By Julia Conforti, staff writer
Youtube is one of the biggest corporations in today’s age. People young and old all ages have created an account on this super site. Six billion hours has been watched, $5.6 million have been spent on Youtube ads in 2013, and every two people will have a Youtube account. It is a part of our free time, our learning in and outside of the school environment, our means of connecting with other people, and some even make their careers by working in Youtube’s offices or monetizing their accounts and making Youtube videos as their full-time career. Love it or hate it, Youtube is something that is a very prominent instrument in our lives.
It has become a daily routine for some people to come home from school or work, log onto their computers, and go onto Youtube to check on their favorite channel’s latest upload.
“I’m on at least four hours,” said General Studies senior Ryan Martin. “Always entertainment, but for school sometimes.”
Other people do only spend the minimum amount of time on it, however.
“I don’t go onto [Youtube] much,” said General Studies freshman Charity Islas, though she agreed that Youtube is, “very important to our time.”
Some people use it to teach themselves how to solve physics problems, or how to play songs on piano or guitar. A few teachers actually record their lectures or lessons and post them on Youtube for students who are struggling with certain concepts.
In fact, teachers around the globe are turning to Youtube to assist them in teaching a concept or show examples of projects for their students. Schools are actually beginning to unblock Youtube on school browsers due to teachers bringing up the advantages of having Youtube accessible for themselves and their students.
Students enter classrooms and they know for a fact that Youtube will be used someday or another during their time taking the course.
“I use it for background information,” said AP Literature and Composition teacher Katie Phillips. “I think it’s easier for students to understand with Youtube videos.”
Artists of all kind have also turned to Youtube as well to save money on expensive classes which teach the same concepts which are uploaded on the super site. Digital and physical art concepts are taught to viewers. Singing, acting, and dancing technique videos are also uploaded for people who are trying to better those talents. Makeup channels are up to teach their viewers how to achieve Hollywood level effects with their makeup, whether it is their everyday look or Halloween prosthetics and makeup effects.
Channels which teach everyday concepts such as cooking, decorating tips, cleaning techniques, and simple ‘life hacks’ are also put up on Youtube which people turn to when they are not sure how to complete everyday tasks.
“It’s a powerful search engine,” said English World Literature teacher Elias Santiago. “I had to put windows into an apartment … and I searched it and there were videos on Youtube.”
Amateur musicians also start accounts on Youtube with the hope of being discovered. Singer and actress Arianna Grande began her career by making a Youtube account, and eventually she was able to get hired on the TV show Victorious, and she is now a famed singer who still continues to write and produce her own music.
There are now billboards throughout cities which advertise Youtubers who have made their own career through monetized accounts. Magazines have interviews, Youtubers are invited on TV talk shows and even hired on movie sets. Lilly Singh, aka IISuperwomanII, started out by simply making videos every Monday and Thursday and she has been in a few magazines and guest starred on several news networks, is invited to red carpet events, hired to act in small production movies, and is on billboards in Los Angeles, Calif.
Youtube affects people on big scales such as those examples, but the real impact can be seen with everyday people. People really do watch Youtube for fun and for reference. People rely on Youtube to be up and working to do their jobs or for a laugh on a bad day. People express their ideas and interest through Youtube and they share videos they enjoy with their friends to connect with them or to cheer them up. Stars gain their fans by putting their music videos or official audio files, and fans share their interests. Fans can even connect with their favorite celebrity by connecting with them on Youtube, as some actors and singers do have Youtube accounts for those purposes.
It’s practically a pandemic, and some may dislike Youtube, but it is a very important part of our culture, our education, and our lives.