https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye An analysis of Seán William McLoughlin's career as Jacksepticeye, and how it has developed and changed over time. en-us 2022-10-15 12:40:55 UTC 2025-11-02 01:44:54 UTC hello@padlet.com 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341319892 Seán William McLoughlin grew up in Cloghan, Offaly in the Republic of Ireland. In 2012, he began creating videos for his YouTube channel - Jacksepticeye. He had a small number of followers on this platform as he was an ordinary person. Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, held a contest in 2013 whereby he would shout out ten channels that he thought was worthy of more attention. Seán was one of these ten and it led to his channel growing significantly as Felix then had the largest YouTube channel, based upon followers, worldwide. This was the moment that began his rise to fame, as well as his friendship with PewDiePie. Perhaps if he had not won this competition, he would not be where he is today.]]> 2022-10-15 13:08:30 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341319892 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341328418 Prior to Seán's YouTube career began, he played the drums in a band known as Reaper with his two friends Padraig Meaney and Éanna Doran. In 2008, the band gained another member, Conan Heffernan, and they changed the band's name to Raised To The Ground. They were a metalcore band with the label Death Cap which released a singular EP in 2009, Risen From The Ashes, and shortly after this they split. Perhaps Seán wanted to be in the limelight as an entertainer but began in the wrong industry.]]> 2022-10-15 13:25:00 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341328418 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341332552 In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel in 2014, Seán answers comments from his fans, one of which is regarding the origin of the name Jacksepticeye. He tells us that his mother and friends used to call him Jack which can be interchanged with Seán in Ireland. Moreover, when he was in school he was playing football when another player headed the football and accidentally caught Seán's eye. This injury led to a minor infection and consequently his friends at school began referring to Seán as Jacksepticeye - hence his YouTube name. The same story is behind how his logo 'Septic Sam' was created.]]> 2022-10-15 13:32:38 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341332552 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341345577 At the beginning of Seán's YouTube career, he used to mask his Irish accent due to his fear of being mocked online. To mask this, he faked an American accent. Nowadays, he embraces his Irish roots due to his confidence developing over the years. However, when he first started to upload content he was very nervous and shy. Nevertheless, his confidence developed a handful of years later as you can see in his 2016 video where he embraces, and makes fun of, his Irish roots. Maybe this is due to him naturally ageing and therefore growing his confidence, or it could be due to his supportive fanbase (Figure 9) allowing him to be who he truly is.]]> 2022-10-15 13:59:26 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341345577 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341345900 2022-10-15 13:59:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341345900 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346422 This short film encapsulates Seán's life over the course over the COVID-19 pandemic. It embodies a dark storyline, reflecting on his battle with asthma and other health conditions as well as his monotomous routine as a YouTuber. Viewers cannot help but sympathise with Seán during this short film as he covers issues which he has previously spoken about on his channel - making him more personable. As a whole, this short film is an emotional rollercoaster for his fans who struggle to see him suffer because of their bond. Nevertheless, this enhances his authentic star image as he, once again, is transparent about his off screen life.]]> 2022-10-15 14:01:03 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346422 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346586 Seán's documentary is about his life from the beginning to now, and all the obstacles that he faced to get to where he is. A large proportion of the film discusses his fanbase and how it is a community like no other. Within this film, his family and a selection of fans are interviewed to give their views on Seán and what he has achieved. As Seán is a transparent and honest creator, fans get to see more behind-the-scenes content then ever before and they see how he has remained true to himself throughout his career which inevitably closens their bond. Moreover, it can be argued that this film is emotional as Seán conveys his true raw feelings throughout. For instance, he felt lonely at the beginning of his YouTube career so he depended heavily on his fans to get through each day. For fans of his, this would have triggered an emotional reaction as they wish him nothing but happiness and success. All in all, the documentary showcases Seán's authentic and humble star image and persona as fans get to take a look into what life is really like for him.]]> 2022-10-15 14:01:24 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346586 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346695 2022-10-15 14:01:36 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341346695 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347083 2022-10-15 14:02:29 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347083 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347192 2022-10-15 14:02:44 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347192 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347689 At the beginning of this Let's Play, Seán addresses that this game is his friend's and that he features in it. Whilst doing so, he addresses that some of his fans may not enjoy this Let's Play as they might not like PewDiePie, but that would be fine as he wanted to play it. This demonstrates Seán's honesty and genuiness towards his community as he explains how he feels in a friendly manner. After this, he explains how he has always dreamed of being in a game and that it has finally happened. Through just his tone of voice and body movements, fans can instantly see how happy this has made Seán as it radiates to them. In this game, he stars as himself and even though he only had a small amount of speech in the game he was still overjoyed and thankful for the opportunity which demonstrates his likeability and humble persona.]]> 2022-10-15 14:03:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347689 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347950 In The Escapists 2, the developers created a playable character which looks like Seán, with his famous green hair, and is named JackSepticEye. Arguably, they did this to thank Seán for creating a Let's Play of their first game and for advertising the game to his fanbase. In this game, Seán was aware that he featured in the game and was therefore excited to see himself. However, it becomes obvious that he cannot see his playable character as he customises his own character to look like him. Throughout the videos's comments fans pointed out, whilst finding it amusing, that Seán got confused between the character he made and the one already in the game during the playthrough. Although this was an honest mistake on Seán's behalf, fans seemed to enjoy this video more so due to it, as he came across as relatable which is a key part of his star image.]]> 2022-10-15 14:04:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341347950 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348193 The title of this Let's Play video is 'YOU CAN DATE A CHARACTER I VOICED', insinuating that Seán was not aware that this was possible and that he is excited to see it. Perhaps he chose this name to onset fan's excitement too - promoting the close bond he has with his fans (Figure 9). In this game, he voices Calculester and Mr. Pheel the Eel which are two new characters in the game. In this Let's Play, Seán explains the behind the scenes of the recording for the game the roles he played, as well as his sheer joy of seeing himself feature. It is apparent that Seán is very happy when meeting the characters that he voices which, in turn, allows the fans to embody his happiness. Here we see Seán's honesty and transparency with his fans which solidifies his star image.]]> 2022-10-15 14:04:32 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348193 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348389 In River City Girls, Seán plays a character called Godai. Seán did not upload a Let's Play of this game, and I cannot say whether he has played this game or not as it is not public knowledge. However, it could be assumed that he has due to the fact that he thoroughly loves anime and enjoys seeing himself in games. However, he may not have uploaded a Let's Play of the game due to it being from a genre he does not upload at all, so he may have not wanted to displease fans.]]> 2022-10-15 14:04:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348389 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348553 Seán introduces Puppet Combo, the game developer, by explaining how he has previously played their games Night Watch and Scary Tales and is now playing their new game Murder House. As fans can tell by the title and thumbnail for this Let's Play, Seán features in this game as Janitor Jack. This character has Seán's name and face which both Seán himself and fans find hilarious as it was an unexpected addition to the game. As Janitor Jack is speaking to Seán, he begins to apologise to the game developers after realising he accidentally said a line wrong in the game. By admitting his mistake and making a joke out of it, Seán's likability and authenticity can be seen as he is not afraid to show his faults to the world. This illustrates Seán's humbleness which is a key component of his star image.]]> 2022-10-15 14:04:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348553 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348605 Before commencing his Let's Play of Poppy Playtime Chapter 2, Seán explains that in his Let's Play of their first game he mentioned that 'I could do a voice in this game' and that jokingly he egotistically pushed himself into this franchise. Nevertheless, he admits that after that video was uploaded the game developers contacted him regarding a character that they would like him to play. In this game, Seán makes an appearance in a videotape as on of Playtime Co's employees where it can be understood that his character, Marcus, is nervous about the interview he is in. This Let's Play amassed almost 11,000,000 views which alludes to the collaboration being a tremendous success amongst fans of both the game and Seán - highlighting how valuable Seán is as a commodity.]]> 2022-10-15 14:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341348605 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341350675 Cloak is an athleisure clothing brand aimed at gamers which Seán co-owns with fellow YouTuber Markiplier, also known as Mark Fischbach. Both Seán and Mark have very similar YouTube content and personalities, which is why the two friends released this brand. On the bottom of the website, humour can be seen as it says 'please don't text us' followed by Cloak's number, and 'sign up for non-spammy updates (even though spam can be kinda delicious)'. Both of these communicate Seán's, and Mark's, humour which is a key part of Seán's star image.

