But now, they’re some of the most powerful people on the planet. With thousands or even millions of followers from around the world, these individuals share their lives on apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitch. Here are some big names you should know about from across Sussex. By Ginny Sanderson and India Wentworth.
1.
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, AKA PewDiePie, has an enormous 107m subscribers on YouTube, where he posts comedy and gaming videos. He lives in Brighton (@pewdiepie)
2.
Zoe Sugg, or Zoella, has 4.8m subscribers on YouTube and 9.1m followers on Insta. She lives in Brighton (@zoesugg)
3.
Eastbourne-based Joe Weller shares his comedy sketches and FIFA commentary with his combined 7.3 million followers on YouTube and Instagram (@joeweller)
4.
Amy Hart from Worthing is best known for Love Island. She has 1.2m Instagram followers. Picture: Envy X Amy Hart (@amyhart)