The concept of family vlogging is a peculiar one. Some would say it’s even be a git gross. The videos range from the mundane to the interesting, but the concept of vlogging is still, somewhat, bizarre.
The notion of having parents film their kids daily – whether it is the basic act of eating breakfast or discussing more complex topics such as puberty – and then sharing it with the world is as personal as it gets.
When watching these videos, you can’t help but think about your own upbringing. Knowing how ruthless the younger years can be, the idea of having to front school, where people have access to parts of your private life would be somewhat terrifying for any kid.
But family vlogging has become a colossal industry. Videos generate millions of views, turning some family vloggers into YouTube celebrities. Add on sizeable advertising dollars, clothing merch, and other sponsorship deals, and who would have thought that filming your family’s daily routine would lead to financial fortunes.
Photo by Shopify Partners from Burst
But what are the boundaries that go into family vlogging? Truth-be-told, I had no idea this genre existed a couple of months ago. It was only after reading about the 8 Passengers controversy on social media that I decided to see what the genre is about. So where better to start than with them.
The 8 Passengers YouTube channel deals with the daily lives of a Mormon family living in Utah, but the videos are dominated by the mother – Ruby. She’s everywhere throughout the vlog. What is clear is that the channel is her pride and joy. And good luck to her, the channel has become highly successful.
But the channel has had its critics. There has been accusations of alleged abuse towards her kids by the mother. One of the accusations was removing her son’s bedroom door to keep tabs on him. Another was making her daughter starve at school because she forgot to pack her lunch.
In today’s fickle society, some would argue that the punishments are somewhat problematic. Conversely, others would argue that tough love is part of the learning process. What is on display when you watch the videos is that they are deeply conservative and are heavily influenced upon old-school Mormon values. But it’s a grey area to whether a line or even a law has been crossed.
What is clear is that the mother lives in a bubble. That YouTube bubble, where the subtleties of commonsense becomes blurred overtime at the expense of producing a highly viewable video. This was evident in a video when Ruby was contemplating whether or not to have ‘the conversation’ about puberty with her daughter and film it for YouTube. Luckily, her teenage son Chad intervened and wisely mocked the idea.
Another example of a lack of social awareness was evident in the video – A Month in Quarantine. After the father’s positive diagnosis to the virus, the rest family reacted in a weird-like celebration. Then there was the daughter’s bizarre quote after being diagnosed that if her volleyball teammates blame her for spreading the disease, then ‘they are just being selfish’.
But the video is an eye-opening insight into how blasé some people regard the virus. Dare I say it, that’s why the video is so fascinating. It also illustrates how unaware the family are of events that transpire outside of their inner sanctum. Which normally would not be a problem. But, if you have over 1.4 million subscribers you might need to be more socially aware of what you put out there. After all, COVID has wreaked havoc on all aspects of society.
Regardless of what people think of Ruby, the channel is a great insight into a conservative family’s lifestyle. When writing this article, it does feel strange to be critical of a family channel. But they are monetising their videos so criticism is part of the process. But 8 Passengers were not the only channel that I watched. There were two other family channels that were surprisingly entertaining and well worth a peak.
Photo by Matthew Henry on Burst
It’s the Donnellys are a family of 5 from Maryland. Earlier, I wrote that it could be a troublesome experience having to front school if you were in a family vlog. However, after watching this channel, it is obvious that this was not the case.
The family dynamic is great. The kids, who are all in their teens, are all confident. They are into sports, they are sociable, and are popular amongst their peers. The bond between them is evident and makes you think about the bonds that you share with your own family. But it is actually the mother, Jill, that makes it all work. She was a genuine warmth to her and nothing feels fake or staged. More so, she does a great job of capturing the delicate age groups of both junior high and high school.
The Mikesell Family are also a family of 5, and like 8 Passengers, reside in Utah. They too, are part of The Church of the Latter-day Saints, but the channel is far more relaxed than constricting. The uniqueness to the channel is that it is the father, Gentry, who is the protagonist. The first thing that stands out is that he is a really funny guy. The interactions between both his wife and his kids, through playful sarcasm and dry humour, enhances the family dynamic.
Recently, the family was involved in a near-fatal plane crash, which resulted in Gentry suffering serious spinal injuries. The actual crash in on their YouTube page and the channel has now turned to documenting his rehab. I have to say that he has become an inspiring figure. He still has his trademark dry wit, but more importantly, he holds no anger towards that unfortunate event. In fact, Gentry has embraced it.
So is the family vlog here to stay? Without question. And, with views rising and subscriptions growing, we will probably see more and more families switching on their cameras. When it’s done correctly, the genre can be both interesting and entertaining, but like anything, common-sense is the key. Especially, when documenting kids and any controversial topics that go with it.