Cloak is in partnership with Feeding America who are a charity aimed at providing food to both adults and children in America. As discussed in Figure 6, Seán is a charitable creator who gives back to those in need. However, having some proceeds from his company go towards helping a charity as well as fundraising mass amounts highlights his altruistic and benevolent persona and star image.]]> 2022-10-15 14:09:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341350675 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341350944 In April 2021, Seán launched a limited edition candle which smelt of coffee. As this was released on April Fool's Day, it can be assumed that many fans thought that this was a joke, However, Seán pinned a comment explaining how it is not a joke as they 'did a reverse April Fool's'. During this video, Seán replicated an Irish salesman from his Funniest Home Videos series called Ronnie Neville. This video was exceptionally popular amongst fans and was uploaded less than a month before the candle launched. So, perhaps Seán thought it would be a great idea to use this character to advertise his own product by showcasing his own comedic personality.]]> 2022-10-15 14:09:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341350944 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341351804 On 11 September 2015, Seán released a video where he reveals his notable green hair for the first time. This renowned hairstyle became a large part of his star image as it related to both his YouTube name and mascot (Figure 3).]]> 2022-10-15 14:11:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341351804 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341352544 Very early on in 2021, Seán's father passed away and so he inevitably took a break from YouTube to be able to grieve properly.]]> 2022-10-15 14:12:57 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341352544 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341352704 In this video, Seán goes into detail about what he has accomplished in 2020, but he also discusses how that year almost made him quit YouTube altogether.]]> 2022-10-15 14:13:17 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341352704 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341353043 Seán featured on the Trash Taste Podcast where he discussed different aspects of his life with the hosts Joey Bizinger, Garnt Maneetapho, and Connor Colquhoun. More specifically, Seán spoke in-depth about his personal views on streaming and why he does not want to and/or think he will return to twitch - ‘I just find myself boring’. By stating this, it could shock his fans as they perceive him, and know him, as being a humorous creator who creates content that they thoroughly enjoy. Nevertheless, he proceeds to say that he feels that he can ‘make something more entertaining when it’s paced around editing’. Although this sounds like a lot less pressure, regarding high quality content, it still is not easy creatingedited content that fans will enjoy. On one hand, Seán needs to be engaging and comedic during streams as well as keeping viewers attention. On the other hand, as Seán stated, it is easier to create an entertaining video when it can be edited a certain way. All in all this highlights his honesty around content creation, allowing fans to solidify their close bond with Seán due to his transparent nature.]]> 2022-10-15 14:13:50 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341353043 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341353657 Seán has been, and still is, vocal on issues surrounding YouTube for a number of years. The most recent incident was brought to his attention by a fellow YouTuber Cory Kenshin. Cory declared that YouTube either has favourites, is simply racist, or it is a mixture of the two. Seán clarifies that he cannot comment on the racism allegations as he 'comes from a place of immense priviledge being a white man on the Internet' however he wants to address the other problems Cory mentioned. This shows how Seán is self-aware and, irrelevant to his priviledge, wants to support other YouTubers by using his large platform for the greater good. Furthemore, he goes in-depth for viewers as to how the behind-the-scenes of YouTube works - showing his honest persona and close relationship with fans. 

After his initial video addressing the problems, Seán uploaded a "Try Not To Get Age Restricted Challenge" video to show YouTube that they do have issues in their algorithm. In both the caption of the video and as a pinned comment, Seán gives context to the video and is sarcastic about how ridiculous YouTube currently is for creators. Seán released one final video addressing the issues whereby he explains how he feels about the situation and acknowledges that YouTube still has a plethora of problems that they need to resolve.

After uploading these videos, Seán did not upload on his YouTube for almost two months. It could be argued that this was to prove that he wants change to be made as by not uploading content, YouTube would hopefully act upon the issues as he is one of the largest gaming YouTubers. Throughout these three videos, it is clear to fans that he is passionate about these problems and that he genuinely wants them to be resolved. This shows that Seán is a genuine person who utilises his a large online following for the greater good, thus allowing fans to relate to him and connect on a deeper level.]]> 2022-10-15 14:15:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341353657 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341373215 In December, Seán hosted two separate fundraising live streams to raise money for the charity Save The Children. Over the course of these two streams, over $260,000 was raised for the cause with the help of other YouTube creators, such as Emma Blackery. After this weekend, Seán uploaded both streams onto his own YouTube channel so that people who could not join live could watch it. This shows how his fans are important to him as he does not want any of them to miss out.]]> 2022-10-15 14:52:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341373215 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341376282 Seán took to Twitter to thank everyone who was involved from other YouTubers to donors as he says 'YOU are the quarted of a million dollars raised, not us!' This demonstrates Seán's selflessness and supports his kind star image which has developed over the course of his career.]]> 2022-10-15 14:57:53 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341376282 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341379894 Seán set the original goal for this fundraiser at $50,000 and achieved over $225,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. During this live stream, he streamed games; spoke about resources for suicide prevention, and informed viewers of who the charity were. Around this time in January 2018, there was a controversy surrounding YouTuber Logal Paul who had uploaded a video where he visited Aokigahara in Japan, also known as the "Suicide Forest", and filmed a dead body. Seán admitted that he wanted to raise money and awareness surrounding suicide and suicide prevention to make a positive out of this negative situation. By Seán utilising his platform for the greater good, highlights his respectful and charitable persona.]]> 2022-10-15 15:05:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341379894 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341384550 In February, Seán hosted another fundraising stream which raised over $110,000 for Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. During this stream, the hashtag #PositiveMentalAttitude (Figure 15.2.) was also used on social media to spread awareness about the cause, and Seán played games such as Fortnite and Slay the Spire. Additionally, he answered questions from the viewers of the stream which allowed them to feel directly involved and making it personal for them. Subsequently, this heightened Seán's personable relationship with his fans.]]> 2022-10-15 15:14:29 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341384550 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341386137 Seán got the viewers and his fans involved in the stream by asking them on Twitter what game they would like him to play. This illustrates how important his audience is to him as it is apparant that he wanted them to be entertained throughout the live stream - supporting his star image.]]> 2022-10-15 15:17:53 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341386137 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341391127 Once again Seán exceeded his fundraising goal during his charity live stream, titled 'Thankmas', for Crisis Text Line in December. He was joined by YouTubers such as Markiplier and Troy Baker where they raised over $269,000, passing the original goal of $150,000. During this stream, Seán and the guests spoke to viewers about the Crisis Text Line and answered questions asked by viewers. Possibly this stream also helped the viewers directly by showing them that they are not alone as well as directing them to professional help.]]> 2022-10-15 15:26:03 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341391127 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341391851 PMA is a clothing brand created by Seán to promote positive mental attitude. As he is an advocate for mental health, PMA was, and still is, well received by his fans. Originally, he started PMA for himself as he battled with poor mental health in 2017, however it became popular amongst his fans which is why the clothing brand was created. This illustrates Seán's philanthropic star image as PMA promotes the welfare of people, especially his fans.]]> 2022-10-15 15:27:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341391851 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341393474 Seán also donated all of his Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) merchandise (Figure 15.2.) sales to the fundraiser. The success from this stream even saw the Crisis Text Line charity tweet using the #PMA hashtag - drawing more attention to the merchandise and cause. On the whole, this demonstrates Seán's selfless persona as helping others is a core of his being.]]> 2022-10-15 15:30:05 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341393474 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341396465 In December, Seán hosted his third Thankmas stream to raise money for Child's Play who are a gaming charity that help children in hospitals worldwide. It raised over $354,000 which surpassed the original fundraising goal with the guests on the stream. The guests were Seán's friends, who he creates videos with, which allowed the fans to already know who they were and have an idea of what they could expect.]]> 2022-10-15 15:35:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341396465 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341398043 Seán uploaded a YouTube video onto his channel a few days prior to the Thankmas stream explaining what will be happening during the stream; what to expect from the stream; who the charity are, and his passion for wanting to do it again. Possibly, this created excitment and anticipation for the stream amongst his fans, meaning more people would join and consequently donate. Throughout this video, it becomes apparant that he is truly passionate and genuinely enjoys helping raise money for different causes. All in all, his authenticity is apparent and his kind personality can be evidenced.]]> 2022-10-15 15:38:52 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341398043 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341407066 During Seán's twelve hour live stream, he raised almost $660,000 for the causes with the help of other creators. This total was nearly 40% of the total amount raised worldwide for the three charities. This stream was held on World Health Day on his YouTube channel where he talked about COVID-19 and played Animal Crossing: New Horizons to keep his audience entertained. Within two and a half hours, the donations exceeded his goal of $300,000 and when the amount raised was $500,000, Seán donated $100,000 himself. As a whole, it can be argued that this stream was Seán's most successful at the time in the sense that he raised money for a cause which affected everybody in the world, and he raised almost half of the global total. As well as demonstrating his selflessness by donating such a huge amount, Seán's humanitarian aid helps people worldwide which promoted his good-guy star image further.]]> 2022-10-15 15:56:16 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341407066 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341412100 Seán's Thankmas raised over $7 million for New Story who are an organisation that utilise micro mortgages and 3D printed homes for people who are in need worldwide. During this stream, Seán provided rewards for viewers and donors to the fundraiser. For example, the top five donors were invited to an all expenses paid trip to one of the communities which was being built in Latin America. This provided an extra incentive to fans to donate larger amounts not just as it would help people worldwide, but that they may get the opportunity to visit some of the people they have helped by donating. This was a new record for Seán's fundraising efforts and highlighted how important it is for people with large platforms to help causes. As a whole, this stream enabled Seán's altruistic and philanthropic star image and personality to be seen more so than ever before.]]