The Phenomenon Of Reality TV Vs. Reality Television

Introduction. The internet has become the television industry’s prime competitor. Reality TV has been a staple in American homes since as early as 1948. Current reality shows are edited and usually scripted to add to the dramatics of the show. The internet has opened more media outlets such as YouTube which has become a place for people to create uncut, real-life, video footage. Television has never been raw video straight from the camera which leads to setbacks with viewers for that reason alone. This study will discuss if YouTube has a greater impact on viewers than reality TV cast members.

The Phenomenon.

This newer media, called the internet, dives into a world completely unknown to television. Internet users can easily connect with

On YouTube, viewers interact with content creators simply through a comment section below the video. Not only that, these creators are tech savvy and have accounts on all social media platforms. There is a personal relationship that creators tend to have with their subscribers. Reality stars, depending on the type of show, are usually on live TV for only one season. Not only is their stardom period short, they might also have a different personality on screen than in real-life. These two different platforms have different fan bases, but does one fan-base relate better than the other?

An article called “Watching Vlogs like the SHAYTARDS?”, written on why people watch vlog states that there are a few reasons, for personal entertainment or because people are lonely and unhappy. Society today lives in a broken and depressed world, but these internet creators share their lives which usually seem better than our own.

In a 2005 study, fifteen viewers were surveyed to watch different reality shows, and as it showed some were more interested than others depending on the content in the show. Reason for enjoying the show were more exotic reality like “Survivor” while shows such as “Big Brother” were