What's The Reaction Hype About?

Several months ago I not only did NOT understand reaction channels, but even ridiculed it to a degree. What is the point of watching someone watch something? Our society seems to be losing its mind anyways, now this?

Reaction channels have been increasingly on the rise, with certain reactors having hundreds of thousands of subscribers and a select few having reached and exceeded the millions, YES! Millions!

Experiencing someone listen to a song and watch a video is not only a trend, but a psychological phenomenon in my opinion. Never, in the history of mankind, have people been able to watch and observe one another as they are are now in the day and age of technology, smart phones and social media.

Not only are we able to observe, but we can experience the emotional responses of one another through auditory and interactive stimulation, hearing the music, the laughter, crying, commentary and directly communicate with the reactor.

Without going into too much detail here (videos to follow), one of the reasons I believe reaction videos are so largely successful, is because people long for community - perhaps now more than before, since social media has unfortunately made many less social and in need of community.

It allows the viewer to connect with others, who love the music, agree with their opinions, find humor in the same, etc. It allows to share passions with strangers around the world, making the world feel less small, the viewer less alone, perhaps without the vulnerability, accountability and risk of personal relationships?

Furthermore it allows to re-live experiences through the eyes of the reactor - the first time watching or hearing that favorite artist, seeing the emotions one felt, now mirrored in the eyes of the one reacting. Reliving precious moments and for that moment, finding an escape from our own mortality and the fact that things pass and can't ever be relived the exact same way.

Perhaps reaction videos have more to do with death anxiety and existential fears, than we realize - but that is for another day.

In any case, reaction videos bring many lots of pleasure and to the reactors, who genuinely enjoy sharing their emotional responses, thoughts and comments, the opportunity to create a space that allows for entertainment and education.

My journey as a reactor is fairly fresh and I have a lot to learn, but I have found great joy in creating a community where we can explore music from around the world, expose ourselves to things we hadn't heard before, and combine the beauty that is music, psychology, philosophy and more.

What an honor to be on these musical rides with you all.

See you on the next one!

Eyyooo

Rosalie