> 2022-10-15 16:06:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2341412100 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342043265 During this live stream, Seán promised viewers and donors that if $100,000 dollars was raised for The Trevor Project then he would re-dye his hair green (Figure 5). The Trevor Project is a support service for members of the LGBTQ+ community, providing people with trained counselors to help. As Seán's green hair was so iconic for his star image, the promise of reintroduing it enticed fans and viewers to donate. Although Seán is not part of the LGBTQ+ community, by raising money for a related charity proves that he supports them which in turn could make his LGBTQ+ fans feel supported by him.]]> 2022-10-16 18:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342043265 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342048437 Seán interacted with viewers comments, reacted to his sub reddit and played games such as Google Fued and Slime Rancher to keep viewers entertained during this live stream. In total, it lasted for almost eight consecutive hours and over $100,000 was raised in aid of the Environmental Defense Fund. As environmental issues were, and still are, a global issue, Seán raising money for such a cause displays that he is aware of global issues and wants to use his platform to help. Hence his philanthropic star image being reinforced.]]> 2022-10-16 18:09:24 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342048437 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342051392 In Seán's fundraising stream, over $110,000 was raised for Comic Relief US. During this stream, Seán spoke to viewers and donors to thank them for their efforts and answer any questions in which they had, as well as playing games. By simply thanking people for their donations and interactions, Seán can be seen as being humble as he authentically is grateful for their efforts.]]> 2022-10-16 18:14:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342051392 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342055131 Once again, Seán incentivised viewers to donate by promising to dye his hair green (Figure 5) if a certain donation total was met. In total, just under $1,500,000 was raised for Comic Relief US, almost three times the original goal. This highlights how Seán's green hair is a large part of his identity as this was the most amount he had ever raised during a stream. To keep the donations incoming, Seán dyed it live during the stream. Overall, this illustrates how Seán's fans support him immensely and appreciate his thoughtfulness towards what they would like from him - the return of his green hair.]]> 2022-10-16 18:19:20 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342055131 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342059960 With the help of viewers and donors, over $110,000 was raised in aid of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital; a charity which helps children with cancer. Within just three hours, over $100,000 was raised. It can be argued that Seán enjoys undertaking humanitarian aid, perhaps as he did not come from a wealthy background and therefore wants to give back to those who are less fortunate.]]> 2022-10-16 18:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342059960 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342062668 In February, Seán raised over $85,000 for Gamers Outreach Foundation which surpassing the original goal. This stream predominantely consisted of him playing Apex Legends to keep his gaming fanbase entertained throughout the almost nine hour stream. Once again, by Seán making the stream relevant to both the charity and the content demonstrates his thoughtfulness and genuine care for others - enhancing his star image.]]> 2022-10-16 18:30:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342062668 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342067678 In March, over $100,000 was raised for Charity: Water for World Water Day. Including donations from donors, Seán also sold an exclusive pin to help raise money for the cause which shows the thought that went into the stream and consequently his considerate personality.]]> 2022-10-16 18:38:07 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342067678 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342069051 In April, Seán and his community raised over $150,000 for GameChanger. This stream is easily one of his longest lasting over ten consecutive hours, and throughout he played games such as God of War, keeping the content relevant to the charity's premise and his own content. By hosting a stream for such a length of time, exhibits his dedication for helping others and therefore strengthening his star image.]]> 2022-10-16 18:40:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342069051 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342071901 During Seán's first live stream of 2019, he raised over $100,000 for Make-A-Wish. Throughout this stream, he interacted with his audience by answering questions they asked which made this stream feel personal for all involved. Arguably, as Make-A-Wish grant people's wishes, Seán answering fan's questions could also be seen as granting fan's wishes too.]]> 2022-10-16 18:45:36 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342071901 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342074290 This stream raised over $150,000 for the cause who provide people with disabilities the means to game like able-bodied people can. To keep with the theme of the charity, Seán streamed for ten hours and played games such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Fortnite. Overall, this shows how Seán does not discriminate against other gamers and wants everyone to be able to enjoy this hobby - emphasizing his altruistic star image.]]> 2022-10-16 18:49:56 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342074290 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342076659 Seán and his audience raised over $100,000 for Charity: Water in the live stream. On this stream, whilst interacting directly with viewers, he played through the game Infectonator to keep them thoroughly entertained throughout which again shows that keeping his fans entertained is a crucial factor for him as a creator as well as keeping people engaged in the stream for charity.]]> 2022-10-16 18:53:47 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342076659 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342079702 Originally, a YouTuber known by the name Mr. Beast launched a fundraiser for Arbor Day Foundation to plant 20,000,000 trees. For each $1 donated, one tree would be planted. Other YouTubers, such as Seán, helped by conducting their own fundraising efforts for the cause. Seán hosted a live stream where he played Minecraft and took suggestions from viewers for building ideas. In total, over $150,000 was raised by Seán as his Minecraft series was popular at the time, so he knew that more of his fans would be inclined to join the live.]]> 2022-10-16 18:58:19 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342079702 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342081800 During this fundraiser for SameYou, Seán was joined by Emilia Clarke who is an actress from Game of Thrones. They interacted with viewers throughout the four and a half hour long stream and raised over $280,000 for the cause. Plausibly Seán invited Emilia to join the stream as the finale of Game of Thrones was a recent phenomenon and so more people would want to join and donate to the cause. Furthermore, this showcases Seán's comercial awareness which aids his alturistic persona.]]> 2022-10-16 19:01:50 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342081800 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342083298 This fundraiser raised over $200,000 for GlobalGiving. The stream was specifically aimed at helping rebuild areas in Australia due to the bush fires. Seán spoke with viewers and educated them on the issues that GlobalGiving helps. It is apparent that Seán tailors his streams to cover current worldwide events which helps him educate his fans on said issues. Perhaps he does this to encourage others to help in their own ways and make people aware of what is happening in the world. As a whole, this strengthens his charitable and altruistic star image and persona.]]> 2022-10-16 19:04:35 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342083298 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342085898 In total for the four charities, Seán and his viewers raised over $620,000. He hosted this live stream last minute to support the Black Lives Matter movement so had to use a different donation platform than usual. Throughout the stream, he educated his viewers and provided them with resources to support the movement as best as he could. This proves that Seán stays up-to-date with current events so that his is knowledgeable about what he can do to help others - conveying his philanthropic and benevolent image and personality.]]> 2022-10-16 19:09:06 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342085898 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342088037 In May, Seán raised over $200,000 which was double his original goal. To keep viewers engaged, he played games such as Papers Please and Google Feud which were popular games at the time. Perhaps Seán played these two games as he was aware that people would be enticed to watch due to their current popularity on his channel and therefore more donations would be made to the charity. This illustrates Seán as being self-aware and comercially aware which ultimately helped the charity.]]> 2022-10-16 19:12:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2342088037 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351569392 Over the course of a number of years, Seán has raised over $12.7 million for a range of charities via his many fundraising efforts. This remarkable feat highlights his authentic star image as he genuinely enjoys helping those in need by utilising his platform and his influence that he has to do so.]]> 2022-10-22 11:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351569392 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351569619 2022-10-22 11:03:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351569619 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351570141 2022-10-22 11:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351570141 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351571807 2022-10-22 11:08:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351571807 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351575800 2022-10-22 11:16:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351575800 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351579966 2022-10-22 11:26:24 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351579966 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351582131 The sub reddit was closed for a short period of time in August 2022 due to the moderators leaving. Seán asked the moderators from his Discord and Twitch groups to moderate the sub reddit in which they declined - leaving the community in limbo. However, moderators were eventually sourced for the sub reddit so that it could continue operating as usual. In this video, Seán addresses the issue and gives his fans an insight as to what went on behind the scenes to resolve it. By informing fans of the situation, it alludes to the close relationship Seán has with them and it demonstrates his private life's transparency. Additionally, it is clear that Seán devoted much of his time into resolving this issue for his fans - showing his considerate personality.]]> 2022-10-22 11:31:15 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351582131 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351584990 2022-10-22 11:37:22 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351584990 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351585843 2022-10-22 11:39:15 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351585843 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351586196 2022-10-22 11:40:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351586196 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351609694 In this video, Seán explains that he tried to cover his Irish accent as he believed that he would not get many views as people would not understand his Irish accent. He goes on to explain that he perceived YouTubers then as having a 'stage persona, stage voice or... some sort of character' which is what he attempted by portraying an American accent. However, some may argue that Jacksepticeye is Seán's mask that he wears throughout his content to feel more comfortable in who he is. Nevertheless, by Seán allowing his audience to gain this insight into his private life, allows them to feel connected to him on a personal level which inevitably increases his likeability and personability.]]> 2022-10-22 12:26:27 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351609694 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351656212 Although Seán is known for his green hair, after having it for many years, he dyed his hair back to dark brown in 2018. In a YouTube video, he explained how the green was exceptionally hard to maintain and that he 'really likes it' being back brown even though he will 'miss the green'. Understandably, this left many of his fans downhearted because he had become recognisable by that hair colour. Nonetheless, his fans remained supportive of his choice as his hair did not effect who he was or his content.]]> 2022-10-22 13:46:47 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351656212 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351661891 In June 2019 (Figure 6.3.6.) and December 2020 (Figure 6.4.4.), as I will elaborate on in the Charity section, Seán galvanised his fans into donating to both charity live streams by promising to dye his hair back green if a certain target was reached. In both instances the goal was achieved, so Seán returned to having his famous green hair for a short period of time.

