By: Kaitlyn Boisvert
Posted In: News
* At the end of the article is a list of Youtube videos that I recommend.*
Youtube. Otherwise known as the ultimate cause of procrastination. We have all fallen victim to its dangerous clutches. It’s the perfect excuse to not begin that research paper, or tidy up that messy room.
According to New York Times reporter in his article titled “Youtube: We’re Bigger Than You Thought,” Youtube earns well over a billion video views on a daily basis. Currently, it stands as the third most visited web site in the world, following Google and Facebook.
Yes, many people can agree that it is entertaining to watch toddlers with British accents chastising their brothers or “gangsters” rap about the excitement of being on a boat. But not many seem to wonder: how did it all begin? Why has Youtube earned such immense popularity? Will this popularity continue?
The phenomenal website’s birth dates back to the year 2005. According to a video titled “The History of Youtube,” supplied by the website itself, three male friends, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim are the innovative creators that began it all. All three were in their 20’s and former employees of e-commerce business, PayPal, when they created the online revelation that has greatly impacted the world.
In winter of 2005, the three encountered difficulty trying to share a video online that featured a recent dinner party. They soon formulated the idea of a website that made video sharing possible and easy. On Feb. 15, 2005, they created a website where users could upload and share videos, with the domain name: Youtube.com. The website’s first video was posted on April 23, 2005, its title “Me at the Zoo.” The 18 second long clip features co-creator Jawed Karim standing in front of an elephant exhibit at a zoo, where he explains that the coolest things about the animals is that they “have really really really long trunks.” It may not be that exciting in content, but knowingly watching Youtube’s very first video can be a very interesting experience that every fan of Youtube should seek.
As time progressed, Youtube garnered more and more acclaim, attracting multiple viewers. In November 2005, venture firm Sequoia Capital invested $3.5 million towards the newfound site. By March 2006, 25 million videos were uploaded onto Youtube, with 20,000 videos posted on a daily basis. Due to this immense popularity, bandwidth costs reached $1 million per month, and Youtube gained an additional $8 million from Sequoia Capital.
On April 6, 2006 a video titled “Evolution of Dance” was uploaded by comedian Judson Laipply. The clip features Laipply himself performing an array of impressive dance moves to multiple popular songs within the span of six minutes. The video soon became a large internet sensation, winning the greatest number of views and helping Youtube by enhancing its endearing popularity. Soon, Youtube’s viewership surpassed that of CNN.com, and it was responsible for 43 percent of all videos viewed on the internet. The popular search-engine Google eventually bought Youtube for $1.65 billion in stock, making it their biggest purchase at the time. Time magazine hailed Youtube as the “Best Invention of the Year” for 2006. Ever since, the great invention has continued to earn an unimaginable amount of success and popularity.
Exactly why is Youtube so popular? According to Ultimate Video Web Wizard, it appeals to so many people because it is geared for the common person. The site is very easy to use; one does not have to be an experienced internet user to enjoy online entertainment. With category and search features, anyone can find and watch online videos that catch interest without having to spend a large amount of time getting acquainted with the website. People can view as many videos as they like, for no charge. Most videos span to only 10 minutes, giving people a short break at home or work. There are a wide array of videos they can possibly watch, from music videos to work-out tutorials. Also, the viewer can share his or her own video, provided that it does not violate the website’s regulations.
Through Youtube, one can also be given the chance to express himself to the world, an opportunity not many have had before. Users can post a video that empathize their creativity, whether if it’s through dancing skills, singing talents or comic flair. Such an option can literally make a regular person a well-known celebrity in one day. Some users have even been able to earn a jumpstart to impressive careers thanks to their videos on Youtube, such as the popular “nigahiga,” who was offered a movie contract after his set of comic video clips earned worldwide acclaim. In this way, Youtube provides someone a chance to earn fame without even having to leave a living room. Basically, it’s Youtube’s statement that anyone can become a star is what causes such positive appeal among audiences.
Youtube has reaped a horde of other benefits for people. According to Dr. Harrington-Lueker, Salve Regina’s professor of English, Youtube has greatly enhanced her methods of teaching. “Youtube is wonderful,” Harrington-Lueker said. “Ten years ago in my media classes, I would only be able to show my students pictures of old advertisements from the 1950s. But today, thanks to Youtube I can actually show students videos of the old commercials, like Ovaltine.” She also explains how Youtube provides numerous historical archives, such as a clip of President Roosevelt’s funeral or the very first film made by Thomas Edison. Such types of available videos can really provide audiences a very educational experience that they could not obtain from a mere textbook.
Unfortunately, Youtube does have a few negative aspects that can be viewed as potentially dangerous. One of the main contenders is a problem associated with most popular websites, people with malicious intentions. Because absolutely anyone can access the website, users must be careful with the personal information that they reveal on Youtube, and if they share a video, they must accept the fact that not everyone will enjoy their clip, and thus will receive some negative feedback.
Copyright issues have also become a major issue regarding Youtube. Users can post up certain clips that have not been authorized by their respective companies, such as television episodes and full length feature films. This angers multiple companies, and a few law suits have been filed against Youtube because of these violations.
Another main issue associated with Youtube is the inappropriate content that videos can contain. Because hordes of videos are uploaded on a daily basis, not all of them can be filtered for questionable material. With some of these videos, people can access and view them without even registering with the website. This worries numerous parents.
However, despite the many faults of the video-sharing site, Youtube’s popularity still endures, and it is a fad that does not seem like it shall go anywhere any time soon. I personally must admit my favoring of the website. Youtube really does make video viewing easy, along with providing a chance for the average person to express his creativity, and a place where one can get a good laugh, or even a good cry. Just as long as Youtube is used safely and accordingly, it can provide a very enjoyable experience for viewers.
Enclosed is a list of Youtube Videos that I recommend that are suited for all audiences (Charlie bit my finger NOT included)
1. Christmas Laser Beam Cats- It may be because I am an avid cat lover, but this is my most favorite Youtube video. It features what would happen if cats could shoot laser beams out of their eyes. Even people who do not favor cats as much as I do seem to find it at least a little amusing.
2. Tickling Slow Loris-The title is pretty self-explanatory. This video features one of the most cutest creatures you will ever see. Just look at his eyes when his owner stops tickling him! So cute!
3. Alan Rickman’s Answering Machine-I absolutely LOVE to quote this clip. It took a while, but it finally grew on my roommate. Just so you know: Alan Rickman is the serious British actor most known for playing Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series. This clip was a gag used in the television show Family Guy.
4. I Don’t Like You Mommy- Adorable video of a toddler sweetly telling his mother what he thinks of her.
5. Christian The Lion, The Reunion by www.breezeverige.se-Watch with a box of tissues, because this one is definitely a tear-jerker. But still one of the most beautiful and touching videos I have ever seen on YouTube. Try to be sure you watch this version, with Whitney Houston’s song I Will Always Love You, because it is the best version.
Happy Viewing!
