About Zoella et al?

[IShouldBeSoLurky]

Spent about an hour of my life that I'll never get back watching her YouTube channel today and finding it strangely compelling. She seems like a really lovely young woman.

But, my God, the materialism! She seems to spend her life buying things. And I'd worry, if I had DC who watched her stuff, about the entirely unrealistic portrayal of adult life she presents. Like, you go shopping, see your friends, decorate your house for Halloween/Valentine's Day/whatever (the amount of CRAP she must own!), sit in front of your laptop, do silly stuff with your OH - there's no room in it for... I don't know. Proper conversation, reading, work - never mind the shit stuff like paying the gas bill and cleaning the loo.

If your children are Zoella fans, do you find yourself saying, "Life. Is. Not. Like. That," every five minutes? Or do they get that her life is a kind of self-perpetuating myth?

DD (10) loves Zoella, I read her book before I agreed DD could read it and thought it had quite positive messages.

Maybe I'll have to have a little look at the you tube stuff too.

I watch her. She gets any loads of stuff to try and to review on he channel, so it's not all bought

Her and Alfie bought that house from YouTube channel proceeds so they are quite clued up on money issues!

My DD loves zoella. Interesting article on her in daily mail this week. She mentions that she shops alot and has started to ask for her branded Superdrug toiletries but apart from that I'm happy.

She's a millionaire. I think kids know not everyone is. Also youtubing looks easy but they are working. Obviously fun work but they create and edit videos everyday. All media glamourises life usually, kids to does too. I think they know the difference.

www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-3280866/I-don-t-feel-like-celebrity-just-feel-like-teenage-girl-wants-Zoella.html

My DD has finally realised how materialistic and vacuous she is, and has unfollowed her on Instagram. Fab news! Her blandness and lack of awareness of the wider world used to make my head explode. There are other Youtubers who have more to say/contribute. She and Alfie just seem to surround themselves with mutually congratulatory clones. Not that she would care what I think!

Have a look at Rosianna Halse Rojas - she's incredibly self-and-wider-world aware.

My dd loves Zoella, she knows most people don't live like that. She sees us doing day to day stuff and she cleans the loo, tidies the house, does the dishes, does her homework. In pretty much the same way watching the A Team didn't mean that I thought being a mercenary was the life for me. She also realises that Zoella gets sent a lot of freebies, that it's her job to promote them.

How old is your DD, Raskolnikov? And who are the other YouTubers whose work you prefer so I can waste another few hours watching their channels?

I did read the DM article (normally avoid it like the plague).

I don't think she is unclued up about money, at all - I'm sure she is surrounded by excellent advisers and she seems like an intelligent woman. I'd be more concerned about the impression that's given to her viewers.

Dd (14) gets many positive messages from or about Zoella. Like Z appearing in public without makeup, about not being afraid to be herself, being fussy about products & really making sure they are good value, not being ashamed of her body, etc.

ps: Dd's other fave Utubers are PHAN & Superwoman.

My DD likes It Must be Alex.

Please can someone tell me the positive messages Zoella has for young girls? Actual ones, as opposed to pretend ones?

She was mentally unwell for a while, and spoke a lot about seeking help with mental illness, coping, rebuilding and overcoming stigma.

Oh no I can't bear her. I really don't understand why anyone would want to feed her enormous ego.

I hate that she constantly refers to 'myself'. For that alone I dislike her.

I think she is a positive role model in many ways. She has raised awareness by discussing her mental health issues. Her and her boyfriend are very respectful of each other and model good relationship behaviour.

A lot of the things she buys and talks about are relatively inexpensive things that teenage girls can afford to buy. It's not like she's reviewing yachts or round the world trips. It's stuff like a Primark dress or a Tesco candle.

And DD knows life isn't easy. She knows we struggle to afford things.

For me, the book deals with betrayal in a friendship well, knowing who your real friends are. Also, being different from the crowd, feeling socially awkward, getting over the ups and down of life.

Better them than that Jim Chapman and Tanya Burr.

She's been ambassador for two trusts/charities
Got a 2 book deal
Own beauty range

But let's just sit and wait for anonymousbird to rip all she's achieved and what we've mentioned here, to shreds!

Yes she's spoken openly about her social anxiety.... Maybe that helped someone out there

My DD loves Miranda Sings. I was a bit "meh" about her til i took DD to see her live. Then i "got" her! She is hilarious & teaches young girls in a ver funny way that looking geeky is cool, singing atrociously is brilliant & manages to rip the piss out of everything that stars stand for. I'd recommend her channel...DD, Ds & i love watching her new youtube videos together.

she (and many others) are paid to promote the products

My DD had an awful time with MH problems, mainly anxiety, this past year. Knowing that.She wasn't alone and that others have experienced these issues helped immensely - Zoella was one of the voices she listened to and took on board.

I used to inhale everything J17, More and Cosmo printed. I'd buy everything they advertised (within my budget) and pine to be as fabulous as the girls/women in their articles. I'd also jump on to any cause they were promoting. I see Zoella/YouTube as the modern day equivalent.

I think she & Alfie are genuinely nice people and I have no problem with my DDs watching them having fun on their YouTube channels.