After his 2019 stream, he released a video later on his YouTube channel showcasing the new hairstyle which he had promised to his fans. In juxtaposition, during his 2020 stream he dyed his hair live. Potentially Seán made this decision due to feedback from his audience from the previous stream; they potentially informed him that they would rather see it live or it could have encouraged people to donate more so if he were to dye it live. ]]> 2022-10-22 13:54:39 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351661891 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351679026 Seán's platform on YouTube has enabled him to have acting roles in both TV shows and in films. He has been able to create his own documentary, 'How Did We Get Here?', based on his rise to fame on YouTube; he has been a feature on the TV shows 'Access Daily', 'Player Select', 'Ireland's Rich List' and 'The Late Late Show', and has featured in movies such as 'Free Guy' and 'In Space With Markiplier'. These highlight Seán's versatility as an entertainer and creator as he is capable of creating more than just gaming videos for YouTube.

Moreover, Seán creates his own short films on his YouTube channel to demonstrate his passion and love for filmmaking. These short films incorporate different alter egos (Figure 9.7.) which he created. Each alter ego is unique, perhaps this is to convey his adaptable acting capabilities and different on screen personas which he arguably shows during his acting roles in games (Figure 11).]]> 2022-10-22 14:19:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351679026 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351681278 2022-10-22 14:22:19 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351681278 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351682052 2022-10-22 14:23:16 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351682052 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351685624 Seán's most renowned Let's Play series is Happy Wheels. This series consists of exactly one hundred videos and has now been retired. The series started in 2013 and concluded in 2016, and amassed over 133,000,000 total playlist views. With famous quotes such as 'speed is key' being prominent amongst fans of this series, it comes as no surprise that this series plays a big part in the construction of Seán's enthusiastic star image, as well as his growth as a YouTube star. ]]> 2022-10-22 14:28:26 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351685624 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351691040 On his YouTube channel, it is apparent that Seán enjoys creating different styles of short films. He has created and released numerous now which are very different to one another. For example, some have speech and some do not as well as some having very deep plots and others being humorous. Within these films, Seán usually has different alter egos (Figure 9.7.), unless it is a subsequent short film such as CHASE and ANOMALY FOUND. Perhaps Seán's acting roles and features in games (Figure 11) has enabled him to develop his acting skills and confidence which is why he creates his own short films.]]> 2022-10-22 14:36:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351691040 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351696787 Throughout this short film, Seán plays a character called Chase Brody who suffers from severe alcoholism. Although the alter ego he embodies is the polar opposite to who he really is, he plays this character extremely well by using different camera angles, mannerisms and pace. This film has a dark tone to it as Chase drives into a forest where it seems is a memorial is there for his son. It quickly cuts to him standing on a rooftop carpark panicking before suddenly ending - leaving viewers to interpret their own ending. However, Seán released two other short films, WTCHR and ANOMALY FOUND, a few years late which continue to develop this plot. Perhaps Seán saw his fans' reactions to CHASE and decided to continue this saga due to its popularity.]]> 2022-10-22 14:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351696787 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351702243 In this short film, Seán plays two different brothers. One of them plays the role of Seán himself and the other one is the famous YouTuber's brother - an alter ego for Seán. Throughout the short film, Seán demonstrates his charismatic personality as well as using a humourous undertone. They discuss topics such as his coffee company (Figure 15.3.) and crypto currency. There is ample sarcasm during this short film which is tailored to the humour his fans really enjoy. However, both characters at the end break the fourth wall by saying that they feel "watched" - bringing the fans into the film. Yet, there is another plot twist whereby Seán also plays the camera man who is the person who's watching them converse - highlighting Seán's talent for both directing and acting. Throughout this short film, Seán demonstrates his humorous personality and his star image is strengthened.]]> 2022-10-22 14:52:29 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351702243 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351702859 Due to the success of the first short film Seán created with the twin brothers, he created a part two. This film embodies the same elements as the first which he knew would be entertaining for his fans. Comedy and relatability are the centre focus once again, and this displays the persona in which he demonstrates throughout his content on YouTube. This short film contains relatable topics such as scrolling through social media first thing in the morning which viewers can assimilate with - making the film more comedic. Additionally, at the end of the film, the twin brothers break the fourth wall again regarding the camera man who resembles the fans. However, this time we learn that the camera man is named Greg. This short film allows his star image to be reinforced as well as portraying his raw acting and directing skills further.]]> 2022-10-22 14:53:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351702859 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351704425 2022-10-22 14:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351704425 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351706128 In 2021, Seán took a break, which he admits lasted longer than he initially intended, due to health issues. ]]> 2022-10-22 14:58:03 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351706128 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351707541 For Seán's second short film, he is looking through a witchcraft book and then leans forward and touches a crystal ball. By touching the crystal ball, clips from Seán's YouTube content flash up and when he lets go he gasps. After this, there is a close up of the crystal ball with lights spiralling around. Although this film is only a minute long, the foreboding narrative throughout is firmly established. Viewers don't see Seán's face in this film, only his hands. It could be argued that due to the first person camera angles, it is the individual viewers who are experiencing what happens in the film and not Seán. This illustrates his raw talent for filmmaking as it is clear that every shot was thought out thoroughly. This further develops Seán's acting talent and consequently his star image.]]> 2022-10-22 15:00:14 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2351707541 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357182740 As the title suggests, people were not intended to see these clips which have been collated into a compliation. Nevertheless, Seán chose to upload this video as it is very entertaining and showcases him off screen. It can be said that his on screen and off screen persona are virtually the same as we see his authenticity, humour and realness throughout this piece of content and his Let's Plays. Viewers can see him laughing at his own poor jokes as well as some technical mistakes he has made, such as his controller losing battery, which demonstrates how relatable he is.]]> 2022-10-26 12:33:14 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357182740 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357184267 Top of the Mornin was created due to Seán being an avid fan of coffee. It can be said that the name of this brand was chosen due to it being his video introduction as well as a take on his Irish roots (Figure 4). When the company began, it sold coffee and a coffee mug. Nowadays, the Top of the Mornin's range has expanded significantly to indclude goods such as tea, hot chocolate and t-shirts. By Seán gaining confidence in who he is and where he comes from, has allowed him to build a successful business which fans adore - supporting his relatable star image.]]> 2022-10-26 12:33:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357184267 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357184798 Later on in 2020, Seán returns to YouTube after being on a break due to having a burnout from YouTube and social media.]]> 2022-10-26 12:34:09 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357184798 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357185774 In 2020, Seán took a break from YouTube to show support for Black Lives Matter Movement by not uploading content to keep the focus online on the cause. Figure 6.4.3. shows how he utilised his platform to directly support the movement and those affected in the community.]]> 2022-10-26 12:34:54 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357185774 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357186331 At the outset of this video, Seán says '24 million subscribers? No. 24 million friends' and then proceeds to laugh whilst smiling profusely. This highlights his likeability and comedic side as although he is joking, he is also being serious due to his close relationship to his fans. After this, his humbleness can be seen as he explains how he cannot comprehend this achievement and how he cannot pretend that he deserves to hit this milestone, but that he is aware that he has been lucky to achieve this. His genuine gratitude can be seen throughout which supports his growth in his star image that has developed since he began his YouTube channel.]]