There are certain cultural preconditions that help account for the popularity, style, and form of vlogging we see among Americans:

• Private Space (most have their own room - the backdrop to most vlogs
• Enough money to own a computer, webcam, and internet connection
• Enough free time

The asynchronous aspect of YouTube communication has a number of important consequences:

Relationships mediated by asynchronous video are different. But how? Can we make a list?

Vlogging and the "Looking Glass Self"
Charles Hortman Coolie "the looking glass self" Mead "the social mirror theory" society reflects back to us who we are, can be manipulated ... but how is negotiating our identity different when it is mediated by YouTube, Facebook, etc.????

Fame: known to strangers, para-social relationships, a lot of people know you but you don't know them, self-promote, letting people talk about themselves is a key for social connection; a selfish way to be known, acknowledgement and reaffirmation of self, to be remembered
Fame and social mirror --> related; external and internal of each, our religion is similar to those of people we care about


Miscellaneous Hypotheses:

• People (vloggers) - use speech that is closer to the norm in videos (less cussing)
• Discourse markers may also vary: (Um and like)
• Watch first vlog and a later vlog and compare comfort, transformation, and individual archive

Possible Mini-Studies:

• how much of the face/torso is seen in a vlog,measuring the pixal of the face
• what does the space behind the uploader say about identity
• Flagging: what happens when a video is flagged ---> make a totally innocent video then flag it to see what happens