YouTube

Have you ever used YouTube? If so what for and why did you use this rather than a more conventional form of media
 We have both used YouTube, for watching music videos, movie trailers, Television, and random videos. This gave us all the medias we want in one easy place to view them, there is no time limit and we don't have to be in for say 6 to watch our favorite programme. More conventional forms of media i.e television means that we would miss our show if we were not at home in time for 6.

Look at one of the most viewed videos on YouTube today, why do you think it is so popular? How many people have watched it/liked it/commented on it? Link to Achmed the dead terrorist

We think this is popular because the topic it covers is highly mediated at the present moment (terrorism) but it is covered in such a way that is funny without majorly offending anyone.
Watched: 130,572,107 views
Likes: 441,380
Comments: 199,369             (stats taken on 15/03/11 around 13.30)

Think of a recent celebrity news story, can you find information about this on YouTube? Do you think this information is reliable?

A recent celebrity news story we chose is Charlie Sheen, we found out that he went on on a drug fueled rampage, and the media is portraying him as being mentally unstable. We found a lot of information about what was going on currently from YouTube via news interviews alongside these interviews selections of his work were also available for us to see at the same time.
Some of this information is reliable as it comes straight from real interviews but some of these videos are taken out of context so they portray him in the wrong light.

How do you think YouTube is affecting celebrity culture?

I believe that having so much acess to what celebrities are up to meens that some celebs are making their home lives more public via the Internet. This use of the Internet in effect is to try and create more public support for their jobs or relationships but it also has a down side for some. It make it harder for celebs to stay under the radar as anything and everything is posted on YouTube for the world to see.

Do you think YouTube allows many social groups to be represented?

YouTube in my opinion is the place where practically all social groups can co-exist, it is just up to individuals within that group to upload videos. It gives everyonene the oppurtunity to express themselves freely, admittedly some of the 'older social groups' will be less represented due to the fact that they are not seen as the online generation.

Why do you think people turn to YouTube to express themselves?

Of course people use YouTube to express themselves. It can be seen as a place where anything goes so you can express youselve in anyway possible. There is no physical barrier to pass through so it makes it easier to say exactally what you feel as you are uploading it into cyber-space not saying it to an actual person.

Have a look at Charlie Mcdonnel on YouTube, why do you think he has become so popular?

He is randomly interesting, his videos are short and entertaining.