> 2022-10-26 12:35:16 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357186331 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357187557 When you go onto Seán's YouTube channel, a video of him instantly starts to play whereby he tells you to subscribe. His humour is clear throughout this video which amuses fans as he directly addresses each viewer by using words such as 'you', making the video seem very personal. Perhaps this video is included where it is to entice people to join the fandom by subscribing. Seán uses plenty of sarcasm throughout and laughs at himself as he speaks, as well as explaining how his community have achieved great feats already (explained in Figure 6) and that there will be more that they can get also get involved in - tempting viewers to subscribe and join the community. Furthermore, YouTube penalises creators who have a high view counts whereby the viewers are not subscribed to the channel. So, Seán could have created this video to lessen the penalty he receives from YouTube's algorithm. All in all, this short video displays Seán's humorous and upbeat personality and his authentic star image as he discloses exactly why the video has been made.]]> 2022-10-26 12:36:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357187557 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357189941 Early in 2020, Seán tells fans that he took a break from YouTube due to an illness.]]> 2022-10-26 12:37:54 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357189941 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357191867 During this video, Seán explains what turning 30 years old means to both him and other people worldwide. Although this video is supposedly meant to be about him turning 30, his selflessness is demonstrated as he informs viewers, and fans, that turning 30 means 'a great deal'. He opens up and speaks about his family and his childhood, allowing fans to have an insight into a different aspect of his personal life. This video encompasses a sombre mood for a section as Seán discusses his struggles when he was in his mid-20s, however the mood shifts to uplifting as he explains how he feels better now and is in a better place in life. For many fans, this feeling of growth will be relatable and allow them to grow closer to Seán as a lot of what he talks about is not exclusive to people with a platform - everyone can go through it.]]> 2022-10-26 12:39:15 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357191867 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357193884 2022-10-26 12:40:30 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357193884 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357217200 Seán has a range of star-merchandise which is available for his fans to purchase. He has two clothing brands, one which he co-owns, and a hot beverage company. These three brands are popular amongst Seán's fans as the products are of a high-quality and are tailored to both Seán's and his fans' desires.]]> 2022-10-26 12:55:20 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357217200 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357219848 As Seán is one of the world's largest and renowned YouTube Let's Players, it makes sense that game developers would want to feature him in their games. When he features in a game, he tends to play it and upload the Let's Play onto his YouTube channel which arguably provides free marketing for the game itself. Therefore, from a business perspective, it makes sense to include him in a game, no mattter how large or small the role may be, as his fans will be exposed to the game which in turn could increase their game sales - making Seán a valuable commodity. Also, by featuring in games with speaking roles, Seán enhances his acting skills (Figure 13).

Nonetheless, Seán sometimes features in the credits of games because he has played them before on his YouTube channel and the developers want to do so as a thank you for exposing them to his vast audience. Furthermore, some of Seán's friends, such as PewDiePie, have created their own games which also feature Seán in, and certain games have been made by fans to show him their appreciation of what he has done for them. All in all, Seán's star identity surrounds gaming as he was able to transform his hobby into a career for himself. Possibly this could encourage his fans to do the same with their hobbies, irrespective of what they may be as there is a market for everything.]]> 2022-10-26 12:56:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357219848 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357225707 Since 2018, Seán has interviewed celebrities, mainly whom are actors or actresses, regarding either their latest film or about their lives. Comparing Seán's first interview with Ryan Reynolds (Figure 12.1.) and his latest interview with Tom Holland (Figure 12.12.), it becomes clear that his confidence has grown significantly and he is more comfortable with interviewing celebrities. Although Seán himself is famous, he is very humble and wholesome which may explain why he is so nervous and shy in his intial interviews. Perhaps it could be said that as time has gone by, Seán's YouTube subscriber count has increased, and therefore his confidence has grown because of it.

It is worth noting that in the same interviews mentioned previously, Seán and the interviewees are playing a console game; Ryan and Tom play Deadpool and Uncharted 4 repectively due to them featuring in the movies for said games. This could be to entice Seán's fans to engage with the interviews as he is a Let's Player and is known for creating gaming content. Futhermore, all of the interviews show Seán's real personality which fans see in his content already. However, it can be said that his personality is slightly muted during these so that he can remain professional and conduct the interview thoroughly. This allows Seán's fans to see a different side to him which they do not see very often.]]> 2022-10-26 13:00:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357225707 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357228209 Over the course of Seán's YouTube career he has taken many breaks from uploading content onto his YouTube channel for a plethora of reasons such as health issues and family matters. As you can see in the examples, Seán is extremely open and honest with his fans as to why he is or has taken a break from YouTube. These informative videos on his YouTube channel are met with a great deal of support from his fanbase - most often offering him words of encouragement to take care of his wellbeing. He goes into a lot of depth in such videos to explain the situation in its entirety which allows fans to know that even people with a platform can struggle. This allows fans to gain an insight into his personal life via his transparent content, which in turn enables his authentic star image to be seen.

As well as updating fans on why he has taken a break, or his current health status, Seán also speaks to experts in the field and shows his fans the conversations had. By doing so, Seán removes the stigma of seeking professional help by showing his fans that he does it. This demonstrates how Seán cares for others, especially his fans, and that his altruistic persona both on and off screen is very real.]]> 2022-10-26 13:02:25 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357228209 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357236031 Since the beginning of Seán's YouTube career, himself and his fans have had an extremely close bond as he understands that without them he would not be where he is today. As shown in Figure 8, Seán gives back directly to his fans during Meme Time where he gives credit and admiration to the content that his fans have created specifically for him. He is transparent with them regarding his private life; consistently thanks them for their constant support, and consequently enjoys providing them with content that he knows that they will enjoy. Overall, Seán is very grateful for his audience which is why he is known as being a wholesome person.]]> 2022-10-26 13:07:05 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357236031 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357240012 Seán has been in the public eye for ten years, and not once has he had a scandal that could have jepordised his career. Instead, Seán takes stances on issues which he believes needs fixing. For example, he takes stances against YouTube and how its algorithm needs changing, as well as no longer streaming on Twitch. All in all, this highlights Seán's kind and authentic persona as he utilises his platform to improve things for everyone which not every large creator does. ]]> 2022-10-26 13:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2357240012 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2358904190 A Let's Play video on YouTube features 'gameplay footage accompanied by simultaneous commentary recorded by the player' (Burwell & Miller, 2016, p.1), and Seán is known for being one of the most subscribed and famous Let's Players on the platform. Happy Wheels, Undertale, Subnautica and Subnautica Below Zero are arguably his top 4 Let's Play series of all time.]]> 2022-10-27 11:35:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2358904190 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2358934390 Another of Seán's most iconic Let's Play series is Undertale. Although this series contains a considerably lesser number of videos in comparison to his Happy Wheels series, it still accumulated over 45,000,000 playlist views. Throughout the series, it becomes apparent that Seán is jovial as he is enjoying the game which enables the fans to enjoy the content more so. Due to Seán and his fans having a relationship built on honesty and mutual happiness, seeing him thoroughly enjoy playing Undertale allowed fans to also immerse themselves into the gameplay. All in all, Seán's passion is prominent which highlights his relatable persona.]]> 2022-10-27 12:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2358934390 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359272002 The Subnautica Let's Play series was heavily sought after since 2015 as Seán was given early access to the game. He created a series of him playing in the early access and later added the full release gameplay to the same playlist. With the playlist having over 40,000,000 views, it was a series that Seán's fanbase undoubyedly enjoyed. However, the series came to a halt as he admitted that due to the lack of things to complete in the game, he was getting bored of making the content. Unmistakably, fans were left dishearted but they respected his decision as they genuinely want him to enjoy creating content for them.

