Sunday"[1], which when "viral," put YouTube in the limelight.

As Miles explored youtube, he became aware of the growing community of vloggers, some that were among the most popular videos on the site. From there, he conceived of the idea of creating a fictional videoblogger that could tell a story, and leverage the community and traffic growth being enjoyed at YouTube. When Miles met Mesh Flinders, they started to turn that idea into reality.

Via the Internet Archive, we are able to see what the top ten most subscribed channels were at youtube on May 17, 2006, which was one week before Bree started posting videos. Internet Archive of most subscribed YouTube channels on May 17th, 2006

  1. Smosh - comedy shorts
  2. Filthywhore - vlogger
  3. sexxiebebe23 - booty shaker
  4. schizoar
  5. strawberrie
  6. bowiechick - vlogger
  7. animextenshi
  8. whiteflower
  9. Brookers - vlogger/comedy
  10. MadV

4 of top 10 were used at tags in early lonelygirl15 videos.

In lonelygirl15's first two videos (posted on May 24 and 26, 2006, and which predated her trademark vlogs by almost a month), she made references to popular vloggers, and even included clips from some of the them. Although this was largely a method to gain the attention of an audience already interested in vlogging, these vloggers also were the founding influences for lonelygirl15's style.

Brookers, thewinekone, paytotheorderofofof2, FilthyWhore, and bowiechick, kaiserro11, scream0 are all either referenced are appear in the early comments to these videos.

Lonelygirl15's first vlog (need link) also included direct "shoutouts" to paytoorderofofof2 and thewinekone.

EmoKid21Ohio was likely also an early influence on, or perhaps cautionary tale to, to the Creators. EmoKid was one of the 1st 25 channels "Bree" subscribed to, and featured a vlogger who created a fictitious persona--in this case, a man in Britian pretending to be "emo kid" in Ohio. It drew huge attention for the time at YouTube in April 2006. Before April was over, however, EmoKid21Ohio's real identity, and the identity of his partner-in-vlogging, EmoGirl21, had been tracked down via myspace and exposed. This marked the end of emokid's popularity.


For ease of reference during construction -


  • External Links
  • Entry for Vlog at Wikipedia [2]
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