How Do YouTube Fans Watch YouTube? We Asked Them At Stream Con NYC.

By 11/10/2015
How Do YouTube Fans Watch YouTube? We Asked Them At Stream Con NYC.

At online video and social media conventions, fans stand in massive lines for a few precious moments of chitchat and to take pictures with their favorite YouTube stars. But, for those of us involved in the burgeoning digital entertainment industry, we should really be lining up to get a few moments of chitchat and pictures with these fans.

I work at Condé Nast Entertainment – home to such brands as WIRED, GQ, Bon Appetit and Vogue – and one of the things we do is develop and distribute premium video across all the major digital platforms. It’s obviously extremely important for us to stay connected to our audience, especially with viewership trends and platforms constantly evolving. We always endeavor to know, at this exact minute, why are people watching what they watch? And how are they watching it?

So, at Stream Con NYC I went from casually talking with attendees – which is what I usually do at conventions – to actually compiling profiles of them. Below is a condensed version of what some fans said. It’s an enlightening, if brief, look into the psyche of today’s digital media aficionados accompanied, of course, by a selfie.

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Christina Oros - Stream ConChristina Oros

Age: 22

What platforms do you use? I watch YouTube and Snapchat because I think they offer different things. But they often play hand in hand with each other.

How? A lot of YouTubers vlog about their daily life, but it’s usually crafted around a certain topic or theme. Whereas Snapchat is really like, “This is my breakfast. This is me in my car.” Which is very interesting and a lot more personal. I thought YouTube was personal with the vlogger format, but Snapchat brings that to another level.

When do you watch? Snapchat all times of day. Whenever I have free time, I’ll stop and look on my phone. YouTube, I usually watch on my laptop in the evening.

How do you figure out what to watch on YouTube? I look at my subscriptions first. Then one thing will lead to another, and the next thing you know, it’s four in the morning.


Jacob Clerico - Stream Con

Jacob Clerico

Age: 18

Where are you watching digital videos? I’m on the internet most hours of a day. I watch the YouTube app or Snapchat or Vine.

So you’re watching on your phone? Yes, when I come home, I go to my room and put in my headphones and zone out and watch all these people’s lives.

Are there certain times of day you watch Vine or Facebook? Throughout the day. A YouTube video is more of a commitment. You’re sitting there and watching it for 10 minutes, then you’re watching the next one and the next one. Whereas Vine, it’s seven seconds now and then. My friends will send me something funny, and I’ll watch it. Facebook, I can scroll during lunch.

Do you watch videos on your phone even when you’re at home? I have a laptop that I’ll watch some stuff on, but my phone is a lot more portable. If I need to go get something while I’m watching, I can just take my phone with me. Which seems weird saying it now, but that small amount of convenience makes a difference.


Isabel Pongratz - Stream Con

Isabel Pongratz

Age: 18

What do you love to watch? I religiously watch the Saccone-Joly family. Being able to see them literally every day is really nice. That hooked me.

Why? I knew at a certain time every single day, a new video would be out. And that’s really exciting. Also, this probably sounds silly, but to be able to watch these kids grow—to watch a child take their first steps or say their first word is amazing.

What platforms are you watching? I watch on everything: YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook—the whole shebang.

How much YouTube do you watch per day? Probably 4 – 5 hours.

Where do you watch? I tend to watch YouTube on my laptop in my room. But if I’m somewhere where I’m waiting for something, I’ll watch Snapchat Stories on my phone.

And the rest of your video watching is sprinkled throughout the day? Yeah, whenever it’s convenient, I’ll pull out my phone. So before class or after class…or during class.


Lauren Broadwell - Stream Con

Lauren Broadwell

Age: 18

Where do you watch the most? My laptop, laying in bed.

What times of the day? Literally, all the time. When I’m not in class. At night before I go to bed. In the morning… all the time.

How much traditional TV do you watch? Maybe an hour a week, if that.

How do you decide what to watch? I have my YouTube subscriptions, and throughout the day I put them in a Watch Later playlist. Then I catch up on them when I sit down.

Would you ever pay for a digital video subscription? Yeah, I’m actually doing the free trial of YouTube Red. I just started it today, and I like it so far. But I haven’t really gotten a chance to test it out.

Why is it worth it to you to pay? I want to see more content from creators that I like that has a budget behind it. A good example is Lilly Singh’s [documentary, A Trip to Unicorn Island, which will be released on YouTube Red]. I really want to see that because it has a budget and isn’t just her. I think it will be better than what she can usually make.


James Davis - Stream Con

James Davis

Age: 28

What’s your favorite channel to watch? My top right now is Game Grumps. They’re a comedy duo that play video games together.

Why is it fun to watch other people play video games? It reminds me of back when I used to sit on the couch with my friends watching them play video games, and they’d watch me. It feels like you’re included in something.

How do you watch? I have an Xbox One, and the moment I turn it on, I go to YouTube to watch everything.

What percentage of your TV time is dedicated to YouTube? YouTube is about 65%, and the rest is Hulu Plus and Netflix.

Do you make any videos yourself? I do a channel called 16 Bits of Awesome. I talk about interesting things that happened in my life, but in a funny way.

How did you decide to start making your own videos? When I was younger, I always kept to myself. I felt that I didn’t have much of an outlet. I started YouTube because I saw other YouTubers expressing themselves, and I thought I’d love to do that myself.

How has being a creator helped you? It definitely makes me feel like I am someone. Before YouTube vs after YouTube, there’s now a lot more confidence when I talk to someone. I’m just generally happier.


Jordan Skiles - STream ConJordan Skiles

Age: 29

What’s your favorite channel to watch? I identify with [beauty vlogger] Jaclyn Hill because I’ve watched her channel grow. Seeing her go from working in a mall to creating a career is something I can relate to. When I graduated from college, I wanted to pursue something in fashion, but didn’t know where to begin, so I started working in a mall as well. So seeing her success was very influential.

How do you watch? I use the YouTube app on Apple TV. Always. I go big. My TV is 46-inches. I don’t know how to watch it on a mobile device or laptop anymore.

What’s your mix of YouTube to traditional TV? Right now, it’s truly like 95% YouTube. We got rid of cable and got Apple TV. We’re even thinking of getting rid of Netflix because we watch so much YouTube now.

 


Adam Winer is the Director of YouTube Programming Strategy at Condé Nast Entertainment (CNÉ), a division of Condé Nast that develops and distributes premium digital video, television and film worth watching. CNÉ’s network includes 20 Condé Nast brand channels (like Glamour and Vanity Fair) and the industry’s first platform dedicated to premium digital video, The Scene. CNÉ programming is available on all screens and platforms from TheScene.com, mobile and OTT to YouTube and Facebook.

Photos of interviewees by the interviewees themselves. Photo up top of fans freakin’ it watching their favorite YouTube stars by Stream Con NYC. 

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