Nevertheless, he later played the second game from the franchise, Subnautica Below Zero, which was also added to the playlist mentioned prior. But, this series did not last long with Seán only releasing six videos based on this game. Despite the fact that this series of games were adored by fans, Seán put his own desires and happiness first to prevent him from not wanting to create content which inevitably would lead to him taking a break from YouTube (Figure 10).]]> 2022-10-27 15:29:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359272002 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359290191 This is a series of Let's Plays (Figure 7) where Seán goes back and plays games that are old and still iconic, or games which he played on his channel many years ago that fans enjoyed. As the title of the series suggests, this series is intended to bring back nostalgia for his fanbase and bring them enjoyment. The series began back in 2019 and has been popular with his fans ever since.]]> 2022-10-27 15:39:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359290191 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359298092 On Christmas Day in 2020, Seán released a video on his YouTube channel of him completing Subnautica in one video. This was during one of his 'Nostalgia Weeks' (Figure 9.5.) which naturally caught fans attention; hence why this singular video has over 5,000,000 views. Maybe Seán released this to please his audience as he understood they're enjoyment of the series which they never saw him finish. Either way, by Seán creating this video emphasised his empathetic personality.]]> 2022-10-27 15:43:58 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359298092 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359323119 Meme Time is a series which Seán created to directly interact with fans. He reacts to content that his fans have created and uploaded onto his sub reddit (r/Jacksepticeye). Fans will post content such as memes and fanart on here in the hopes that Seán will react to it on Meme Time. As explained in Figure 9, he and his fanbase have a very close bond that Seán nurtures. Potentially Meme Time is his way to ensure that this relationship is consistently maintained, as well as giving back to those who unequivocally support him. It is clear that Seán enjoys creating this content as he laughs and occasionally digresses onto a topic which he speaks about for a prolongued period of time - insinuating his authentic star image.]]> 2022-10-27 15:59:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359323119 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359325245 In this sub reddit, Seán's fans can discuss topics about Seán; post their own content, and help other fans in their community. The sub reddit has specific rules which community members must adhere to, namely no hateful content or reposting of other people's work. To keep the sub reddit running smoothly, there are moderators who deal with any reports and monitor engagements on posts. Ultimately, this is a space for his fans to relate with others over their adoration and/or enjoyment of Seán and his content, resulting in a supportive and coherent fanbase.]]> 2022-10-27 16:00:25 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359325245 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359333251 Septic Sam is Seán's mascot for his YouTube channel and is also his star persona signature. The idea for Septic Sam originated from the same story as Jacksepticeye did, hinting that this piece of his past changed him in some way so that he would still incorporate it in his life years later.]]> 2022-10-27 16:05:36 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359333251 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359355062 Day by Dave created the theme tune which is now famously used in every Meme Time video that Seán creates. He created two versions of the song; one which used the original audio from Seán's clips which have been used to formulate the song's lyrics, and the other that was created accidentally contained a distored voice. Nevertheless, the song is catchy and is a hit with both Seán and his fans, hence why he uses it.]]> 2022-10-27 16:20:19 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2359355062 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360508047 For a number of years prior to his green hair, Seán wore a flat cap in each video. It can be argued that this was his first recognisable look as fans expected to see him wearing one in his content. As I have explained, Seán then evolved from wearing a flat cap to dyeing his hair green, which alludes to Seán's iconography being his hairstyle and/or headwear. Perhaps as he ages his iconography changes as well to suggest a new era of Jacksepticeye as nowadays he has his natural dark brown hair.]]> 2022-10-28 11:59:02 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360508047 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360510243 As I will explain in more depth in Figure 10, Seán often speaks about his health, both mental and physical, during his content to open up to his fans and remain transparent with them. He has opened up about asthma, his ADHD diagnosis and other medical issues he has had over the years. This honesty and transparency alludes to his relatable persona which he has upheld throughout his YouTube career. By telling fans about his health problems, he erradicates fear of going to get help when you need it for his fans as he stresses the importance of looking after yourself. In turn, this strengthens Seán's real star image.]]> 2022-10-28 12:01:29 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360510243 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360510646 As well as having Nostalgia Week (Figure 9.5.) and Meme Time (Figure 8) as series which he creates specifically for his fans, he had a third series that was created for the same reason - Reading Your Comments. It is a self-explanatory series; Seán reads and responds to fan's comments on his YouTube channel. However, this series has now come to an end due to the comment section on YouTube consisting of bots and spammers (Figure 14.5.). Throughout this video, and the series, Seán goes in-depth with his responses for the questions that he is asked which enables fans to gain an insight into his private life. Furthermore, these videos have a serious tone to them throughout but also include comedy and his usual personality, allowing the videos to feel like a personal conversation with Seán. Throughout this series, Seán looks directly into the camera which enables viewers to feel like they are making direct eye contact with him - making the video feel more personal and direct to fans.]]> 2022-10-28 12:01:56 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360510646 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360513678 Throughout Seán's time as a YouTuber, himself and his fans have created alter egos for him. Each of the alter egos has their own name, backstory, and unique persona which Seán doubles down on when he acts as that ego. Fans instantly know which character Seán is performing during his content and they thoroughly enjoy it. He tends to utilise these alter egos in his short films (Figure 13.8.) moreso than in his actual content.]]> 2022-10-28 12:04:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360513678 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360525642 Seán's fans know that he does not doing anything half-hearted, so it comes as no surprise that he utilized his creativity for this role. The lanyard, that can be seen around his neck, was handmade by Seán himself. By using Adobe Photoshop, Seán created a lanyard which contained the Poppy Playtime Co's logo; a fake bar code, and his character's name. The end product looked authentic which added to the immersion of the game due to the realness portrayed by Seán. Overall, this demonstrates Seán's hardworking persona as he clearly put in a large amount of effort into this role which was not required for him to do.]]> 2022-10-28 12:15:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360525642 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360583560 Some players of the game have hinted at Godai being a strange character. User WayForward explained that he tends 'to turn up in the strangest places in River City Girls'. User GamerElektros tweeted saying that their favourite part of the game was 'when he jumped out of a dumpster, slapped my face, told me a good top of the morning'. This highlights Seán's slapstick comedy as well as his personality by him using his famous introductary line in videos - 'top of the morning'. Overall, I would say that this game feature was a success amongst fans even though he did not release a Let's Play of it as it conveyed his personality through the character Godai.]]> 2022-10-28 13:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2360583560 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363668220 This short film is different to Seán's others due to no characters, and therefore no alter egos, being present. At a first glace, it seems like a normal advertisement for a home security system. However, as the short film progresses, the camera and robotic voiceover start to become distorted which hints at an ominous presence. Arguably, Seán released this short film as an intermediary between CHASE and ANOMALY FOUND to be able to set up the following film's narrative. Nevertheless, this short film was again a success with Seán's fans as it demonstrated his filmmaking capabilities.]]> 2022-10-31 17:00:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363668220 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363669993 This short film is a continuation from CHASE and WTCHR whereby Seán embodies the alter ego of Chase Brody. Within this short film, Seán's characterisation is apparent as he uses speech and mannerisms to dictate Chase's nerves and fear. The set of the film is fairly simplistic to replicate a scientific facility and has a progressive narrative where we eventually meet Alter 114209 - another of Seán's alter egos. This character is similar to how people arguably perceive demons, which is something that Seán has not included within his short films until now. This insinuates that Seán is experimenting with different genres and types of characters which consequenly expands his capabilities and skills as an actor and director. Overall, Seán makes a clear distinction between Chase and Alter 114209 which enables fans to enjoy the film and understand it clearly.]]> 2022-10-31 17:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363669993 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363671727 Seán uploaded a video to ensure fans were aware that he was uploading and streaming his largest project to date in terms of production, money spent, and effort. He was alluding to both ANOMALY FOUND and THE IRIS PROJECT which took him 6 years to complete. As his fans know how hard he works, it was plausible that they would support this project and immerse themselves within it. Seán admits how he has been ill recently which is why he has not advertised the short film until the day before. All things considered, Seán's authentic star image and enthusiastic persona are portrayed throughout this video.]]> 2022-10-31 17:02:56 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2363671727 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2364978473 Furthermore, Seán mentions how ‘if someone says ‘I hate this’, and it’s 1 out of 1000, I’ll still see it, and it’ll ruin my whole mood’. Obviously this would affect his content during live streams as his mood would change in real-time. This would enable fans to worry about him and potentially lose interest in watching as there would be a shift in the tone of the content. Nevertheless, this demonstrates Seán as being vulnerable - a side fans perhaps are not used to seeing. This could allow him to be perceived as being a real human and not just a famous YouTuber who does not get affected by negative comments. This intensifies his relatable and honest star image.]]