Saffron Barker: People can't be blamed for having misconceptions about YouTubers
Saffron Barker has amassed millions of followers over her social media accounts and boasts a staggering 2.31 million subscribers on YouTube, but the 19-year-old understands why some people mind not be able to comprehend what she does for a living.
The Strictly Come Dancing star has launched a campaign, ‘#YouTubers4NHSHeroes’ to raise money in the coronavirus pandemic through donating video advertising income to the official NHS Charities Together, and she’s encouraged other YouTubers with online clout to do the same this Saturday.
But with the video sharing platform being just 15 years old itself, the profession many have carved out through it in recent years and the influence they hold is one many older people won't be familiar with.
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In an interview with Yahoo UK, Barker shared her thoughts as she remarked: "I think it’s something you can't always blame people for because obviously, the whole YouTube world is completely a new generation.
"Even my grandparents, as an example, they are my absolute biggest fans and they watch every single one of my videos and they have all the social media and they know that at even 80 years old. But obviously if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have had any idea about it. So I definitely think there is but at the same time, I feel like you partly can't blame people."
However, Barker thinks YouTubers’ image is changing as more of them appear in the public eye to give an understanding of what they do. She herself was the second social media star to feature on Strictly, after Joe Sugg competed in 2018.
She went on: "I think especially with TV shows and stuff now like having YouTubers on it, because we are such a big part of the new generation, I definitely think that more people are understanding what we actually do. We don't just sit down and just film anything, we really have to think about the content that we make.
"We have to make sure that people actually are going to enjoy watching this and we still have to edit and film everything ourselves."
Now, she's putting her profile to good use through her campaign this Saturday 11 April - ‘Super Saturday’ - as she and other YouTube stars donate the ad revenue generated from one video of their choice posted on the date.
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Barker said the 'Clap for our Carers' events on Thursdays had made her "really emotional" and so she sought a way to help the frontline workers out.
“The YouTube world is such a great community – made up of so many talented individuals with a huge audience,” she’s shared.
“I really wanted to find a way for us to come together and help to support our amazing NHS in this time-of-need.”
