YouTube!

YouTube is a Web 2 that I use daily whether it may be for music or educational purposes. The website has many videos which are suitable for all ages. However, the website has both pros and cons.

Small businesses who are trying to become more developed can advertise their products for free by making their own YouTube channel. This allows for them to produce as many videos as they like which will broadcast their product to the world.

Below is an example of free advertising:

Another pro is the variety of educational videos which are available on YouTube. This is an advantage for students who prefer to listen or learn visually through the use of images and videos. The educational videos on YouTube can range from History and Science to Car Mechanics and Tutorials.

Here is an example of an educational video:

YouTube enforces age restrictions on videos which are not suitable for children who are under the age of 18. This makes the website safe for all ages, and allows for easy access.  Also, the website strongly enforces content filers which remove videos that do not comply with the terms and conditions employed by the site operators. For example, Pornographic videos, videos reporting racism etc.

Below is an extract from the YouTube Terms and Conditions:

Among all the videos on YouTube, you can also discover a variety of new talents in a variety of fields. YouTube can become a network where singers, dancers or even magicians can upload videos of themselves to gain recognition. Steven Frayne, known as Dynamo Magician Impossible, was once one of those who began his career by posting videos on Youtube.

Here is an example of one of Dynamo’s earlier videos:

So far, I have only mentioned the pros of YouTube. However, there are cons to the website. These include harsh comments on YouTube videos which can lead to cyber bullying. This is something that YouTube struggles to control due to the sheer volume.

Below is a comment which I took from a video on YouTube:

Another con is that some educational videos could be unreliable or biased. This could lead to people believing that everything they see or hear is true and passing the information on to others.

Here is an example of a propaganda video:

People with YouTube channels are also beginning to complain about the over enforcement of copyright rules as their YouTube videos are getting deleted. This is due to them using game footage or music in their videos which do not belong to them. Despite this fact there have not been many complaints from content holders as this produces free advertisement for their products. Also, children are able to make their own accounts on YouTube where they can easily lie about their age to be able to watch content which is not suitable for them.