Introduction
One of the biggest and most well-known video sharing websites on the Internet is YouTube. YouTube has changed from being a showcase for amateur films to a platform for sharing creative material since it was founded in 2005 (Eves). It has given rise to a brand-new profession of content creation, which has the potential to be highly rich for some people worldwide. YouTube has developed into a major social media platform that has significantly influenced the growth of the social media role and shaped various population groups.
Development of YouTube
When YouTube was first developed, anyone could use it to upload any kind of video they wanted. It was planned that users would be able to utilize the website without limitations to download, distribute, and view material. YouTube has now become one of the top video distribution websites worldwide. Few people can genuinely build lucrative careers as YouTubers due to initiatives like the YouTube affiliate program and Google AdSense (Eves). The initial concept of YouTube was to allow users to submit videos in which they introduce themselves and discuss their hobbies. It did not really make an impact, therefore, the co-founders quickly changed to a more widely used video-sharing platform (Eves). Since that time, YouTube has rapidly expanded. Since its debut in 2005, YouTube has advanced significantly. As a result, YouTube has a lengthy and fruitful development history.
Influence on a Specific Population Group
The freedoms of expression, knowledge, opportunity, and belonging are among YouTube’s key principles that influenced its development and role in society. Its evolution and the ways it affected diverse social groups throughout the world were inspired by these values. Students are one of the important groups this social media platform has influenced. The youthful generation of practically the whole world now uses YouTube on a daily basis (Neumann and Christothea). Despite a lot of setbacks and evident distractions, YouTube has shown to be helpful for research and teaching in these circumstances. Students utilize YouTube to obtain instructional material and information about their courses. Since YouTube offers educational content in the form of widely available and inexpensive videos, it raises the quality of education (Sari and Morgana). In addition to being a tool for learning, it is now a crucial component of good teaching and learning.
By uploading their lesson plans to the school’s YouTube account, teachers may utilize it as a teaching tool. Students have been directly impacted by this sort of education since the usage of instructional films makes learning engaging and diverse (Sari and Morgana). Student accomplishment in terms of the content and value of the tutorials, as well as enthusiasm for future learning, is significantly improved by assessment in terms of technology or learning through YouTube.
For student generations, YouTube’s enormous selection of videos is gradually taking the role of traditional entertainment on TV and in movies. Many students express their want to be YouTube stars or live streamers more frequently when asked about their future plans or goals (Neumann and Christothea). Although being a fantastic resource and a great source of pleasure, YouTube also has a number of serious concerns.
As a result of the increased likelihood that their outrageous behavior would draw viewers and, consequently, advertisers, many YouTube personalities adopt controversial opinions or engage in outrageous behavior. On YouTube, provocateurs and pranksters foster a poisonous fan culture, which is not a good example for young people. Unluckily, some influencers have even worked out how to utilize this YouTube craze to radicalize young people, especially students. It is possible that many young people may start viewing footage of individuals playing video games and wind up seeing the xenophobic propaganda of the alt-right channels (Neumann and Christothea). However, because of the marketing strategies employed by alt-right and white nationalists, even unrelated YouTube searches will show up content from these individuals.
YouTube and Biblical Worldview
From a biblical worldview, YouTube has ambivalent values and influence. The fundamentals of living a holy life and the image of God in people may be destroyed by YouTube. Although the basic principles of YouTube are in line with biblical precepts, the social media site, like many others, leads to societal unrest (Neumann and Christothea). The erosion of human communication is the main issue. Jesus did not ask his followers to subscribe to his channel when he encouraged them to follow him. YouTube may be utilized on the go and does not demand a big time or moral commitment (Sari and Morgana). However, this platform can be used for good educational purposes, as it was described below.
Conclusion
Overall, YouTube had a profound impact on society globally. The social media platform has come a long way since its launch, and it is still widely popular today. Its popularity can be questionable from a biblical and moral viewpoint, as is the case with many other social media platforms. However, it can still be utilized to ensure the development of society. Students can outperform the school’s curriculum if their minds are set on watching and studying from reliable sources.
Works Cited
Eves, Derral. The YouTube Formula: How Anyone Can Unlock the Algorithm to Drive Views, Build an Audience, and Grow Revenue. John Wiley & Sons, 2021.
Neumann, Michelle M., and Christothea Herodotou. “Young Children and YouTube: A global phenomenon.” Childhood Education vol. 96, no.4, 2020, pp. 72-77. Web.
Sari, Yuli Nurmala, and Morgana Mergana. “YouTube as a learning media to improve the student’s speaking ability in the 21st century.” Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics vol. 4, no. 2, 2019, pp. 263-272. Web.