Well, let me tell ya, this here YouTube thing, it’s kinda like a big ol’ town square, but on the internet.
Is it social media? I reckon it is, kinda sorta. You see, folks go there, they watch things, they share things, they talk to each other in them comment sections. It’s like sittin’ on the porch, gossipin’ with the neighbors, but ‘stead of seein’ their faces, you see their words and them little picture things, whatchamacallits, avatars, yeah, that’s it.
Now, some folks say it ain’t social media ’cause it’s all about videos. They say, “It’s just for watchin’ stuff!” But I say, hold your horses! You got folks makin’ them videos, puttin’ their hearts and souls into ’em, and then you got other folks watchin’ ’em, leavin’ comments, sharin’ ’em with their friends. Sounds pretty social to me.
- You can watch all sorts of things, like them cat videos, or that fella makin’ a birdhouse, or that gal singin’ pretty songs.
- And you can even make your own videos! If you got somethin’ to say, or somethin’ to show, you can just put it up there for the whole world to see.
- And folks can talk to each other in the comments. They can say, “Good job!” or “That’s a load of hogwash!” or whatever tickles their fancy.
It ain’t like them other things, like that Facebook or that Twitter, where you mostly just read stuff and post little messages. YouTube, it’s got them videos, see? That’s the big difference. But it’s still social, ’cause you’re interactin’ with other folks.
You don’t need no special account to just watch, just like you don’t need an invite to sit on the park bench. Anyone can wander by and watch. But if you wanna jaw with folks or put up your own show, then you gotta get yourself a channel, which they tell me is free. Free is good, I always say. Free is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Some smarty-pants folks, they done wrote articles and books and such, talkin’ about whether YouTube is this or that. They use big words and fancy ideas, but I say, it’s simple. If folks are talkin’ to each other, sharin’ stuff, and buildin’ little communities, then it’s social, plain and simple. And that’s what happens on YouTube.
Now, you can use this here YouTube for all sorts of things. You can learn how to fix a leaky faucet, or how to bake a cake, or how to dance the Charleston. Or you can just watch funny videos and waste time, that’s alright too. Time you enjoy wastin’ ain’t wasted, so they say.
And if you got a business, you can use YouTube to tell folks about it. You can make videos showin’ off your goods, or tellin’ stories about your customers. It’s like puttin’ up a billboard, but it moves and talks. Helps folks find you, they say. It’s like puttin’ up a sign with flashing lights on the ol’ dirt road, folks can’t miss it.
Some folks, they get real popular on YouTube. They get lots of followers and lots of views, and they can even make some money from it. It’s like bein’ a movie star, but on the internet. Can you imagine? Little Sally from down the road, makin’ more money than the mayor just by makin’ silly videos about cats. The world’s gone crazy, I tell ya!
But it ain’t all sunshine and roses, mind you. There’s some bad stuff on YouTube too. There’s folks bein’ mean to each other, and folks spreadin’ lies, and folks puttin’ up things that ain’t fit for young’uns to see. You gotta be careful, just like you gotta be careful walkin’ down a dark alley at night.
You can turn off them comments, if you don’t like what folks are sayin’. Like puttin’ up a “No Trespassin’” sign on your property. Keeps the riff-raff out. You can control what you see and what you don’t, mostly, which is more than you can say for most things in life.
So, is YouTube a social media platform? Well, I reckon it is. It’s a place where folks come together to share things, talk to each other, and build communities. It’s got its good points and its bad points, just like anythin’ else in life. But it’s definitely social, and it’s definitely a big part of the internet these days.
It’s a tool, just like a hammer or a hoe. You can use it to build somethin’ good, or you can use it to smash things up. It’s all up to you.
Tags: YouTube, Social Media, Video Sharing, Online Community, Social Interaction, Digital Platform, Content Creation, User Generated Content, Online Communication, Social Networking
