Research: Representation and Online Identity (Markiplier)

This is Markiplier's Logo that is seen throughout his Youtube channel and at the end of his videos

Mark Edward Fischbach is an American born gaming Youtuber and uploads videos under the Youtube channel name Markiplier, his channel is specialised for walkthroughs and 'Let's plays' (Horton/Wohl) of different video games. As of July 2017 his Youtube channel has amassed a total of over 7 billion views and has over 18 million subscribers, making Markiplier's channel the 3rd largest gaming channel on the internet platform. As a result of the growth of the video gaming market and the growth of Youtube as a platform Markiplier's channel has grown dramatically in the last few years, for example in 2014 his channel had amassed 3 million subscribers and in 2017 it has over 18 million, 15 million extra subscribers in 4 years!!!!!

Markiplier's Youtube channel page is quite simple, however towards the top of the page there is a custom banner that has illustrations that make references from Markiplier's various memorable games that he has played through his long Youtube career.  The audience responds to his content through the comment section on YouTube and his Twitter page where people suggest different content for him to try on his channel for example different survival horror video games, challenges for him to try, places to go and vlog at etc. Moreover he responds to people's comments/Tweets/messages etc in his different YouTube videos, most evidently through his Subnautica play-through series where people, who have played much more of the game suggest hints or give him help which might help make the video more exciting for example finding a rare mineral or fighting a specific sea creature or tips on how to craft an object, within the video he places their Youtube/Twitter name on virtual lockers within the game and read their message out and gives them a 'Shout-out'. His style of commentary is more casual for the audience allowing them to feel like they are interacting with Mark - this is an example of Para-social interaction. Also on this page there are various links to his various social media accounts, which he uses in order to keep in contact with his fans:

 This is Markiplier's Twitter page 

 Here is Markiplier's Instagram page

Here is Markiplier's Facebook page

Here are examples of some of his tweets:

Markiplier also has an official website, however it is very simplistic in style with a simple colour scheme, it is mainly used to promote the different events that he will be appearing at in order to meet his fans, this information allows his fans in different countries to book tickets in a chance to meet him when he appears at the different events. Yet again this also has links to his various social media accounts and especially his Youtube channel page.

Recent Videos

Markiplier's content varies within his videos as shown above he participates in current internet challenges (such as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - as shown below), as his channel is primarily a gaming channel as he plays different video games, specifically horror games (such as Outlast). However, as well as playing games and making videos on challenges he participates in he also runs charity livestreams regularly where he raises money for a specific charity and these livestreams can last hours or days even, where other YouTubers and himself play games, do dares, read comments from the livestream chat and have a small Q&A session, so far Markiplier has raised over $1 million for different charities over his YouTube career. Although he does this for charity a group of people might believe that Markiplier is doing this in order to make himself look good or that he is 'pandering' to certain groups of people to gain credibility/subscribers - oppositional reading (Hall). Markiplier aims his content towards more mature audiences for example teenagers and young adults due to the types of video games he plays and in some of his videos his grown up language.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video 

Part 1 of Markiplier's walkthrough of the survival horror game Outlast 

This is Markiplier's February Charity Livestream 

Also Markiplier has increased his fan-base through appearing on prime time American television, such as on the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Here is the segment that he appeared in, check it out!!!!!

Markiplier also has written a comic book which is on sale online, where it shows more of a retro feel to it, this is really aims at all ages, however more older readers would probably understand the intertextual references that are throughout the comic more than younger readers. The use of Markiplier's actual face on the front cover of this comic, allows the audience to make a visual link between his social media accounts and Youtube channel.