YouTube

Its accessibility is right at your fingertips. Your just one click away from the next self made star. YouTube has become a massive sensation in this generation. We can watch the latest music videos or the latest Internet sensations, but is YouTube more than just a means for entertainment. Many like Douglas Kellner and Gooyong Kim argue that it is. They claim that YouTube is being used as a learning agent for those who post their self-produced videos. They make reference to a particular YouTuber Zakgeorge21 who had posted a video asking “why do you tube?” and “what is the future of UT and how is it going to impact the world globally”. They cite the tremendous amounts of responses the video and the interesting ideas brought up by other Youtuber’s. However, I don’t see eye to eye with them on a lot of the points that they make. Yes YouTube can be used for means such as this but even the 700,183 who viewed the video and the 4,062 people who commented on it only make up a small fraction of those who are on YouTube.

It is in my opinion that as it stands now the authors are giving YouTube too much credit. The article ignores a lot of what is happening on YouTube and puts too much weight on the few instances that demonstrate their idea. As I mentioned above, Zakgeorge21’s video provoked a lot of views and a substantial amount of comments, but not only is this a small fraction of those on YouTube but this is a rare instance. Yes there are videos that are thought provoking but the vast majority of the videos are for entertainment purposes, because while Zakgeorge21’s had over 7,000 hits this guy has had over 20 million.

Another instance that the article seems to weigh heavily upon is the large success of the Obama Girl. For those of you who do not know her click here. The video to date has over 17 million views. Now while these numbers are staggering, the authors ignore a very important fact about it. Simply put, the Obama girl has sex appeal. She is a very attractive woman and I can almost guarantee that a large portion of these views had little to do with support of Barack Obama and more to do with seeing a pretty girl dancing around.

All criticisms aside, it is important to note that YouTube has had large implications in today’s society. There is no arguing the vast amount of grassroots support Barack Obama got from YouTuber’s. We can also not ignore the fact that Presidential debates are posted on YouTube, which allows it to reach larger audiences.

Over all I have come to the conclusion that the primary use of YouTube is for entertainment purposes but has enormous potential to be much much more. Although YouTube has had its social and political effects, these are just not the majority. I firmly believe that while YouTube’s role will constantly to change, it will continue to be used primarily for entertainment.