Blog – Assignment 5-1

What a name “YouTube”! YouTube is an internet site that allows registered users to download personal videos of various genres for the world to see; hence the name “YouTube”. The site was created by Steve Chen and Jawed Karin and later purchased by Google for 1.65 billion shares of Google. Though the ideal of having an easily downloadable site for personal videos was new; the concept was not revolutionary. There’s a television show called America Most Funniest Videos. This is actual footage of people’s personal video sent in to be judged and potential awarded prize money. How YouTube differs is it allows limited restriction of genres of videos and the world can see all the videos not just ones selected by a panel.

Why is this display of our personal lives or views on subjects so enthusing? It has been said that we are curious about other people, especially ones outside the area we live. We also seem to find amusement in other people’s oddities or displays of humor. As for the content of videos they can be very bias or prejudice and have caused great controversy. The content of racially offensive material on YouTube has caused countries like China, Turkey, and Iran (to name a few) to blocked the usage. The site does enforce restriction on offensive material and nudity, but can’t catch all before they viewed by users. It is sad that this site is pervious to the evil that comes from the minds of humans. Though I don’t really follow YouTube video posting it seems to be sweeping the nation and is here to stay.

CrunchBase (1/30/09) YouTube. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from: http://www.crunchbase.com/company/youtube