Vlogging Phenomenon: The Reconstruction of 21st Century Way of Communication and Lifestyles
Abstract
The emergence of YouTubers and their vlogs is a paradigm shift in the consumption of the media and socialization in the 21st century. In this paper, the authors discuss the diverse effects of vlogging on personal communication and the way of life. It states that vlogs are a new paradigm of parasocial relationships, which modifies the mechanisms of connection development, perception of community, and learning of social norms. In addition, the research examines the effects of vlogs on lifestyle decisions, consumer behavior and travel intentions as well as identity construction and mental health. Although vlogs may be effective in terms of establishing global connectedness, as well as a useful tool in informal learning, they also have some disadvantages that include social comparison and materialism as well as the personal/public life fusion. This discussion has concluded that vlogs are a cultural phenomenon that is a strong force which not only mirrors but also actively influences the new human experience.
Keywords: Identity Construction, Mental Health, Cultural Phenomenon, Social Comparison, Materialism