> 2022-11-01 14:04:29 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2364978473 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2364979650 As mentioned in Figure 2, Seán and Felix, also known as PewDiePie, are good friends, however Felix has had his own fair share of controversies. For example, Felix used the n-word during one of his livestreams and he also paid peeople to create and hold up signs which read 'Death to all Jews'. Although Seán was not involved in any of these scandals, people wanted him to comment on the situation due to their public and private friendship. During an interview with The Gamer, Seán declared that he does not 'feel like I should give my opinion on absolutely everything that's happening because I don't want to do more damage than good'. Perhaps Seán did not want to become directly involved with this in the public sphere incase he got involved in the scandals as he currently is still scandal-free. But, as he and Felix are very close friends it is plausible that Seán addressed the issues directly with him in private. ]]> 2022-11-01 14:05:09 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2364979650 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2365105742 Stacey describes how devotion 'belong[s] to adolescence' (2016, p.138) and adoration is 'continued into adulthood' (2016, p.139). For many of Seán's fans this is the case; they began watching his content in their early teenage years and still continue to follow him in their adult years. Conceivably, Seán and his fans have grown up with one another as he began his YouTube career at age 22 and is currently 32 years old.]]> 2022-11-01 15:17:18 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2365105742 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2365266355 On this list, Seán places at number three on the top 20 YouTube gaming influencers. With over 28 million subscribers and 5,000 videos, this does not come as a surprise. Also featured on this list are some of Seán's friends who he will collaborate on a Let's Play with, such as VanossGaming and Markiplier. This demonstrates how successful Seán has become as a YouTuber.. Although gaming for Seán is a hobby, he has utilised this to create a career for himself which also contributes to his sheer success as viewers can see his passion behind each video.]]> 2022-11-01 16:50:15 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2365266355 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366547996 It is known that a 'teenager's reasons for enjoying watching and following YouTubers can be summarized in three words: fun, authenticity and learning' (Pereira, Moura & Fillol, 2018, p.108), and Seán provides these throughout his content. Perhaps this is why his initial audience was teenagers who still support him now as his persona did not waver, it only grew to be more fun, more authentic and more educational. For example, Seán's charity streams are educational as he informs people about what specific charities do and issues in the world which they are trying to erradicate. Although this is educational, Seán does it in an entertaining manner which encapsulates his audience in the streams. Therefore, it can be said that he is an opinion leader whose audience regard his opinion highly.]]> 2022-11-02 12:16:09 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366547996 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366606295 Underneath this video, user iexist stated that even when Seán turns 60 years old and his physical image has changed again, they will still be watching Seán's content. It is worth noting that Seán's physical appearance is a big factor of his star image, as mentioned in Figure 5, as this fan addresses. This demonstrates how closely connected his fans are to him, and how much of an impact he has also had on them for them to want to support him for such as long period of their lives.]]> 2022-11-02 12:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366606295 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366621777 This comment has a similar essence to the one previously mentioned - supportive of Seán. However, this one explains how Seán has enabled them to 'not [be] afraid to grow up' as they see him still having fun at age 30. This message of it "doesn't matter how old you are, it's about who you are" is one which can be applied to any aspect of a person's life and ultimately is inspirational. For Seán to allow fans to feel this way, truly makes him a creator which people look up to for entertainment, support and inspiration, and this supports his authentic star image and persona.]]> 2022-11-02 13:05:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366621777 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366690629 On Seán's sub reddit, a fan informed others that there would be no Nostalgia Week series in 2021 due to his battle with COVID-19 which affected him severely. Fans responded to this post with support for Seán stating that it was completely understandable due to the circumstances and that although they were sad, they were not angry or disappointed about the news. This highlights how supportive Seán's fans are even if the news they receive is not what they would have liked. In addition, this shows that his fans are also a community who work to help one another whether that be via updating each other about Seán; supporting each other's content on the sub reddit, or by personally helping one another and forming friendships.]]> 2022-11-02 13:43:06 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366690629 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366721514 On his YouTube channel there is a community section where Seán posts updates for his fans to see. The updates include, but are not limited to, questions for fans to ask for Reading Your Comments; new projects that he is working on; health updates, and content that he features in on other channels. On Seán's updates, fans can like and post comments to show their support for him. This enables his fans to remain up to date on what is going on behind the scenes for Seán, which in turn allows their relationship to remain strong and transparent.]]> 2022-11-02 13:59:14 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366721514 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366736561 2022-11-02 14:06:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366736561 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366783986 2022-11-02 14:32:06 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366783986 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366817670 2022-11-02 14:50:11 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366817670 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366819881 2022-11-02 14:51:20 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366819881 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366821230 2022-11-02 14:52:02 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366821230 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366822436 2022-11-02 14:52:43 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366822436 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366824427 2022-11-02 14:53:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366824427 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366826031 2022-11-02 14:54:33 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366826031 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366826827 2022-11-02 14:54:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366826827 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366828300 2022-11-02 14:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366828300 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366829453 2022-11-02 14:56:18 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366829453 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366869606 2022-11-02 15:18:25 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366869606 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366873068 Seán has a secondary YouTube channel called Jacksepticeye Clips which is solely dedicated to short form videos. On this channel, Seán reacted to a fan edited video of him on The Late Late Show (Figure 13.5.) where it looks like Seán ignored a fan who was crying in the audience. The whole video has a very awkward tone to it with a lot of silent moments throughout. It is obvious that this clip is not real, however Seán explains at the end that he hugged the fan who was crying and did not ignore her like the video suggested. Thankfully, Seán did not receive any backlash from this fan-made video as it was easily debunked, and Seán thoroughly enjoyed watching it as he laughed throughout. This demonstrates relationship to his fans are unbreakable, as well as highlighting his comedi persona and personality further.]]> 2022-11-02 15:20:16 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366873068 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366935020 Robehmed and Berg state that 'even if they intend to exercise nothing more than their thumbs, fans have snapped the gear up' (2018, p.19). Perhaps fans bought the clothing due to it being owned by both Seán and Mark, or maybe they wanted to help Feeding America as they knew some of the proceeds would be donated. Although Cloak is not just owned by Seán, it highlights how powerful his fanbase is, as well as Mark's, as 'the presale items sold out in 48 hours' (Robehmed & Berg, 2018, p.19). As Seán and Mark are good friends who often collaborate on videos together, it could be argued that they share a high proportion of fans which could have been partly responsible for the success of Cloak.]]> 2022-11-02 15:53:44 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2366935020 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371080667 Seán's fans commented on the YouTube video with sarcasm as they know that this is fake and that Seán would never truly ignore a fan, especially if they were crying. For example, user NamelsTanya commented 'Thank you, Jacksepticeye clips, for exposing Jacksepticeye like that - he can't keep getting away with this!' Their comment got over 5,000 likes and Seán liked it himself. This demonstrates that Seán and his fans have a very similar sense of humour and therefore their personalities compliment one another.]]> 2022-11-05 14:15:14 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371080667 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371088646 Most large YouTube creators have one of these "clips" channels due to the popularity of short form videos on the likes of TikTok and Instagram. It provides viewers and fans with an alternative option to watch their favourite YouTuber's content. On Seán's clips channel, it usually clipped content from the funniest moments on his main channel - allowing people to laugh without having to watch a video that is say 30 an hour long. Additionally, as stated on TechCrawlr, a lot of viewers from the main channel may also watch the clips channel due to their enjoyment of both. For YouTubers such as Seán, this means more monetisation as their content receives more views and therefore more advertisements on the videos.]]> 2022-11-05 14:27:34 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371088646 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371099844 2022-11-05 14:45:38 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371099844 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371100681 2022-11-05 14:46:54 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371100681 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371100964 Seán addresses how the comment section on YouTube videos had progressively worsed over the years, to the point that he cancelled the series 'Reading Your Comments' (Figure 9.8.) which he never believed would end. Seán declared that nowadays the comments consist of 'spammers, bots, similar comments all the time, [and] it's just an absolute disaster to read.' In the video, he displays examples of the comments which he is referring to for his fans to be able to see and consequently understand. Also, he explains how it should not be up to fans to report all of the spam and/or bot comments as it should not be their job - it should be YouTube's. Ultimately, this makes fans feel important to Seán as he tries to understand their feelings on this matter. Once more, this strengthens Seán's star image as being authentic and honest.]]> 2022-11-05 14:47:25 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371100964 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371101175 During this video, Seán uses sarcasm throughout to address the issue that he has played a game twice on his channel. He explains how his community made him 'aware of the ramifications of my actions'. Seán explains how he is a 'moron' for playing the same game twice, but he does not really care as it is funny that it happened and that his fans noticed. The video as a whole is extremely witty and showcases Seán's relatable persona as he admits his mistake and makes a joke out of it.

