The Value of YouTube

I spend a lot of time being uncharitable to YouTube, mostly because I think it’s a very misunderstood product. I think I’ll take a moment to explain my stance on YouTube. This might be illustrative, and/or you might have a different take. In either case, I’d love your thoughts. (The comments on the blog lately have been GREAT!)

YouTube is a Platform

I work for Network2. We are a GUIDE to the best internet TV shows available. We’re not a hosting platform (YouTube is). We are not repurposing anyone’s content. We are just a way for you to find stuff that we’ve found and that we think is GREAT independent TV content.

YouTube, on the other hand, is a platform. It’s a software product that allows users to upload video, tag the video, and add comments and information around the video. You can upload your own stuff, from your webcam in your bedroom, or from your lifelong effort to be an independent film artist. You can upload other people’s stuff, which is often illegal, and YouTube has to then go to efforts to find that, and get it off the platform.

You can use it to leave video mails to a loved one. You can show off your cat. You can distribute your amazing videoblog or podcast. It’s whatever you make it.

Calling YouTube a TV is like calling a laptop a Novel.

The Value of YouTube

This said, there are some GREAT values to YouTube. One, it’s downright silly how easy it is to upload and share content, making it a perfect video bulletin board. It’s closer to being the Flickr of video than most sites that WISH they were the Flickr of video. And, because there are a gazillion folks already on the platform, the “wisdom of crowds” meets “crowdsourcing” all the time. Meaning: we don’t have to work to get all the good info.

To me, YouTube’s value is as the ULTIMATE water cooler.

For instance, I saw something on TechMeme today talking about Michael “Kramer” Richards’ big rant against African Americans. One click later, and I’m watching the actual footage. Another click later, I’m watching Dave Letterman and Richards is being satellited in for a mea culpa moment. It’s perfect. (Doubly so, they made me WANT to see the rest of it at CBS).

The other day, Christopher Penn showed me a video about the UCLA student getting tazered by cops because he refused to give out his identification. It was a water cooler moment with some value to it. It started quite a discussion.

So there’s value in that. It’s like the world’s efforts to reconnect around a fire are finding their best success in YouTube, if you’re willing to sift through the silliness.

And so There’s the Dividing Line

I never go to YouTube and just look for something. I’m always SENT to YouTube, and this is made easier by the handy links YouTube places all around the videos you watch on the site. Destination? Sure, if someone guides me there. But a place to go and spend time looking around? None for me, thanks.

I work for Network2 for a reason.

But I still think there’s value in what they’re doing. That’s why I’m looking to reach out to them to attend Video on the Net. If you know Chad, tell him I’m looking.