VidCon 2021, originally planned to occur in October at the Anaheim Convention Center, has been cancelled. This cancellation is due to the highly contagious COVID-19 strain known as the “Delta variant”. The Delta variant, which is approximately twice as potent as the original strain and 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, has had rising infection rates in the U.S..  

“VidCon’s first priority continues to be the safety and health of our attendees, sponsors, speakers, creators, and staff,” said representatives for VidCon.

This is the second consecutive year VidCon has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but VidCon organizers have already started planning a 2022 VidCon occurring from June 22 to 25, 2022. Those who purchased tickets for 2021 VidCon are guaranteed automatic tickets to 2022, but can also opt for a refund before June 3, 2022. 

“VidCon is where the world’s leading digital creators, platform innovators, and their fans converge in one place,” as written on the convention’s website. As a social media convention, VidCon has risen to fame over the last couple of years. Started  by veteran YouTubers Hank and John Green, VidCon was first held in the basement of a Hyatt with a mere 1,400 attendees. After being acquired by Viacom, an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate corporation, VidCon saw an exponential growth in attendance and as of 2018, had 75,000 attendees. The success of VidCon has allowed it to extend overseas, holding events in places like UAE, Asia, Australia, the UK, Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S. 

Preceding the cancellation of VidCon 2021, popular online content creators have come under fire for irresponsible behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. TikTok stars Bryce Hall and Blake Gray, members of the social media group called the “Triller House”, were criticized for not cooperating with social distancing guidelines. Both Hall and Gray were charged with ​​misdemeanor crimes in violation of public health orders last year by Los Angeles County in response to their large parties. Other large social media influencers, like beauty guru James Charles and TikToker Charli D’amelio have also been called out for being irresponsible in the pandemic. 

AHS junior Kaanan Sahni, an avid Charli D’amelio fan, expressed his disappointment in the behavior of public influencers during the pandemic. In protest, he’s decided to unfollow Charli and refrain from watching her dancing videos.

“Honestly, I just think the way influencers have been acting during the pandemic has been really irresponsible,” said Kaanan. ”It’s damaging for younger kids to see the people they look up to have such little care for public health.” 

Another student at AHS expressed their understanding that the cancellation of VidCon is a responsible and reasonable decision.

“I think it’s a responsible choice to cancel VidCon. There would’ve been a lot of people going and with the ongoing pandemic, that’s not a good idea,” said sophomore Khaku Purev-Erdene.

Although the VidCon 2021 cancellation is disappointing, it is a necessary measure to take in the time we live in.

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore