Youtubers

Two billion people worldwide watch YouTube. Yet its stars remain a mystery to much of the public and media. What is the secret of their appeal? How do they cope with being in front of the lens? And who is behind them?

Wired journalist Chris Stokel-Walker reveals the answers in the first independent in-depth book on YouTube. For three years he has interviewed more than 100 figures connected with the world’s biggest video-sharing website, including leading agents, managers and the YouTubers themselves. He charts YouTube’s rise from showing a single video of a zoo to multi-billion-dollar site that outmuscles Facebook. And he delves into thorny issues about brands, burnout and authenticity. He explains why YouTubers keep stopping traffic in city centres and whether they will eat normal TV.