11 More Things #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour Taught Us

If there’s one thing YouTube fandoms are good at – it’s being honest…

On Monday #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour rose from the ashes to become a trending topic once more. Earlier in 2015, we looked at 9 Things We Learned From #YouTubeHonestyHour. and then we focused on the fandoms with 7 Things That #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour Taught Us. Then, at Summer in the City 2015, TenEighty Co-Editor Teoh Lander-Boyce hosted the #YouTubeHonestyHour Panel. We can’t get enough of it.

We think #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour is still so important and relevant, so we’ve pulled together just some of the highlights. What do the YouTube fandoms really think? Let’s find out…

1. Crossing personal boundaries is never okay.

If you watch your favourite YouTubers every day, it can begin to feel like you know them. When vloggers let their audiences inside their homes, it’s natural to feel like you’ve got a personal connection with them and that you’re part of their world.

Although you might feel like you know everything about your favourites, that’s not an invitation to invade their privacy. It’s important to remember that you’re still a stranger to them and it can be scary to be confronted by someone you don’t know when you’re not expecting it.

Going to a YouTubers PRIVATE home is NEVER okay! #youtubefandomhonestyhour

— Rebecca Esselgren (@beccissss) December 14, 2015

2. Fans come in all shapes and sizes.

Some fans like to shout about their favourites from the rooftops while others like to keep their enjoyment to themselves. People express their feelings in different ways. Just because someone doesn’t have a beauty guru or gamer plastered all over their Twitter, it doesn’t make them any less of a fan.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour stop judging people who are fan accounts but don't have a youtuber username or layout.

— halloweenie (@stansmithsivan) December 14, 2015

3. Fandoms can be amazing thing.

Every community goes through hard times, but it’s important to remember why fandoms come together in the first place: to celebrate a shared interest with like-minded people.

In a world full of people who feel like they don’t fit in or aren’t good enough, being able to talk about and share special moments from YouTubers who make you smile is a great thing to have. Look past the hate and remember why fandoms are awesome.

https://twitter.com/jingIedan/status/676512667209744385

4. YouTubers are people too.

Although it’s easy to consider your favourites as perfect and without fault, their actions and opinions are no more valid than your own. Standing by a YouTuber when you believe in what they say or do is great – but challenging them when you don’t agree is even more admirable.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour supporting your idol doesn't mean you have to agree with everything they say/do. Nobody is perfect :))

— erin loves jim (@chapmanfawn) December 14, 2015

5. Numbers aren’t a means of social validation.

Having valuable things to say and being a well-heard voice in a fandom can provide great opportunities to connect and spark debate. Being rude or abusive to someone because they don’t have as many followers as you destroys any respect you’ve built within a fandom and damages community spirit.

Whether you’ve spent time working on your numbers or you’ve simply purchased followers from a website; treat every single person you interact with online in the same way you’d like to be treated.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour The more followers you have does not mean you can be rude to everyone with less. Everyone should be the same :)

— soffoween🎃 (@nutelladeyes) December 14, 2015

6. Popular accounts aren’t as scary as you think.

Accounts with a lot of followers can sometimes be misinterpreted as intimidating. In reality, they’re just as much of a fan as you. You’re all part of the same fandom, after all!

Although they might be interacting with more people, that’s a great opportunity for you to join in the conversation and share your opinions. Try interacting with popular accounts and you might be surprised by the results.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour If you're a smaller account, don't feel intimidated by "big accounts". We're all fan of the same person, say hi!

— 8? (@aIonewithyou) December 14, 2015

7. Fans aren’t endless pots of money.

Creating great content takes lots of hard work and time – so in order for a YouTuber to dedicate themselves fully to their channel, they need to make money. With that in mind, it’s also the responsibility of the YouTuber to ensure that whatever they are selling is accessible and affordable.

Marketing high-end products to wide audiences can alienate those with less expendable money and often creates a divide in viewership. It’s important to remember that not buying something made or promoted by a YouTuber doesn’t make you any less of a fan. Watching their videos or supporting them in other ways are just as valid as buying their products.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour can youtubers please remember we don't have £739837253 to spend on make up

— erin loves jim (@chapmanfawn) December 14, 2015

8. Fandoms are international communities.

Being a fan of someone on the internet comes with challenges for people in certain parts of the world. While many YouTubers do their best to meet people from all corners of the globe, it’s not always practical for them to visit every country, and you might not be able to travel to meet them.

As with buying YouTuber products, meeting your favourite isn’t the be-all and end-all. If all else fails, you can always photoshop yourself into a picture with them or edit their vlog to include clips of yourself. It’s not quite the same, but it’s the next best thing.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour I hate to live in such a small country bc I'm aware to the fact that I'll probably never meet my faves & it sucks.

— maya (@qtcolleennoel) December 14, 2015

9. Ratios are a horrible way to judge someone.

There are so many reasons to follow people on social media. Some people want to make new friends, read #relatable Tweets and keep up-to-date with the latest gossip – while others might just follow people because it’s a nice thing to do. Twitter was made with the intention of following people so regardless of whether someone is following 100 or 100,000 people, their account is just as valid as yours. You do you.

#youtubefandomhonestyhour why do people care about ratio? you could follow whoever the hell you want, idrc? it's your account, not mine

— ;gianna (@wildcultures) December 14, 2015

10. Everyone is a fan of someone.

The term fangirl gets thrown around lots these days. The negative stereotypes that come with the fan label have been heavily parodied and criticised by YouTubers and viewers, even though they often reflect only a small proportion of fandoms.

At its heart, being a fan is about respecting and admiring someone and their work – but images in the media of screaming teenagers and obsessive viewers have distorted the meaning of the term. It’s time to reclaim what it means to be a fan. Be proud of your passion and don’t let anyone drag you down. Nobody, nobody.

fangirling aint even a bad thing, why does it have such a label on it. #youtubefandomhonestyhour

— Beckii Whiting (@beckiiwhiting) December 14, 2015

11. There’s a world outside of fandoms.

Making new friends and sharing experiences are amazing opportunities which have been made easy thanks to social media. It’s also important to remember that not everyone will understand what you’re doing online – and this might include your family and friends.

As long as you’re happy and healthy, don’t let others discourage you from taking time to do things that you enjoy, like interacting with others online or watching your favourites… even if some people have no idea who they are.

I can honestly say I have never subscribed to a Youtuber. #youtubefandomhonestyhour

— Jared Q Pope (@JQPope) December 14, 2015

So there we have it…

Another successful #YouTubeFandomHonestyHour and we’re already looking forward to the next one. If you haven’t already, make sure you read back to our previous articles below and continue to educate yourself. Knowledge is power, right?