[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/becoming_youtube_4848.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''To conquer [=YouTube=], you must become [=YouTube=].'']]

''Becoming [=YouTube=]'' is a "[[NonindicativeName weekly]]" "[[{{Documentary}} docu]][[{{Mockumentary}} mentary]]" series about [[Platform/YouTube YouTubers]]. The series is hosted by Benjamin Cook, who wants to become "crazy internet famous." It features a mix of SketchComedy and TalkingHeads segments, putting itself in a weird place between {{Documentary}} and {{Mockumentary}}.

Becoming [=YouTube=] also features interviews with popular [=YouTubers=] like [[WebVideo/{{Charlieissocoollike}} Charlie McDonnell]], Creator/{{TomSka}}, Creator/AlexDay, and (as of the seventh video) WebVideo/EmmaBlackery and Music/HankGreen of WebVideo/VlogBrothers fame.

The series can be found on [[https://www.youtube.com/ninebrassmonkeys Ben's channel]]. [[ScheduleSlip After two years]], the series reached its twelfth episode, as promised. On January 8, 2015, Ben released the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aw3POaOKDs trailer for Season 2.]]
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!! ''Becoming [=YouTube=]'' contains examples of:
%%* DeadpanSnarker: Ben. Full stop. Especially when addressing the viewers.
* {{Documentary}}: The entire series is a weird mix between this and a few {{Mockumentary}} segments.
%%* FireAndBrimstoneHell: [=YouTube=] Hell, in "Everything Changes."
%%* FluffyCloudHeaven: [=YouTube=] Heaven, in "Everything Changes."
%%* GrandFinale: "Everything Changes."
* LeftItIn: [[spoiler: When Ben goes into a rant about the whole series]] in "[=YouTube=] Vs. The World."
* MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial: The interviewees [[ConversationalTroping discuss]] the [[UnfortunateImplications unfortunate]] TruthInTelevision of this [[ImpliedTrope in a roundabout way]] in "Girls on [=YouTube=]."
* {{Mockumentary}}: ZigZagged throughout the series. The interviews are real, but the comedy segments are entirely fictional.
** Played straight with the "[=CheekTV=]" segment in "What [=YouTube=] Isn't."
* [[invoked]] NightmareFuel: During the (fictional) "[=CheekTV=]" segment in "What [=YouTube=] Isn't."
--> '''Crabstickz''': "I just remember being really scared of the theme tune, when the theme tune came on I used to hide behind the sofa."
* NonindicativeName: Becoming [=YouTube=] is a "weekly" series, but wait times have been anywhere between two weeks and two months. This fact is lampshaded relentlessly.
--> '''Ben''': Hello, and welcome to the fourth video of my weekly "Becoming [=YouTube=]" series. Except "weekly" apparently means once every seven days. Who knew?
* OldMediaPlayingCatchUp: {{Discussed}} and {{Parodied}}, especially in "What [=YouTube=] Isn't."
* OnTheNext: {{Subverted}} with "[=YouTube=] Vs. The World." The "next episode" they teased was postponed due to "The War of the Word." They play the same OnTheNext clip at the end of "The War of the Word."
* PrettyBoy: {{Discussed}}, {{Exploited}}, PlayedForLaughs, and even {{Enforced}}. And that's just while talking about demographics.
** Given the interviewees, it also veers close to CastFullOfPrettyBoys.
* PublicServiceAnnouncement: Played with in "The War of the Word" with the crisis in Syria. It treats the crisis itself pretty seriously, but they also talk about how charity is handled in the modern world -- both the good and bad. And, true to ''Becoming [=YouTube=]'' form, they throw in some comedy when they talk about celebrity fundraisers.
* SelfDeprecation: This, and TakeThatAudience below, are staples in ''Becoming [=YouTube=]''.
** The first moments of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aw3POaOKDs Season 2 trailer]] are practically dedicated to poking fun at Ben and how much of a jerk he (supposedly) is.
* SequelEpisode: "The War of the Word" can be seen as a sequel to "[=YouTube=] Vs. The World." It's even lampshaded early in the episode.
* SequelHook: [[spoiler:"Becoming [=YouTube=] will return. Summer 2014."]]
* SketchComedy: The whole show is a blend of this, {{Mockumentary}} segments, or serious TalkingHeads interviews.
* TheStinger: "Everything Changes" has ''three'' of them in a row.
* TakeThatAudience: Seen as early as the first video:
--> '''Ben''': Thanks for watching my first [=YouTube=] video. Next week's video is about you, the audience. You'll come back for that, won't you, ''you narcissist''!
%%* TalkingHeads: The interviews.
%%* VerySpecialEpisode: See PublicServiceAnnouncement above.
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