What is the point of lifestyle content?
Responding to some “constructive feedback”
As someone who has been making content online for over a decade I know to proceed with caution when I see a message that claims to be “constructive feedback” but I was still genuinely taken aback when I first received this DM. I almost shared the screenshot to my stories in part anger and part confusion but I’m glad I wasn’t super reactionary (ha look at me now sharing it to my newsletter!). Instead I sent it to some friends to sense check my reaction, with “is this rude?”
My message to my friends continues, “I cannot tell. I think there’s just a difference in opinion on “what is the point?” of influencers? And she does touch on some things that I do worry about with my content. But the “without any real passion/purpose” feels ouchie.”
Okay boohoo my feelings were hurt! Let’s get that out of the way!
My friends’ responses were:
“She’s literally describing a genre of YouTube 😂”
“Regina George energy”
“She’s just not into it anymore and decided to make you feel bad about it”
Amongst others.
Of course I am now worried that by blasting this message others do feel the same and then you can all start a little club about how my videos are impersonal and jumbled and lack passion and purpose. If you do, please just do so privately and don’t tell me about it! Thank you!
So what is the point?
The genre of YouTube this person is describing and the kind that I make is “lifestyle” content. This is a huge broad umbrella term that can include basically anything - fashion, books, beauty, food, travel, parenting, interiors, work etc. It’s a term that really doesn’t tell you anything specific about the type of content but it is still useful. Ultimately, it is the genre of content where people are sharing their lives, work, hobbies, interests, and families (you can mix and match). And it is such a huge umbrella term of a genre that there is definitely plenty of lifestyle content that at best I’m not interested in personally and at worse I think is harmful to people and planet. Before the term came along, back in the day when I started making YouTube videos, we were called “personality vloggers” which shows to me that it all comes back to people. People like connecting with other people. People love having a nosy at how someone else is living their life. People like sharing with others the things they love. People like finding a community of others potentially going through similar things for comfort and support. It’s also… ENTERTAINING. Why do you think reality TV is so popular?
I’m curious to know, what do you get out of watching lifestyle content? What kinds do you like watching? What kinds do you avoid?
I get entertainment, comfort, ideas, inspiration, and company. I love a good declutter, people talking about work and freelancing, people getting existential about motherhood and friendships, second hand fashion, books, and interiors (you may have noticed I like to make the things I like to watch). To be honest, even though I make the occasional vlog I don’t tend to watch vlogs unless it’s a friend or someone I know. And I avoid things that give me Big Consumerist Energy. wbu?
🕎 Vlognukah is underway! - in case you’re new around here, every year I make 8 videos for the 8 days (nights) of Chanukah. This year Chanukah is very late (the first night is Christmas!) but nevertheless, I have to wrap things up at Witton HQ by mid December when Rowan’s childminder closes so the planning for all the videos we’re going to be making between now and the end of the year (and including at least the first video back in Jan!) has begun! Let’s goooooo!
💚 My new green shoes! I don’t often buy new new things but I couldn’t resist these green Mary Jane’s (affiliate link) from Joanie Clothing. They go with so many of my clothes and I’m just getting into the Wicked spirit okay!? 💚🩷
🛏️ Finally a bedroom update! Feels like forever ago I made the video comparing the different designers redesigns of our bedroom but I did say it would be a slow and steady process! Here’s what we’ve done so far!
Don’t forget I do a livestream every month over on my Patreon! Come join us for a chill hour of chats, behind the scenes goss and updates, and the chance to ask me any of your questions!
my fave thing about this type of content is i will be watching someone do a house renovation tour and somehow, in the midst of the 30 min video, will come away with a really good breakfast recipe and 3 brilliant new ways of organising my cupboards. and the person will have no idea that their reno vid has randomly changed the way i then go on to organise my kitchen and how much of an improvement it will be. like this happens all the time with so many different lifestyle creators. i just absord and learn so many little tips and tricks that then become my tips and tricks. also for years and years i didnt realize i was ADHD and that i was using these videos to bodydouble. the tidiness of my whole house after someone posts a 50min closet cleanout vid is unreal 😅 also i think its harder to find irl friends who share your politics, views, interests than it is to find a youtuber who does. and if you're like me and mostly housebound from chronic illnesses then that is just.. such a comfort! theres also this idea that watching lifestyle vloggers means you're lonely but idk, my 65yr old mum has a perfectly fine social life yet i recently found out she religiously watches a vlogger who restores vintage cars! theres truly a creator niche for every hobby, every person. i love your 'jumbled' approach. because i just like you as a person and i value your insights and recommendations :) i think this person genuinely did try to be nice, but perhaps lacked the self reflection to realise it was an issue on her end, and not yours, and that she didn't need to message you 😅
I think unsolicited "constructive feedback" is always rude. I'm always open to feedback from friends, from people I love, from journalist acquaintances, editors, and other people I'm working with, but I'm very much NOT open to feedback from people who I don't know or haven't asked for feedback from! I think being a YouTuber/creator/person whose work is online to a degree means your work and career choices are on display in a way that most people's simply aren't – meaning people feel like they offer "constructive" feedback whether or not you want it. Like, they're not your colleague or your boss or someone who is actually in your life; the para-social relationship means that people can end up thinking their feedback is solicited in the way the friends' you asked about the "constructive feedback" was.
To answer the actual question you asked: I enjoy lifestyle content for the connection and comfort of feeling like I'm less alone in what I'm going through, and inspiration, motivation, and (sometimes) clarity about what I want my own life to look like. I like people talking about work, freelancing, and creativity, videos about books and (sometimes) productivity, and lifestyle content from creators who are queer, disabled, and/or autistic. I'm quite selective about what lifestyle content I watch nowadays (though I'm not immune to occasionally frustration-watching content from people who I don't agree with ideologically and/or makes me feel worse about myself). I often enjoy vlog content rather than videos that try to have a 'helpful' takeaway for the viewer, and I try to avoid lifestyle content that involves abled and/or neurotypical people discussing aspects of productivity and wellness with no nuance for how those things are not accessible (or desirable) for everyone.