Ah, YouTube. From your great grandma to your younger sister, just about everyone has heard of and used YouTube before. About one-third of all internet users consistently use YouTube on the daily. If you haven’t heard of YouTube, do you live under a rock…? It is a site in which users may post videos of anything they like and everyone can view it. With billions of users, and more people joining the video sharing movement everyday, there are many reasons why YouTube is the ultimate social media site.
1. YouTube encourages you to be you.
With the freedom to post whatever you want, this website encourages you to be creative and share your passions with the world and specifically other people with the same interests as you.
2. YouTube creates jobs.
Yes, a social media site can create actual jobs. YouTube opens up the doors for sponsorship on videos and even pays you once you receive a certain number of hits. It is estimated YouTube provides thousands of full time jobs to creators every year. Even if you aren’t a full time creator, YouTube provides an environment in which actors, singers, (duh, Justin Bieber), makeup artists, etc. can be discovered and receive a job, all thanks to YouTube.
3. YouTube can teach you important life skills.
Whether you are browsing how to do the perfect winged eyeliner or how to preform CPR, there are virtually videos on everything you can think of and these may be extremely helpful in your everyday life.
4. YouTube can spread information.
From ISIS beheading to hilarious Trump campaign videos, information can be spread by just the touch of a button, definitely persuading societies biases on different topics. It is not all bad though, YouTube videos can be used to your advantage to spread important announcements to the public or even just family and friends.
5. YouTube videos have no length requirement.
Apps like Instagram and Snapchat only allow you to post around ten second to one minute videos, while YouTube, on the other hand, has no limit to how long your videos can be allowing much more creative opportunity. This can allow for people to post movies, TV shows, livestreams, etc.
6. YouTube is the ultimate advertiser.
Much better than commercials, as mentioned above, YouTube videos can be sponsored by companies to showcase products, stores and ideas. With special coupon codes and offers, sponsored videos encourage users to purchase certain items or check out certain websites they may not have otherwise viewed
7. YouTube is a great way to kill time.
Unlike other social medias, your YouTube feed is never ending. There are always thousands more videos for you to check out, making it an excellent way to kill time. Whether you need to kill five minutes in the airport or want to waste five hours at work, YouTube is the king of all social medias for curing boredom.
8. YouTube is a great way to meet people.
Posting similar style videos or even just being a fan of a YouTuber can make you many friends. (You-Tuber friendships are where all the amazing collabs come from and who doesn't love collabs?)
9. YouTube is used in school and in the workplace.
YouTube can be used for college applications (you’ve hopefully all seen Legally Blonde), presentations and statistical videos. YouTube even has videos to help with understanding school concepts, and even novels, such as the CrashCourse videos.
10. YouTube is fun.
Yes, this is the last reason and it is simply because YouTube is genuinely more enjoyable than other sites like it. This may be why the average session time on Youtube is over 400% higher than other social medias like Facebook.
