Answered by
Oliver Hall
The identity of the "first influencer" on YouTube can be subjective, as it depends on how one defines an influencer. However, one commonly recognized early YouTube influencer is Lonelygirl15.
Lonelygirl15 was a web series created by Miles Beckett, Mesh Flinders, and Greg Goodfried. It debuted on YouTube in June 2006 and followed the life of a fictional teenage girl named Bree, played by actress Jessica Lee Rose. Initially, viewers believed that Bree was a real person sharing her personal vlogs, but it was later revealed to be a scripted series. This revelation did not diminish its popularity but instead highlighted the potential of YouTube as a platform for storytelling and content creation.
The success of Lonelygirl15 demonstrated the power of online video in creating influential personalities and engaging large audiences, setting the stage for future influencers on the platform.
Other notable early influencers include:
Brookers (Brooke Brodack): Known for her comedic skits and vlogs, she gained significant attention around the same time as Lonelygirl15.
Smosh (Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla): Starting with lip-sync videos and comedy sketches, Smosh became one of the most subscribed channels on YouTube in its early days.
These creators were instrumental in establishing YouTube as a viable platform for individual content creators and paved the way for the diverse range of influencers we see today.