Popular culture is the here and now; it’s what’s going on in 2010. If a time capsule was sealed today, and its contents were that of popular culture, an example of YouTube would be included. YouTube is an internet forum where individuals, regardless as to who they are or where they come from, can upload video for the world to see. It is as popular as bread and water. Unless one lives in isolation, even those who have never owned a computer have heard of YouTube.
YouTube was created in February of 2005, and then purchased by Google November 2006 (YouTube, 2010). Its popularity quickly soared as more and more people realized its capabilities; YouTube gives even the most unknown individual the ability to share their thoughts, talents, or whatever they want, with the world. According to its website, “People are watching 2 billion videos a day on YouTube and uploading hundreds of thousands of videos daily. In fact, every minute, 24 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube” (YouTube.com, 2010). No longer is it just a vehicle to keep in touch with family and friends, it is also an opportunity for those who hope to become the next big star.
Much talent has been discovered on YouTube, the most current is Justin Bieber: “Justin was discovered on YouTube when his mother started posting videos of him singing at the age of twelve for his friends and family to see. Three years later he is one of the world’s youngest pop and R&B singers with his own album, music videos, and celebrity friends and fans, including Usher and Taylor Swift” (O’Neill, 2010). Justin’s success has given many the hopes that perhaps someday their own talents will be discovered. Further, it has opened the door for those looking for talent; for example, many televised talent shows, such as America ’s Got Talent, allowed people to audition on YouTube rather than travel to an audition site (America
Of all the positives that YouTube brings, one still must be cautious. Although YouTube has many guidelines in which to follow to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for its users, those guidelines are not always followed. One must keep this in mind when downloading and viewing videos, as well as, remembering that the entire world has the ability to view whatever it is that they upload.
References
(2010). In the United States , America
Google. (2010). Youtube Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/
O'Neill, M. (2010, April 19). Is youtube the new American
idol?. Retrieved from http://www.socialtimes.com/2010/04/is-youtube-the-new-american-idol/
No comments:
Post a Comment