Halfway through this video, Seán mocks Travis Scott's Astro World apology video by using a black and white filter; rubbing his face with his hands, and making the proportions of the video smaller. This was not to mock the tragedy which happened at Astro World, but to mock Travis himself for a fictitious apology video - which Seán's video also is. Although this was a comedic choice, perhaps people who were directly affected by the tragedy could have taken offence to this section of the video. Nevertheless, the video was well recieved by fans and inevitably increased Seán's likeability.]]> 2022-11-05 14:47:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371101175 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371103803 Another example of Seán addressing the issues that YouTube has is about the algorithm. He explains how himself and other YouTubers all were facing the same issues and how they were losing a substantial amount of views, and therefore money. Seán explains how he is not the type of person who is 'all about subscribers, views and money' which his fans are already aware of. On the other hand, his fans appreciate Seán being honest and open about the situation with them as they can show their support for the issues at hand. Surprisingly, Seán explains how YouTube began to unsubscribe people from channels that they have not watched in a while. This is abhorrent as people may subscribe to accounts to show support to their friends, for example YouTubers subscribing to other YouTubers. This video opened people's eyes to the issues at hand due to Seán making this video, and ultimately enhanced his beneficent star image.]]> 2022-11-05 14:51:58 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371103803 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371105712 2022-11-05 14:54:55 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371105712 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371111749 2022-11-05 15:04:52 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371111749 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371132391 The comments underneath this video express how Seán is a genuine person who they feel that they can relate to and that they are thankful for both his content and his attitude towards issues that matter. As a whole, this highlights how Seán's fans support him due to his altruistic and wholesome persona.]]> 2022-11-05 15:34:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371132391 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371135973 2022-11-05 15:39:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371135973 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371644872 2022-11-06 12:52:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371644872 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371645948 2022-11-06 12:54:09 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371645948 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371646206 2022-11-06 12:54:39 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371646206 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371655463 For the final episode of Happy Wheels, Seán streamed it live for fans to watch, demonstrating how important this series is not only to his fans but to himself as well. He confesses how he is nervous for this episode as he explains how originally he was going to stream the finale on the anniversary of beginning of the series but could not due to him being in LA. Although he was not able to do so, it is evident that he put a lot of thought and consideration behind this episode which heightens his thoughtfulness and genuine enthusiasm for this game and his channel.]]> 2022-11-06 13:09:55 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371655463 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371721239 On the other hand, Ilicic and Baxter 'argue that a fit between the celebrity and the charity will enhance the positive outcomes for both' (2014, p. 203) which is great for all involved. This alludes to the celebrity being altruistic as they have achieved their aims of helping the said charity. Although Seán works with a plethora of charities, he usually incorportates gaming into the streams and sometimes raises money for gaming charities as well. Ilicic and Baxter's research concluded that 'the pre-existing positive attitudes towards the celebrity are able to transfer onto the charitable brand' (2014, p.206). This highlights how Seán's star image, personality and persona help in aiding the positive outlook on the charities, and ultimately presenting him as a "good guy".]]> 2022-11-06 14:43:00 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371721239 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371722492 Kapoor argues that 'celebrity humanitarianism, far from being altruistic, ... is most often self-serving' (2013, p.1). This insinuates that Seán undertakes these charity streams for his own good rather than for the good of others. Perhaps this is the case for some celebrities and stars, however it must be said that Seán's star image contests this idea as he not only gives back to charitable causes but also to his fans. Furthermore, Kapoor states that 'charity work aids in humanizing the celebrity' (2013, p.20). Nevertheless, Seán is already humanized throughout his YouTube content as he opens up about his private life to his fans in numerous ways shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10.]]> 2022-11-06 14:44:47 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371722492 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371724205 Academics debate whether celebrities and stars working with and/or helping charities is altruistic or if it's self-serving.]]> 2022-11-06 14:46:41 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371724205 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371766453 At the end of the song the final lyric is 'the only cure for sadness'. Although this is hyperbole, some may see this as a mockery of people who suffer with mental health. In spite of this, Seán does address it in a number of videos that if people are suffering from mental health, then they need to seek professional help and advice - not Meme Time. As well as this, Seán has his own brand, Positive Mental Attitude (Figure 15.2.), which promotes mental health awareness. In addition, Seán raises money for mental health charities such as Crisis Text Line, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance just to name a few (Figure 6). Therefore, it can be understood that Seán is an advocate for mental health and is indeed not mocking them - increasing his selfless star image.]]> 2022-11-06 15:40:35 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2371766453 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375311955 This part of the 6 year long project was an interactive game which Seán released during a stream. The stream lasted slightly under four hours whereby fans could develop the story of Chase and Alter 114209 at their own pace. Perhaps Seán released a game and a short film to allow people to see the full story if they were unable to complete each section of the game in time. Nevertheless, by releasing both, it demonstrates Seán's creativity as well as his unique star image as many fans left comments stating that they had never taken part in an interactive live stream before. However, some fans were left confused by the stream as they were not aware that it was an interactive stream and/or interactive streams were a thing. Potentially if Seán had made fans aware of this, it would have been slightly more successful.]]> 2022-11-08 16:30:31 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375311955 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375314055 During this video, Seán explains how Thankmas 2022 is happening on 10th December and how people can get involved by donating and/or conducting their own fundraisers. His passion for humanitarian aid is prominent throughout this video as he explains who the charity are and what they do. Due to the previous Thankmas raising over $7 million, this year's goal is to raise $10 million - the highest goal he has ever set. Furthermore, he allows fans to know that it is a 'collective group effort' for Thankmas and that it is not just him who is responsible for the money raised - highlighting his humble personality and star image. Towards the end of the video, Seán admits that he purposely used a clickbait thumbnail and title for the video to amass views so that more awareness around the event was generated. Although many people dislike clickbait and Seán rarely uses it, it can be said that in this instance he used it for the greater good due to his altruistic persona.]]> 2022-11-08 16:31:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375314055 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375315574 2022-11-08 16:32:37 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375315574 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375379777 In March 2022, Seán released a video on his YouTube channel promoting Top of the Mornin's limited edition soap. Although the company specialises in hot beverages, perhaps he wanted to release soap to see how well it did. However, he also could have released this product so that people could have special soap for cleaning coffee stains out of their mugs or coffee machines. In this video, Seán embodies the alter ego of Antisepticeye (Figure 9.7.) which gave the video a tense aura]]> 2022-11-08 17:09:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375379777 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375446529 As it says in the tweet, Seán was very excited tocreate PMA and it took a while for it to launch. This demonstrates his passion behind what he does which can be understood and felt by his fans. By turning his dream into a reality, insinuates that nothing is impossible if you work hard - conveying a key message to his fans.]]> 2022-11-08 17:52:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375446529 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375474898 User Lauren stated how she wondered 'how many times Sean cracked up at saying "soap" so aggresively'. Although she and other fans thought the video was funny, it began conversations around the product which ultimately is what marketing is all about. Perhaps this was Seán's aim all along and it was not to create a foreboding atmosphere as he and his fans have a close relationship and similar sense of humour, so he could guess what their reactions would be.]]> 2022-11-08 18:09:39 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375474898 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375484290 2022-11-08 18:15:50 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2375484290 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2379364685 Seán's fans are classified as textual poachers as they 'construct their cultural and social identity through borrowing and inflecting mass culture images' (Jenkins, 2013, p.23) via this sub reddit. For his fans, this allows them to assimilate themselves with one another over their content for Seán.]]> 2022-11-10 22:39:17 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2379364685 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2380110785 2022-11-11 12:05:31 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2380110785 201419495 https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2380128202 2022-11-11 12:24:15 UTC https://padlet.com/201419495/jacksepticeye/wish/2380128202