Three days ago, before I knew I was a finalist, I was bringing myself up to speed on the news. You know, the important things. What’s the UN doing about Darfur? How far is Iran to a nuclear weapon, really? Are there any good congressional candidates? Well I needn’t worry about anything. That day CNN.com assured me, “Mystery solved: Lonelygirl15 wasn’t alone.” What a relief.
Wait… WTF?
Tens of thousands of people thought they had been watching some 16-year-old girl vlogging about boys she likes on YouTube. Some were skeptical, thinking it might be marketing for a Hollywood film. Such intrigue! The controversy grew to international proportions. Eventually, lonelygirl15 vlogged her true identity through the Tonight Show.
Are enough people into vlogging?
Four days ago I would have said something like what I’ve already said so far. There’s emerging demand, people just want a program that will make it fun and easy, etc. I didn’t think we were at the point where teenage vloggers were talked about on CNN, standing next to Jay Leno, and dancing with Tucker Carlson. Really, now.
The CNN article quotes people saying that they’ll still watch lonelygirl15, even though they know she’s not real. It will be like watching a movie in the form of a fictional diary.
Underneath the emerging demand, there’s a large unexplored hunger in the human soul. For at least a generation, everybody wanted to be on TV. However, TV isn’t as monolithic as it once was. Instead of wanting to be on TV, everyone will want a vlog and the opportunity to use it for creative expression.
And they will have it.
What will they vlog about? What will you vlog about? Is the world too violent? Are people too fat?
The guns and butter model of the market is history. We’re now more concerned with the interplay of communication and information (e.g. debating about guns and butter). The production possibilities in the hands of the populous are endless.
