Why Are We Watching Everybody’s Life on YouTube? The Messy Truth About Vlogs

Let’s be honest: people are nosy.

There, I said it.

We can dress it up and call it “supporting content creators,” “watching lifestyle content,” or “keeping up with somebody’s journey.” But sometimes we are sitting on YouTube watching a complete stranger get dressed, go grocery shopping, ride around town, eat lunch, clean their apartment and talk about their problems like we have known them since high school.

And we LOVE IT.

Welcome to the wonderful, messy world of vlogging.

A vlog can be about almost anything. A vacation. A shopping trip. A birthday. A bad date. A trip to the doctor. A new apartment. A day at work. A trip on public transportation. A celebrity event. Even somebody sitting on their couch talking about what happened yesterday.

And somehow...

WE WATCH.

It's Like Reality TV Without the Network

One reason people love vlogs is because they feel like reality television.

Except there isn't necessarily a production company hiding behind the camera.

There aren't producers yelling, “Get that argument on camera!”

There isn't always a dramatic soundtrack telling you that somebody is about to walk through the door.

Instead, it's somebody holding a phone saying:

“Hey guys, I'm about to head downtown.”

And somehow 30 minutes later we're still watching.

WHY?!

Because we want to know what happens.

That's the same thing that keeps people watching reality shows. We want the journey, the personalities and the unexpected moments.

The difference is that with a vlog, the creator can make ordinary life feel like an episode.

We Want to Feel Like We Know You

Here's another secret.

People don't always watch because the creator is doing something spectacular.

Sometimes they watch because they like the person.

After watching somebody regularly, viewers start recognizing their personality.

They know the jokes.

They know the stories.

They know the favorite restaurants.

They know when the creator is irritated.

They know when something doesn't make sense.

And suddenly the creator isn't just some person on YouTube.

They're familiar.

That's powerful.

You can have two people making videos about going to the exact same grocery store.

One video gets 300 views.

The other gets 30,000.

Why?

Personality.

And Yes, People Are Nosy

Let's not pretend.

If somebody posts:

“I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU...”

CLICK.

Immediately.

We don't even know what happened!

Was it a breakup?

Did somebody quit their job?

Did they move?

Did somebody owe them money?

Did the landlord say something?

Did the cousin get into an argument?

We don't know!

But we're already watching.

That's the power of curiosity.

A good vlog creates little questions throughout the video.

“Where are they going?”

“Who are they meeting?”

“What happened?”

“Are they really going to buy that?”

“Why did they suddenly change their plans?”

Now you've got us emotionally invested in somebody's Tuesday afternoon.

Ordinary Life Can Actually Be Interesting

This is where new vloggers sometimes get confused.

They think they need an extravagant lifestyle.

A luxury car.

A mansion.

Five-star restaurants.

First-class flights.

Designer clothes.

A tropical vacation every weekend.

No!

People watch ordinary life too.

Going downtown can be interesting.

Taking the bus can be interesting.

Going shopping can be interesting.

Trying a new restaurant can be interesting.

Going to an event can be interesting.

Looking for an apartment can be interesting.

The trick is telling a story.

Don't just show the grocery store.

Tell us why you're there.

Don't just show the restaurant.

Tell us whether the food was worth the money.

Don't just show the trip.

Tell us what happened along the way.

That's the difference between recording your life and creating a vlog.

The Drama Doesn't Have to Be Fake

And please don't misunderstand me.

You don't need to manufacture drama just because the internet likes mess.

Real life already has enough foolishness!

The bus can be late.

The restaurant can disappoint you.

The store can be crowded.

Somebody can say something ridiculous.

You can get lost.

You can change your plans.

You can meet somebody interesting.

You can discover something you didn't expect.

Those little moments become the story.

And sometimes the funniest vlog moments are completely accidental.

Viewers Like the Journey

One of the biggest reasons people watch vlogs is because they like watching someone's journey.

Maybe you're starting a business.

Moving to a new city.

Looking for a job.

Trying to improve your finances.

Working on your music.

Writing a book.

Trying new restaurants.

Going back to the gym.

Building a YouTube channel.

Whatever it is, viewers can follow along.

And that's where things get interesting.

They don't just watch one video.

They come back to see what happened next.

Now you've created a series without even realizing it.

But Here's Where Vloggers Get Messy

Some creators think every video needs to be two hours long.

NO.

Baby, we have lives!

Sometimes the story is 8 minutes.

Sometimes it's 15.

Sometimes it's 30.

The length should match the story.

If nothing happened for 25 minutes, don't make us suffer just because you need watch time.

We will click out so fast you'll think the Wi-Fi disconnected.

And another thing...

Stop taking 47 minutes to get to the point.

If the title says you went apartment hunting, let's go apartment hunting!

Don't spend the first 12 minutes talking about what you had for breakfast.

Unless breakfast caused the apartment search to fall apart.

Then we're listening.

A Vlog Is Really About the Relationship

At its best, vlogging creates a relationship between the creator and viewer.

The viewer starts thinking:

“I wonder what they're doing today.”

That's when you know you've built something.

The creator isn't just getting views.

They're building an audience.

And that audience can eventually follow them into other things—books, music, products, live streams, podcasts, events and other creative projects.

That's why vlog content can be much more valuable than chasing one viral video.

You're building people who want to come back.

My Final Review

So what's my review of vlogging?

9/10.

Why?

Because vlogs can turn everyday life into entertainment.

They can be funny.

They can be dramatic.

They can be inspiring.

They can be messy.

They can be educational.

And sometimes they are absolutely ridiculous.

But that's part of the fun.

The best vlog doesn't necessarily come from the person with the most money.

It comes from the person who can make you say:

“Okay...let me see what happens next.”

And THAT is the real secret.

You don't have to live a celebrity lifestyle to make an interesting vlog.

You need a story, personality and a reason for people to keep watching.

Because the truth is...

We're all a little nosy.

And YouTube has given us a front-row seat to everybody else's life.

Now Let's Talk!

Do you watch vlogs?

What makes you click on one?

The personality? The drama? Travel? Food? Shopping? Celebrity events? Everyday life?

And creators, be honest:

Are you actually telling a story in your vlog...

or are we just watching you walk around Walmart for 38 minutes?

😂😂😂

Leave your thoughts in the comments, share this post and follow Reality Rundown for more pop-culture, reality-TV and creator conversations.

And if you're a YouTuber, remember:

Your life doesn't have to be perfect to be interesting. You just have to make us care about what happens next.