…create content? With less than a month to the big day, creators everywhere are ready to capitalize on the festive period. In this issue we’re delving into the history of Vlogmas (is this Christmas trend on the way out?) and decoding #ConsumptionCore ahead of Black Friday. And if you need something to get you in the festive mood, stick around to find out how you can get 30% off all Uppbeat subscriptions. A gift from us, to you.
Vlogmas - a tale as old as YouTube?
The Christmas season brings with it a flurry of new content trends. But there’s one that never fails to haunt us come December: Vlogmas.
Vlogmas is now a beloved festive tradition where creators post a new vlog every day in the build up to Christmas. But it wasn’t always this way. Ever wondered how it all started? Gather round for this Christmas tale…
The Ghost of Vlogmas Past→ 2011 and beauty-Tuber Ingrid Nilsen is looking for a new way to connect with her audience. December the 1st dawns and she’s struck with the idea to film a “digital advent calendar.”
Vlogmas quickly becomes an annual fixture for YouTubers everywhere. But what started as low-effort, camcorder-style-realness has had an upgrade…
The Ghost of Vlogmas Present → YouTube is increasingly a place for high-production content, and Vlogmas isn’t an exception. From announcement videos to Vlogmas hauls totalling hundreds of dollars, for some creators this trend could be seen as more of a high-commitment, high-cost challenge than it was back in 2011. Which raises the question, have we taken the festive fun out of Vlogmas?
The data paints a frosty picture. The internet’s obsession peaked in December 2020 (no prize for guessing why), but has since been in steady decline…
The Ghost of Vlogmas Yet to Come → So, is Vlogmas dead? We don’t think so - and creators agree. As our feeds become increasingly polished (exacerbated by a boom in AI content), there’s a real nostalgia for authentic, home-video content.
Mom-creator Taylor Vaughn puts it perfectly: “We are all craving everyday life - real vlogs, real routines, real things. Vlogmas is a time to start creating this type of content.”
Warm up for Vlogmas with these 3 tips →
- Experiment with formats. Vlogmas is the perfect time to test new formats like streaming, chatty vlogs, GRWMs and tutorials. As long as you’re having fun, that’s what counts.
- Keep it Short. Who said Vlogmas content had to be long-form? Creators are increasingly turning to Shorts, Reels and TikTok to post festive snippets of their lives.
- Film ahead of time. You wouldn’t de-frost your turkey on Christmas morning. Well, the same goes for Vlogmas content. Save yourself stress and pre-record B-roll before December 1st.
Decoding the Black Friday feed
Shein hauls, toilet roll and mouth tape…? Sponsored posts flood the feed in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. The message is simple. Buy more. Buy now.
But as the battle for your bank balance reaches a fever pitch, some creators are fighting back. Hashtags (like #UnderConsumption core) are growing in popularity as eco-conscious trend-setters set out to ‘de-influence’ the masses from overconsumption. Unsure what they mean?
Let’s decode your feed →
#OverconsumptionCore → Where it all began. This term trended in 2024 in response to excessive hauls and fatigue over sponsored content.
#UnderconsumptionCore → Over-consumption-core’s little sister. She’s loud, she’s feisty, and she likes to talk about that one water bottle she bought back in 2016.
#ProjectPan → This hashtag challenges you to use up all your product before buying any more.
#Deinfluencing → The angel on your shoulder. Videos with this tag discourage you from buying overhyped stuff or falling for flash-in-the-pan trends.
What are we watching?
We asked Sam Beevors from our development team which creator he’s been loving recently and why.
What’s your favorite channel right now? “Beard Dad Cardz - a Pokémon card collector and seller. His content features heartwarming interactions with customers at card shows and conventions.”
3 words to describe them? “Wholesome. Uplifting. Community."
Why do you love them? “They're the antidote to cynicism. Finding feel-good, authentic content is rare and there's something deeply satisfying about watching someone who's clearly a great dad bring that same patience and warmth to random strangers at card shows."
We think they would love… “This glitch logo reveal. It brings a cool, bold edge to any intro sequence.”
Elsewhere on the web
It’s a Tung Tung Sahur takedown. You can now toggle the amount of AI content you see on your TikTok feed.
“Your new creative guardian.” Facebook to protect your original content against plagiarism.
The Hunger Games - but better. Grace Reiter and her friends spent 3 days and 20k filming this YouTube parody.
Get your votes in. The first ever TikTok awards go live 18 Dec.
An early Christmas gift? Outdoor Boys is posting archival content after a shock exit from YouTube.
A blast from the past. Vine to be rebooted by Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey.
Latest updates
Eyeing up some new gear this Cyber Monday? On the Uppbeat blog, filmmaker John Schoolmeesters shares tips for making the right investment. Over on Uppbeat, our new Christmas collections are here to help bring festive cheer to your content. And best of all…
Uppbeat’s only sale this year is now live! Save 30% on any Uppbeat subscription by using code UPPBEAT30 at checkout. This deal ends soon, so catch it whilst you can!
