From Wikipedia, YouTube is defined as a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view, and share video clips. Videos can be rated, and the average rating and the number of times a video has been watched are both published. Some people may regard youtube as a place where anyone could publicise their videos, so the content is not regulated by law. Yes, it is true that some of the videos posted by people contain unethical contents like pornography and violence. On June 1, 2006, the evening ITV News bulletin reported that YouTube and sites like it were encouraging violence and bullying amongst teenagers, who were filming fights on their mobile phones (see happy slapping), and then uploading them to YouTube. Such excessive violent videos are indeed harmful to the society. However, I disagree that YouTube has no ethics and has been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money. Even though videos uploaded on YouTube are usually for the purpose of entertainment or money, but there are some educational videos on the site as well. For example, there are videos which have BBC news content for viewers to watch.
Although most of the content on YouTube lacks an educational goal, the site could be educational in some other ways. YouTube allow us to be engaged in watching the video. This heightens our visual literacy, which is an important skill in this technological world. After watching the videos, we often rate and comment on them, This not only improves our language skills but also our analytic skill. With YouTube, people are encouraged to create their own videos. Many educators believe that the act of creating content—in virtually any form—is a valuable learning exercise, helping develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and the tools used to create that content. Through video sharing and commenting, we are also able to gain more knowledge. There was a scenario when a girl uploaded the documentary project on YouTube. Surprisingly, viewers gave her some advices and tips on how to improve on her projects. A viewer gave her tips about using video software to better match the sound and picture channels. This is an example of how YouTube could be educational. Hence it is not just about entertainment and money. YouTube could have many other educational purposes as well.
Another purpose of YouTube is that it also provides a means of interaction among people. The sharing of videos encourages people to meet new people, read and share opinions. Thus the site also helps in developing this world into a more harmonious place.
In conclusion, I disagree that YouTube has no ethics and its sole purpose is to entertain and make money. The site also has many educational purposes and it helps people to interact with each other.
Sources : http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7018.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube
2 comments:
I feel that actually there isn't any purpose for the creation at all (other than money). The creators did not specify all users to upload educational or entertaining clips, but it is actually the users themselves that determine what kind of clips to upload. If the clips are entertaining, then it is entertainment. Therefore I feel that the creators only want to let the people have a free platform to publish whatever they like, be it educational or entertainment. They are only interested in the result, and that is the profit, as seen from the large amount of money they obtained for selling YouTube to Google.
P.S Pls feel free to rebutt. :)
--- Kend Tuck
I agree to what both of them said. I think that what is posted on YouTube depends on the users. They upload videos that they would want to share with other people. Thus, just like what Kend Tuck said, it is a free platform for sharing. haha.
Perhaps you can show why some of them feels that why Youtube is created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money.
Meihui
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