For a growing number of young people these days, the dream career would be that of a YouTuber. Never could they have imagined before that people can achieve fame and wealth just by posting on a video-sharing website. That's what a YouTuber is, someone who regularly uploads videos to YouTube.
對於現今越來越多的年輕人來說,夢想中的職業就是 YouTuber。他們以前從來沒想到,人們現在僅僅透過在影音共享網站上發表作品就能夠名利雙收。那就是 YouTuber,定期將影片上傳到 YouTube 的人。
A successful YouTuber is one who has a large following of like-minded subscribers that watch their content. One of the most popular YouTubers in Taiwan is Tsai Aga, whose major YouTube channel has acquired more than two million subscribers. Tsai's success has inspired many others to follow his example. However, like any career, being a YouTuber has drawbacks as well as advantages.
一個成功的 YouTuber 擁有眾多志趣相同、追隨而來觀賞他們內容的訂閱者。台灣最受歡迎的 YouTuber 之一是蔡阿嘎,他的 YouTube 主頻道已經有超過兩百萬的訂閱者。蔡阿嘎的成功激勵許多其他人來效法。然而,如同任何職業一樣,成為 YouTuber 有利也有弊。
Let's start with the benefits. Under the YouTube partner program, it is reported that some YouTubers can make millions of dollars a year by receiving a share of advertising revenue and other promotion-related income. Even better, it is a career in which you are your own boss, and your "office" is wherever you want it to be. You can set up your own YouTube channel from the comfort of your bedroom. All you need then is an interesting topic and some of your own scripts to follow. You don't even require any academic qualifications. With YouTube, it's a fact that any ordinary Joe (or Joanne) can have their shot at wealth and fame.
讓我們從優點開始談起。在 YouTube 合作夥伴計劃之下,據報導,有些 YouTuber 藉由分配到的廣告收益和其他促銷相關收入,每年就能賺取數百萬美元。更好的是,這是一份你就是自己的老闆、想在哪辦公就在哪辦公的職業。你可以舒服地在臥室中設置自己的 YouTube 頻道。然後你所需要的就是有趣的主題和一些自己可依循的腳本。你甚至不需要任何學歷資格。有了 YouTube,事實就是任何素人都有機會名利雙收。
One of the best things about being a YouTuber is the opportunity it provides to indulge your passion. Whether it is gaming, cooking, traveling, or anything else, the best videos are always made by people with a real enthusiasm for what they are doing. It allows them to be creative, and they can find their own audience that shares their passion and can relate to them and what they are doing. Best of all, it allows them to make connections with strangers all over the world. In fact, the popular expression "Don't be a stranger" sums up the welcoming attitude of the average YouTuber today.
成為 YouTuber 最棒的一點就是它提供讓你沉浸於熱情之中的機會。無論是遊戲、烹飪、旅行或任何其他活動,最好的影片總是由那些對自己在做的事充滿熱忱的人所製作出來的。這份熱忱使他們充滿創造力,他們可以找到能分享熱情,且認同他們與他們正在做的事的觀眾。最棒的是,這份熱忱讓他們和全世界的陌生人建立起連結。事實上,那句流行話:「別把自己當外人」,概括了今日一般 YouTuber 熱情友好的態度。
On the other hand, being a YouTuber is not without disadvantages. For instance, to achieve high earnings, one top gaming YouTuber uploads at least four videos a week, which requires a lot of time, especially for editing. Also, it is not a stable occupation. Many YouTubers have sacrificed their previous jobs to devote all their attention to their videos. That might sound great if you can make it, but you are putting yourself at risk of struggling to get back on track career-wise if things don't work out. In that case, it will be a heavy blow if your YouTube career does go down the tubes.
另一方面,成為 YouTuber 並非沒有缺點。例如,為了獲取高收益,有位頂尖的遊戲 YouTuber 每星期至少上傳四部影片,這需要很多時間,尤其在剪輯上。此外,這不是一份穩定的職業。許多 YouTuber 犧牲之前的工作,為了要全力專注在他們的影片上。如果你辦得到的話,這聽起來可能不錯,但要是進展不順利,就會讓自己陷入難以重返職業生涯的風險。那樣的話,假如你的 YouTube 事業真的落空,將會是一個沉重的打擊。
YouTube fame also has drawbacks, as on the Internet trolls are never far away. There are negative comments under many YouTube posts, and with 300 hours of video being uploaded every minute, it's impossible to police the site properly. To be free from mental health issues resulting from online hate, YouTubers will need a thick skin for sure. What's more, there is an ever-present danger that someone else might steal your thunder by copying your idea and doing it better. Indeed, many a wannabe YouTuber has ended up thunderstruck by such a heartbreaking discovery.
YouTube 的名氣也有缺點,因為網路上的酸民永遠都不會消失。許多 YouTube 的作品底下都不乏負面評論,而且每分鐘有三百小時的影片上傳,因此要好好控管網站是不可能的。為了免於線上仇恨所造成的心理健康問題,YouTuber 當然需要臉皮厚一點。此外,永遠免不了的危險是,他人可能會藉著抄襲你的點子並做得更好,來搶走你的風采。確實,許多想成為 YouTuber 的人,到最後都因如此令人心碎的發現而震驚不已。
For the top YouTubers, the pros clearly outweigh the cons, or they wouldn't carry on doing it. Even for those not making a career out of it, posting videos can be part of a fulfilling and liberating lifestyle. It's just worth keeping in mind that this glittering prize can sometimes come at a heavy price.
對於頂尖的 YouTuber 來說,優點顯然勝過缺點,否則他們不會繼續做下去。即使對那些沒有從中闖蕩出事業的人,發布影片也可以是充實自由的生活方式的一部份。只是值得記住的是,閃閃發光的獎項有時伴隨著沉重的代價。