The last time I was about to use the computer, I had searched for tips about how to become a good YouTuber, and one of the top suggestions was to write out what you wanted to film before you got started. There was even a template that showed me how to do it.
from: J. D. and the Family Business
written by J. Dillard
illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
Kokila, 2021
About ten years ago, I got my first smartphone. I made the change because, as texting became more popular and convenient, I found the cumbersome method I was forced to use with my flip phone was anything but convenient. It took 14 clicks just to sign my name!
I like to be organized and found out that I could put the apps on my phone in folders. My phone’s help screens were not helpful. Google’s directions were too complicated.
A few days later, I was visiting with my ten-year-old grandson and showed him my new phone. We played around with Garage Band, played a little solitaire, and Angry Birds.
When he said how cool my phone was, I told him that I learned there was a way to collect the same kinds of apps into folders. I told him I wanted to do that, but was having trouble. Did he know how?
“Did you try YouTube?” he asked.
I handed over my phone, and a few minutes later, I was all set.
YouTube is 20 years old. Here’s a short timeline and a few facts from a YouTube video.
2005 April: Jawed Aarim, one of the founders of YouTube, recorded and uploaded the first video, “me at the Zoo”
2006 April: YouTube is acquired by Google from founders Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed
2008 January: YouTube adapted itself to be accessible on mobile devices
2009 April: YouTuber, Fred, reached 1,000,000 subscribers. He sold t-shirts and Hot Topic began carrying them. Because he was so popular, he was invited to appear on an episode of iCarly.”
2010 May: YouTube added a “Like/Dislike” ranking system
2011 July: Introduced movie feature where users could pay to watch movies
December: Added live-stream feature and streamed exclusive live events like the Ultima Fighting Championship (UFC)
2013 March: YouTube changed its entire layout
2014 February: Added Spotlight feature to easily find what was trending on the platform
2017 December: YouTube changed its logo and added YouTube Red, a paid subscription service. Now it’s called YouTube Premium
2019 March: Billie Eilish published “Bad Guy”
2021 May: YouTube created YouTube Shorts, 60-second videos, to compete with TikTok
2021 May: Time stamps were added allowing users to jump to certain sections or topics
2021 November: Removed the “dislike” button to protect smaller content creators from bullying
Worldwide, more than 400 hours of content are uploaded to YouTube each minute and one billion hours of content are watched every day. YouTube is the second most popular website in the world, right behind Google.
It was designed to provide an easy way for new, inexperienced computer users to upload content and share it over the Internet. In 2005, YouTube’s slogan was “Broadcast yourself. Watch and share your videos worldwide!” quickly shortened to “Broadcast yourself.”
YouTube is a multi-billion-dollar business. It has captured more viewers than most TV stations and other media markets. It was Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2006, and featured YouTube’s three creators.
The average person spends almost 50 minutes a day watching YouTube content. And with 348 million views, “Baby Shark” is still the most popular video.
What has all this watching and data collection about all this watching told us about ourselves? Along with funny cats and cute babies and sharks, YouTube has launched Joe Rogan through his right-wing podcast, Sean Evans, host of Hot Ones, and does anyone besides me NOT know Mr. Beast?
Of course, lots of nefarious topics are available for the taking, too. Disinformation about medical issues, crime, and politics comes immediately to mind.
Last month, on YouTube’s 20th anniversary, Doug Most reported on the opinions of several faculty experts from Boston University regarding YouTube’s impact on society.
According to some studies, misinformation spreads up to six times faster than evidence-based content. This is a real problem. “The way our information landscape has evolved reveals a critical truth: sharing accurate information is necessary, but not sufficient…[W]e must also focus on making evidence-based content engaging, accessible, and relevant to a wide variety of audiences.”
That’s a tough nut to crack.
Because it is so easy to access, YouTube has revolutionized how people receive and use online information. Streaming videos is ubiquitous. Searching for content is simple. What is not so simple or ubiquitous is discerning which information is not only useful, but accurate.
Anyone can post content and sometimes make it go viral. But the content is not vetted.
What YouTube’s algorithm chooses for you to watch next is dependent on what you have already watched, leading you into a consistent and unvarying silo.
On the upside, technical knowledge is accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to do a project or maybe just needs a brush-up. Some YouTubers are better than others, but so many people are experts in so many areas.
When I forgot how to turn the corners on the binding I needed to attach to the baby quilts I made about every two years, a particular YouTuber was on my subscription list.
If I can’t get to the library, or if the book I want is not available nearby, I can usually find my blog quote on a read aloud on YouTube.
And just yesterday, a friend sent me a link to a recipe site with a YouTube video on cooking for company embedded right in it.
YouTube is available in 76 languages and most countries. Whether you’re looking for quilting techniques or what to plan for brunch, recipes included, or how to change your car’s battery, you might want to start with YouTube.
One of my book clubs is reading The Institute by Stephen King (Scribner, 2019). It’s a contemporary story about a group of kids sent to the Institute, where their telekinetic and telepathic abilities are exploited. It’s creepy, but not terrifying. It’s also absorbing, engaging, and thought-provoking. Typical Stephen King, if there is such a thing. Recommended.
