The rise of Lonelygirl15
Lonelygirl15 began posting June 16, 2006, but wasn't one of the first YouTube videos. Lonelygirl15 videos aren't even the most-watched on the site, but the Lonelygirl15 phenomenon is one of the greatest YouTube success stories. Viewers were captivated by the teen girl and her video diary entries.
As the fascinated viewers started looking for more information on their new hero, it became clear that the videos weren't necessarily the product of a precocious teen. Why did viewers decide to unravel the mystery behind the character? Many thought the videos may have been part of an elaborate marketing scheme. The video diaries were exposed as a scripted project in September 2006, but the series still maintains a massive number of viewers checking in on a regular basis.
Why it's important:
- People respond to quality content, regardless of format.
- Online videos don't need to be super short, one-time-only affairs. Audiences are open to online series.
- It's hard to keep a secret. The online community craves both entertainment and honesty. If they think there's something amiss, they'll get to the bottom of things on their own timetable.
