Some may argue that YouTube is changing the face of journalism. Anyone can become a citizen journalist these days just by taking a video, posting it and poof! Instant news, Instant information.
Instant... I don‘t think so.
After spending some time on the YouTube site searching through the categories of videos that range from politics to pets and places to people; the majority of videos have absolutely no journalistic sense at all.
But you already knew that, didn’t you?
YouTube is not the site most people turn to so they can watch ethical, truthful and journalistic videos. It’s a site that is more about keeping frat guys and their buddies entertained as they watch videos of half naked girls doing exercises.
People are not logging on to YouTube to watch videos of our current war situation, or the history of the genocide in Rwanda or the blackwater debacle. YouTube visitors are watching this and this and this
(I came to this conclusion after logging on to YouTube and taking note of the videos that were “currently being watched” at 3:00 on a Tuesday. Pretty sad.)
I’m not saying that videos that highlight current events are not on YouTube , because they are. I’m only saying that this video on the history of the Rwandan Genocide was posted on YouTube four months ago and has 38 views as compared to this video of a screaming Brittney Spears fan, that was posted three weeks ago week and has a total of 11,278,372 views!
That’s right 11,278,372 people have logged on to YouTube to watch that video. Some probably more than once.
So, it is either sheer genius that Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim founded
YouTube or absolute madness that we now have access to thousands and thousands of, well, senseless videos.
YouTube was awarded “best invention of the year” in 2006 by Time Magazine.
The YouTube invention, if that’s what you want to call it, came in ahead of a water-harvesting machine, that can turn air into 500 gal. of drinkable water per day, now that it quite amazing.
The video posting site also beat out a table saw blade that will shut down in a millisecond if it comes into contact with flesh. That millisecond could leave the potential user with a tiny cut instead of a four fingered hand.
Once again, an amazing invention, but YouTube took the number one spot in 2006.
YouTube is a great website to visit if you need a good laugh or need to cheer up a depressed friend with a dramatic hamster, or even to feel just a little bit better about yourself.
It is hardly a website that gives it’s users valuable and informative news.
But you already knew that, didn’t you?
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1 comment:
Everyone MUST look at the link near the end of this column, highlighted as 'dramatic hamster.'
Jaysus, too much caffeine this morning, I suppose.
This column provides some other good links, too, and overall does a good job of getting the writer's point across blending logic, sarcasm and humor pretty effectively.
The research shows up clearly - not just rantings. And it strengthens the column overall.
One part of the column left me gasping for more information:
'The YouTube invention, if that’s what you want to call it, came in ahead of a water-harvesting machine, that can turn air into 500 gal. of drinkable water per day, now that it quite amazing.'
As a person who is about to build a house on the ocean - where there is NO fresh water - I would have loved a link to the story about this. It's quite a claim.
Overall, good column.
And a great hamster...
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