Be curious! (and learn from YouTube)
from: J. D. and the Family Business
written by J. Dillard
illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
Kokila, 2021
About ten years ago, I got my first smartphone. I made the change because, as texting became more popular and convenient, I found the cumbersome method I was forced to use with my flip phone was anything but convenient. It took 14 clicks just to sign my name!
I like to be organized and found out that I could put the apps on my phone in folders. My phone’s help screens were not helpful. Google’s directions were too complicated.
A few days later, I was visiting with my ten-year-old grandson and showed him my new phone. We played around with Garage Band, played a little solitaire, and Angry Birds.
When he said how cool my phone was, I told him that I learned there was a way to collect the same kinds of apps into folders. I told him I wanted to do that, but was having trouble. Did he know how?
“Did you try YouTube?” he asked.
I handed over my phone, and a few minutes later, I was all set.
YouTube is 20 years old. Here’s a short timeline and a few facts from a YouTube video.
2005 April: Jawed Aarim, one of the founders of YouTube, recorded and uploaded the first video, “me at the Zoo”
2006 April: YouTube is acquired by Google from founders Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed
2008 January: YouTube adapted itself to be accessible on mobile devices
2009 April: YouTuber, Fred, reached 1,000,000 subscribers. He sold t-shirts and Hot Topic began carrying them. Because he was so popular, he was invited to appear on an episode of iCarly.”
2010 May: YouTube added a “Like/Dislike” ranking system
2011 July: Introduced movie feature where users could pay to watch movies
December: Added live-stream feature and streamed exclusive live events like the Ultima Fighting Championship (UFC)
2013 March: YouTube changed its entire layout
2014 February: Added Spotlight feature to easily find what was trending on the platform
2017 December: YouTube changed its logo and added YouTube Red, a paid subscription service. Now it’s called YouTube Premium
2019 March: Billie Eilish published “Bad Guy”
2021 May: YouTube created YouTube Shorts, 60-second videos, to compete with TikTok
2021 May: Time stamps were added allowing users to jump to certain sections or topics
2021 November: Removed the “dislike” button to protect smaller content creators from bullying
Worldwide, more than 400 hours of content are uploaded to YouTube each minute and one billion hours of content are watched every day. YouTube is the second most popular website in the world, right behind Google.
It was designed to provide an easy way for new, inexperienced computer users to upload content and share it over the Internet. In 2005, YouTube’s slogan was “Broadcast yourself. Watch and share your videos worldwide!” quickly shortened to “Broadcast yourself.”
YouTube is a multi-billion-dollar business. It has captured more viewers than most TV stations and other media markets. It was Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2006, and featured YouTube’s three creators.
The average person spends almost 50 minutes a day watching YouTube content. And with 348 million views, “Baby Shark” is still the most popular video.
What has all this watching and data collection about all this watching told us about ourselves? Along with funny cats and cute babies and sharks, YouTube has launched Joe Rogan through his right-wing podcast, Sean Evans, host of Hot Ones, and does anyone besides me NOT know Mr. Beast?
Of course, lots of nefarious topics are available for the taking, too. Disinformation about medical issues, crime, and politics comes immediately to mind.
Last month, on YouTube’s 20th anniversary, Doug Most reported on the opinions of several faculty experts from Boston University regarding YouTube’s impact on society.
According to some studies, misinformation spreads up to six times faster than evidence-based content. This is a real problem. “The way our information landscape has evolved reveals a critical truth: sharing accurate information is necessary, but not sufficient…[W]e must also focus on making evidence-based content engaging, accessible, and relevant to a wide variety of audiences.”
That’s a tough nut to crack.
Because it is so easy to access, YouTube has revolutionized how people receive and use online information. Streaming videos is ubiquitous. Searching for content is simple. What is not so simple or ubiquitous is discerning which information is not only useful, but accurate.
Anyone can post content and sometimes make it go viral. But the content is not vetted.
What YouTube’s algorithm chooses for you to watch next is dependent on what you have already watched, leading you into a consistent and unvarying silo.
On the upside, technical knowledge is accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to do a project or maybe just needs a brush-up. Some YouTubers are better than others, but so many people are experts in so many areas.
When I forgot how to turn the corners on the binding I needed to attach to the baby quilts I made about every two years, a particular YouTuber was on my subscription list.
If I can’t get to the library, or if the book I want is not available nearby, I can usually find my blog quote on a read aloud on YouTube.
And just yesterday, a friend sent me a link to a recipe site with a YouTube video on cooking for company embedded right in it.
YouTube is available in 76 languages and most countries. Whether you’re looking for quilting techniques or what to plan for brunch, recipes included, or how to change your car’s battery, you might want to start with YouTube.
One of my book clubs is reading The Institute by Stephen King (Scribner, 2019). It’s a contemporary story about a group of kids sent to the Institute, where their telekinetic and telepathic abilities are exploited. It’s creepy, but not terrifying. It’s also absorbing, engaging, and thought-provoking. Typical Stephen King, if there is such a thing. Recommended.
Be curious! (and learn from YouTube)
RSS Feed