The History of Russian Videoblogging: from Max 100500 to TikTok Houses

Russian videoblogging is a unique phenomenon with a history spanning more than 15 years. During this time, almost every resident of the country has developed favorite bloggers: entertainment, popular science, political, and even children's. They have managed to build their... media empires, launch a number of TV shows, start recording musical albums, fill concert venues, and lead millions of followers. But what lies behind this large industry, aside from expensive advertising contracts and armies of followers? First and foremost, the stories of the people who have become the most significant videobloggers. In this book, journalist and media manager Evgeny Gutsal tells the stories of nine bloggers (and one production project) who have had the greatest impact on the young industry. Nastya Ivleeva, Dania Milokhin, Ilya Maddison, and Max +100500 are people with different lifestyles from different generations of blogging, but they are all united by the influence they have had on the Russian internet at various stages of its existence. Through their stories, we can fully see how formats have changed, which social networks bloggers passed through, and where they ended up in 2023. Grab some tasty food, sit down on the couch, and join in learning about the fascinating history of Russian videoblogging. Just don’t forget to like and subscribe to the channels!