Media Curation - YouTube Channel Analysis
- KELLYN MOOREFIELD
- Nov 17, 2024
- 2 min read
Daniel Howell is a YouTuber who has been online since 2009 when he uploaded his first video to the platform. He often makes videos with his friend, Phil Lester, whom he met online; they have lived together since 2011. In 2019, Dan uploaded a video titled “Basically I’m Gay.” It is a 45-minute video where Dan discusses his journey of coming to terms with his queerness and being able to accept his identity. What made this video so groundbreaking when published was the fact that Dan had been under a microscope for years, with people questioning his sexuality and whether or not his relationship was more than platonic with Phil. Him finally opening up to his audience on a personal level created that feeling of intimacy and authenticity. Although the video had higher production than others, it was an important moment that Dan wanted to share with his audience. It felt real to see representation on YouTube for a lot of fans because Dan has a large queer audience, and having someone who can relate to their experiences and understand online makes people feel more connected. He is still him in this video, containing his awkward comedic timing, overreacting to specific moments, and his simple editing style.
Dan has connected with his audience in multiple ways outside of this video. He goes through comments and fan creations in other videos. For example, he had a series called “Internet Support Group,” where fans would send in problems they were having, and Dan would offer solutions, some serious, while others were there for more comedic responses. This allowed the audience to be seen by Dan and feel more connected with him. His direct interactions with audiences foster these feelings of belonging to some people. Additionally, he has done a few comedy tours around the world with Phil over the years, where he directly connected with fans by doing meet and greets. He loves interacting with fans on and off camera and has maintained a good reputation online without getting into drama, which is why many people enjoy him.
His humor style matches his audience, as he utilizes self-deprecating humor about himself and talks about existential crises jokingly. Although not everyone finds this humor enjoyable, there was an audience that wanted someone like Dan and his content. The way he acts online propelled him to stardom, as he has a little over 6 million subscribers now and also appears on Phil Lester’s channel and their shared channel DanandPhilGAMES.
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