"Vtubing", a portmanteau of virtual YouTubing, is a type of online content creation in which the content creator interacts with their audience through an animated avatar controlled via motion capture software. The avatars have a distinct identity separate from their creators; similar to a wrestler or Disneyland actor, they avoid “breaking character” at all costs in order to maintain the illusion.
Vtubers come in all shapes and sizes. They can range from young, animated women to velociraptors, though they are often the former.
Similar again to wrestlers and Disney actors, the appeal of watching Vtubers comes from the feeling of immersion. Most Vtubers live stream their content, and they interact directly with their audience while in character. The audience gets to feel like they are speaking to and interacting with a cartoon/anime character. Some of the currently popular Vtubers are Ironmouse and Gawr Gura who often livestream video games and karaoke content.
While watching Vtubers can be a harmless way to pass the time, parents should be aware that some Vtubers can be inappropriate for younger audiences despite their cartoonish appearance. Also, like all content creators, there is a risk of children developing para-social relationship with Vtubers since audience interaction is such a large part of their content.
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