On one hand, YouTube breaks down the barriers and business of Hollywood. Many of the stars in the documentary talked about how they put so much hard work and passion into creating their videos, and how they manage their metrics, content, collaborations, and brand partnerships themselves. Although now there are some agencies and management companies serving YouTube stars, people can take those jobs and control of their career into their own hands. Furthermore, the breakdown of celebrity occurs as we learn that YouTube stars lead seemingly average lives and create a following based on their thoughts, charisma, or talent, not exactly through a Hollywood film or TV concoction. They often share their personal lives much more than a slick Hollywood celebrity who carefully monitors PR and what they post and share.
This is not to say that YouTube completely throws out these conventions, though. While the popular creators in the video, such as TomSka and Zoella share their concerns about hate mail or a friend's death online in their videos, they admit that they also feel like they have to perform for the camera. Based on comments, popularity, and fan reactions, they feel a pressure to please and entertain. TomSka explains that this manifests in him creating multiple videos of the same thing and choosing the "best" one to show his personality, or putting on an act and performance for the camera. Therefore, YouTube celebrities are still functioning in a world where being in front of the camera means becoming a false version of yourself, a persona.
Therefore, they may not be as polished and controlled as A-list actors, but they are controlled by their audiences similarly to how Hollywood is molded by what people like to see.
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