Evan YouTubeHD (not, of course, his real name) is one of the most popular online reviewers. The 8-year-old critic has garnered more than 1 billion views on his three YouTube channels, most of that coming on his toy review outlet. By reviewing toys, Evan and other popular online reviewers help bring little-known toys greater exposure. In fact, Evan’s review of Spy Gear toys increased sales of them by 65 percent, according to the toy’s manufacturer, Spin Master, ever since it hired Evan to appear in a television commercial.
“I didn’t think it would turn out like this when I first made the channel,” Evan says. “I thought I would just get four views.” (New York Daily News)
Paul Asay has written for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for PluggedIn and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He recently collaborated with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, on his book The Good Dad. He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and his two children. Check out his entertainment blog at Patheos.com/blogs/WatchingGod or follow him on Twitter.