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- YouTube means watching music for free.
- I like to watch signed songs.
- I used YouTube a few years ago to fundraise for my friends to travel around the world.
- Comedy purposes... um, talking animals.
- Watch clips from American TV programmes.
- I use YouTube for video blogs and social networking with my friends.
- It's like you're watching a TV show... but you're not, because it's someone's life instead.
- I think YouTube is actually brilliant. I'm not surprised it's making lots of money.
Today is the penultimate video of my little journey through YouTube-
- try not to cry too much- and the first half of my big conclusion.
In this part I’m going to look at what YouTube means to all of you.
No books, nothing I’ve found on my own, only things that have been recommended to me.
The easy answer as to what YouTube means to you is apparently ‘many things’.
From the abundant uploader to the casual viewer, it seems everyone can find something for them on YouTube.
Whether you actually like the medium or not is a different matter.
One of the most touching messages I’ve received (and I’m trying not to break anonymity here...
...so please excuse me whilst I attempt to talk around the message without actually telling you anything revealing…)
came from a gay… teenager who… lives somewhere… very rural.
Basically, there are no other gay people- or ‘out’ gay people anyway- in the same town.
YouTube has helped our young viewer to see that in the future there is the possibility of happily coming out,
not every town and city is the same and that bullying doesn’t continue forever.
[Voiceover] Some things you just don't forget. But you learn.
[Thomas Roberts] And I know it, because I went through all of it.
[Voiceover2] And that's- that's when you start living.
(Mesh of voices) - I thought about killing myself.
The 'It Gets Better Project' began in late 2010...
The ‘It Gets Better Project’ began in late 2010...
in response to a recent spate of teen suicides among LGBT youth in America.
It aims “to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness,
potential, and positivity their lives will reach– if they could only get through the teen years.
The It Gets Better Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community
that they are 'not alone- and that it WILL get better'.
( I already said that...)
So far over 10,000 user-created videos have been uploaded to the site (itgetsbetter.org)
and the YouTube channel, with messages of support.
The clip we’ve just seen comes from the employees of American television channel NBC...
but the range of videos includes teenagers and adults of all *** alignments, including;
actors, comedians, politicians (Barack Obama and David Cameron!),
singers and various companies have made videos- such as 'The Gap' or Google.
It's just 'Gap' in England, isn't it? 'Gap'...
In fact you can go on the site right now if you’d like and upload a video of yourself with a lovely message;
[justinmykul] So... for all you out there...
I'm here to let you know, that it gets better.
Everything is gonna get better one day.
YouTube is not only valuable on a personal level,
in terms of publicity it can create a golden opportunity.
Up and coming musicians can find their feet on YouTube,
creating a following and being able to spread their music,
whilst also gaining feedback from their fans.
Fans of the American band 'OK Go' took their homemade music videos...
from the band’s official site and put them up on YouTube,
instantly creating a viral hit.
YouTube can be an incredibly useful resource for those interested in film and television.
We’ve already mentioned young filmmakers sharing their work but it can provide invaluable assistance in the classroom as well.
I am part of a Film and Screen Studies course and almost every lecture is aided by clips of old films from YouTube-
often things we can’t even get on DVD!
The British Film Institute cares for the largest film archive in the world
and presents hundreds of free films on YouTube along with;
'previews of new and forthcoming BFI releases and seasons, expert commentary, interviews and more.'
It aims to 'promote greater understanding of and access to film and television culture.'
An overwhelming majority of you say you use the site to watch film trailers
and it’s the first place you think of when considering whether to watch a film, old or new.
You can also utterly spoil yourself before your favourite American shows make it across the pond!
[Announcer] Miss Blair Waldorf, from Manhattan.
[Blair] I have some news... I'm engaged.
That Gossip girl clip was someone else’s idea.
I’m just happy to slip it in there...
Those of you who post your own videos, rather than just watch Blair Waldorf be deliciously evil...
do so to display a huge range of talents, from skateboarding to science.
Of course, if you did use the site to upload videos of yourself...
and your attacks on random passersby you probably wouldn’t tell me…
But you all seem truly quite gifted- especially those of you with a prowess for editing fanvideos.
I thought I was doing rather well with adding in my clips...
but, to be honest, iMovie is doing most of the work.
I am in awe of your talents.
I… wouldn’t even attempt that!
I... shouldn't- would injure someone else as well...! Probably.
Almost all of the uploaders who have sent me messages spoke about comments they’ve received that are…
if not hurtful in actuality then intended to be.
An ‘internet troll’ is the term for a person who attempts to be noticed
through disrupting a discussion or community or else is intentionally provocative in order to create a reaction.
We’ve all, I’m sure experienced that one boy in class who-
that was really sexist of me, I apologise…
We’ve all experienced that one person in the classroom who yells out the wrong answer or makes a scene...
or... punches you when really they fancy you, just to garner attention.
It’s classic toddler behaviour.
Usually curbed by a Moderator or the owners of a site, here they are allowed to run free...
and have become what one replier described as ‘The Kings of YouTube’.
Status on YouTube is measured through prolificacy (of videos or comments),
yet these are the people spending copious amounts of their time online.
Perhaps in the real world they’re not quite so confident?
And the same goes for lovely, shy people who on the internet are able to express themselves fully.
Because it's not always a bad thing.
Anyway, bullies are just past victims who haven’t yet found a way to express themselves.
[Gilda] I'll get it anyway! I will, I'll get an annulment!
I will! I will! I will! I'll get it! I'll get it! I'll get it!
(sobs)
Rita Hayworth there, being generally wonderful.
You should now all go and watch her films. (Because she's wonderful)
A few of you asked about the poster behind my head;
it is from ‘How To Marry A Millionaire’- an old classic with Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable...
and- one of my favourites- Lauren Bacall.
One final bit of technical advice- do not believe DivX...
when they tell you downloading their updated version will make YouTube videos play faster and at a better quality.
IT IS ALL A LIE. YOUR SAFARI BROWSER WILL FREEZE.
‘You’re using Safari, of course it will freeze!’
Yes, yes, I know… but I’m stuck in my ways
and Safari is so much better looking than FireFox…
I like its rustic charm.
So now we have had a brief look at just some of the ways you use YouTube!
(That was a tongue twister!)
Tomorrow I’ll be wrapping up, looking at a few other aspects, including the educational side of the site...
and creating some kind of a conclusion from my waffle.
For now, I’m going to play you out with what YouTube means to its co-founder Chad Hurley;
[Chad Hurley] And what I think it does, you know, when you see the personal side of people just capturing everyday life, is that...
it breaks down cultural barriers, um...
in the past, I think, people have just consumed their knowledge or...
I guess, their perception of the world just through 'media'.
Which, again, isn't always unbiased.
Uh... but when you start seeing everyday life from everyday people on the streets-
no matter what country they live in, um,
I think it adds a very personal element to that- that people can connect with,
and they start understanding that 'they have families, they have feelings, they have dreams just like I do.'