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Rabbit Hole

Five: The Accidental Emperor

Rabbit Hole

The New York Times

Society & Culture, Technology

4.77K Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2020

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How one outsider came to rule the internet — and eventually embody its battle with mainstream culture.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

As we approach the 21st century, a new means of communication is emerging.

0:10.0

This technology uses computer networks to link people on every continent.

0:15.0

If we are destined to live in a global village, one day we will all be connected to the Internet.

0:31.0

I'm going to go on, Rose. My name is Priya Dupas.

0:49.0

Okay, Kevin. Yes. Of all the things that I've learned over the past year, working with you?

0:55.0

My grandma says I sound just like him when I do it.

0:57.0

None of it has surprised me more than PewDiePie.

1:00.0

My name is Peepam.

1:03.0

I have learned that this guy is not only the most popular YouTuber ever.

1:08.0

Everyone looks up to him as like not really a god, but like the YouTube god.

1:13.0

Like way bigger than anyone that Caleb ever got into.

1:16.0

His reach transcends nationality, language and culture in a career made possible by the digital age.

1:24.0

But according to some measures, like he's the most famous person of our lifetime.

1:30.0

Like he likes to be himself and he doesn't pretend to be something like he's real.

1:34.0

Even though so many people that I know have never even heard of him.

1:37.0

I don't know, it's just something about him that makes people love him so much.

1:41.0

You feel like you're a part of it with him.

1:43.0

And somehow his story gives me life.

1:46.0

Is central to understanding the culture war of our age?

1:52.0

Like all day, PewDiePie, lunch, PewDiePie, it's just all day.

1:58.0

And one of the wildest things about it is that this whole story unfolded in front of a webcam.

2:10.0

So PewDiePie's real name is Felix Schoberg.

...

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