Digital stars are now household names, with YouTubeers and streamers rivaling traditional celebrities in influence and reach. To see which creators capture America’s attention the most, we analyzed Google Trends search data over the past 12 months to find the most popular YouTube personalities and streamers from coast to coast.

As the ways people consume and share content continue to evolve, understanding who’s still on top of the attention economy matters more than ever. Especially for those focused on protecting original work in an increasingly complex digital world.

Keep reading to find out which online creators continue to drive the most interest locally and nationally.

The Most Popular YouTube Personality in Every U.S. State

From daily vlogs and elaborate stunts to influencer beef and lengthy apologies, YouTube personalities have built audiences that stretch far beyond the places they call home. To see which creators dominate local interest across the country, we analyzed Google Trends data over the past 12 months, identifying the most searched YouTube personality in every state.

Here’s what stood out:

Jake Paul topped the list in 7 states, with strong interest across the Midwest. While he’s now primarily known for his time in the boxing ring, he initially built his fanbase on platforms like Vine and YouTube, which have him remaining among the most popular YouTube personalities in states like Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, and North Dakota.

Shane Dawson was the most popular in 5 states, mainly out West. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont showed the highest search interest for the longtime YouTube creator. He’s known for his documentary-style videos and internet investigations, as well as a litany of controversies that saw his account demonetized indefinitely in 2020.

KSI led in 4 states, largely in the South. Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia searched most for the British entertainer and boxer who has continued garnering attention through his public feuds, music releases, and crossover events.

Simon Minter, also known as Miniminter, claimed the top spot in 3 states: Arkansas, Illinois, and Kansas. As a key member of the Sidemen, his mix of gaming, challenges, and lifestyle content drives steady interest.

Trisha Paytas came out on top in 3 states, with particular popularity in the Northeast. Connecticut, Minnesota, and Rhode Island searched most for her candid lifestyle videos, headline-making personal drama, and reality TV appearances.

Liza Koshy was the top personality in 3 states: Delaware, Maryland, and Texas. Her early comedy sketches and later mainstream hosting gigs have kept her name in the mix of YouTube popularity.

Mr. Beast was also most popular in 3 states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah. Known for his extreme challenges and massive giveaways, he’s by far the largest U.S. YouTuber by channel size and views, despite occasional critiques over stunt ethics.

These trends show how regional tastes shape online followings, even in a platform as global as YouTube. Next, we’ll look at which streamers captured the most local attention across the U.S.

The Most Popular Streamer in Every U.S. State

Streaming has turned everyday gaming and live reactions into must-watch events, drawing loyal audiences from coast to coast. To continue our study on internet personality interest, we once again analyzed Google Trends data to find the most searched streamer in every state.

Here’s what stood out:

Shroud (Michael Grzesiek) was the top streamer in 4 states, with strong popularity across both the Midwest and West. Missouri, Colorado, Idaho, and Minnesota searched most for his precision-focused gameplay and calm style, which have made him a standout while streaming competitive first-person shooter video games.

Clix (Cody Conrod) led in 3 states, primarily in the South. Known for his Fortnite skills and outspoken personality, he was most searched in Louisiana, Indiana, and Arkansas.

Syndicate (Tom Cassell) came out on top in 3 states: Ohio, Connecticut, and Kentucky. His long-running presence on YouTube and Twitch saw him become the first streamer to reach 1 million followers on Twitch in 2014, and that popularity sticks around to this day.

Bugha (Kyle Giersdorf) was most popular in 3 states, particularly in the Northeast. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Rhode Island searched most for the Fortnite World Cup champion, whose competitive record keeps fans tuned in.

Several other streamers topped search interest in 2 states, with a few big names leading the way:

• IShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) ranked first in New York and California, two of the country’s largest states. His unpredictable streams, viral antics, and, well, speed, drive high engagement coast to coast.
• Dream was the top streamer in Utah and Oklahoma, showing that his Minecraft speedruns and mystery persona continue to hold wide appeal.

This mix of competitive gameplay, bold personalities, and viral moments highlights how diverse the streaming landscape has become. These search trends tell the story of which streamers capture local curiosity and keep audiences watching, no matter where they live.

Closing Thoughts

Online entertainment keeps evolving, and so do the people at the center of it. YouTube personalities and streamers aren’t just internet figures; they’re some of today’s most influential celebrities, drawing millions of viewers and shaping pop culture across the country.

As audiences keep shifting where and how they watch, protecting original content becomes even more critical. For creators building brands on these platforms, our creator protection solutions help secure videos, streams, and other digital assets against misuse and theft.

Stay ahead by making sure your content stays yours. Explore how AI Light can safeguard your work and maintain the integrity of your brand.

Methodology

To determine the most popular YouTube personalities and current Twitch streamers across the U.S., we analyzed Google Trends search interest over the past 12 months.

We started with a list of 55 popular internet personalities that rose to fame on YouTube and 70 of the most popular Twitch streamers today. We found the relative search interest of each in all 50 U.S. states to determine which ones are the most popular across the country.

We use search interest as a measure of popularity for this study.