The rise of paranormal investigations as virtual dark tourism on YouTube

Abstract

This paper proposes the rising popularity of paranormal investigations on YouTube as a new form of armchair travel, namely virtual dark tourism. To support this discovery, this study gathered statistics on this new genre of virtual dark tourism on YouTube; uncovered the most common types of dark tourism sites visited by paranormal investigators; and details the typical paranormal investigation genre conventions in the method of storytelling used on Sam and Colby's (2014, YouTube [YouTube Channel]. YouTube. Retrieved 31 March 2023 https://www.youtube.com/c/samandcolby/about) which arguably led to its high-level of success on YouTube. The study highlights some of the dangers, risks, and ethical considerations for future tour guides and researchers for this type of dark tourism. It also summarises the methods of income generated by YouTubers conducting paranormal investigation tours, which can be informative for future businesses and content creators. This study was investigated using digital ethnography, and distant and close reading of 60 YouTube channels which focus specifically on the niche of paranormal investigations (i.e. ghost hunting).