Youtube

As one of the most popular sites on the web, it would come as no surprise to me if youtube is one of the sites you have in your bookmark bar. It's a site that allows users to upload, watch, comment on, and rate videos of all sorts. You can find anything from music and home to how-to and commercial videos on the site and with thousands of new ones being uploaded every day you're sure to have a source of constant entertainment.

What is so astonishing about youtube is it's growth since being established. In his video (coincidentally posted on youtube and sitting at just over 1 millions hits) entitled "An anthropological introduction to YouTube", Dr. Michael Wesch discusses the growth of youtube and it's effects on people's every day lives both on and offline.



Here we see how by the creation of simple home videos (as in the case of "Charlie Bit My Finger" or "Numa Numa") can begin with what is likely a simple joke, and end in youtube fame. Users who upload these types of videos can have their lives changed just if, by chance, their video becomes a new youtube hit. When traffic is circulating through their videos, users can be approached by the site to begin posting advertising on their page. This begins to generate revenue on a 'per hit' basis. When you're looking at over 85 million hits, this can create quite the profit.

For many users, youtube has become more than just a place for them to share video footage. For those uploading videos with high traffic, it is a place where they can make some extra cash. For others it has become a place where they can establish and form relationships, express opinions they may feel ashamed to within thier own community, or simply be themselves and avoid any scruitiny they may face from their peers. A true example of the aspect of community behind Web 2.0, youtube allows users from all over the world to connect, discuss, debate, and perform to what is one of the largest and most diverse audiences in the world.

Take 2 friends of mine as an example of the potential youtube has. They made what I believe was the first ever remix of "Charlie bit my finger again". 4 and a half million hits later, Jon and Hayden have gone from bored sitting in their living room to youtube sensations. And all because of 2 little kids playing around across an ocean.