YouTube star Max Fosh said he thinks “it’s easier now than ever to make it on social media” and that “the day of celebrity is slightly fading away”.
The 31-year-old rose to fame almost a decade ago through his absurd comedic stunts on YouTube, which have included running for mayor of London, competing in the Mr Universe contest and infiltrating London Fashion Week.
Fosh, who is backing a campaign by Dr Pepper urging students to embrace their weirdness this freshers’ week to help them make friends, credited the public’s fascination with the unconventional with helping him start his career.
The social media star, who has over five million YouTube subscribers, told the Press Association that he found his current career as his “big dream” of becoming a radio presenter “didn’t work out the way I planned”.
Fosh started his YouTube channel while studying at Newcastle University with his StreetSmart series, interviewing students on the street after nights out, which preceded extreme stunts including cooking a meal in a volcano.
When asked about the competitive nature of building a career online, Fosh said: “I’m going to give a controversial answer.
“I think it’s easier now than ever to make it on social media.”
He explained that the term “celebrity” is becoming isolated as “different corners of the internet are emerging”.
“You can be someone who’s incredibly successful and popular within a certain community,” Fosh said.
“In the 90s and noughties there was huge stardom, with A-listers, and the biggest names, and celebrities.
“I think the day of celebrity is slightly fading away. Now, people are hugely invested in certain individuals.
“You can be incredibly famous in certain corners of the internet, but then completely irrelevant in others.”
He added that “algorithms are getting very good at serving people what they want”, saying he is often presented with small and new creators on his YouTube homepage.
Fosh continued: “It’s within these platforms’ interest to push new people.
“I’m constantly finding new creators that are starting out and out of nowhere having a video that blows up and turns their channel from small to big overnight.
“I think if you’re making stuff that is good, then it will be found by the audiences.”
Fosh has since used his platform to pursue his comedy, taking his act to venues across the UK and Ireland, and he has appeared on many TV programmes including Celebrity MasterChef.
He also hosts a comedy quiz show titled Your Number’s Up on BBC Radio 4.
