of if you are ready to be publicly
vulnerable. Ask yourself if you are
doing well enough to talk from a
place of clarity about the subject.
When creators fail to do this they
can sometimes inadvertently
model behavior that is harmful
without realizing the example
they have set. Giving difficult
situations the time they require
before discussing them online
can help prevent this. Before a
person can speak honestly about
their struggles, they must first
understand what exactly they
struggle with, otherwise, you
run the risk of normalizing harm
instead of encouraging your au-
dience to ask for help.
Where expressing vulnerability
can feel empowering to some,
it can also open a creator up to
large amounts of hate and scru-
tiny. By being vulnerable online,
a YouTuber relinquishes a certain
amount of control over their per-
sonal narrative.
By definition, vulnerability
comes at the price of letting your
guard down and potentially fac-
ing criticism as a result. This is
important to keep in mind prior
to making a video public. Ask
yourself if you feel like sharing
this information online will be a
healthy choice in the long term.
Just because opening up about
struggles with depression may
help viewers in need of guidance,
does not mean that it should
come at the cost of a creator’s
own mental health.
VLOGS
Expressing Vulnerability on YouTubeConnor Manning blends humor with heartfelt insights to show vulern-
ability and connect with viewers.Remember that it is always okay to step away from
comments after posting. Taking time to blacklist
specific words before posting a video that could
potentially inspire hate can sometimes help protect a
creator’s comments section from becoming overrun
with trolls.GUIDANCE FROM OTHER CREATORS
If you’re looking for inspiration, there are plenty of
YouTubers out there who are known for their more
vulnerable content.
Connor Manning is a creator who is mostly known
for their vlogs where they give advice and talk about
mental health. With videos such as “Hi, I’m Connor.
I’m Still a Drug Addict.” and “SMASH That Like But-
ton if You’re Feeling Lost,” Manning approaches the
most sensitive subjects with unparalleled compassion
and tenderness.
In the age of the internet, vulnerability is our most
powerful tool, so long as we treat ourselves with the
respect and kindness we deserve.Ezra Rae Dodson is a writer and vlogger from California. They
enjoy wearing sweaters and petting their cat.