Social impact of YouTube

The video-sharing website YouTube has impacted society in various ways.

Internet celebrities and breaking boundaries

YouTube's popularity has led to the creation of many YouTube Internet celebrities, popular individuals who have attracted much publicity in their home countries (and sometimes world renown) due to their videos. [cite news | first=Jason | last=Feifer | title=Video makers find a vast and eager audience | date=June 11, 2006 | publisher=Worcester Telegram | url=http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060611/NEWS/606110552/1011/FEATURES ] The most subscribed YouTube member, as of August 21, 2008, is Smosh. [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/members?s=ms&t=a&g=0
title = Most Subscribed (All Time)
publisher = YouTube
date = 2007-06-02]

For some users, Internet fame has led to unexpected results and, in some cases, crossovers into traditional media or entertainment avenues. Former receptionist Brooke Brodack (Brookers) from Connecticut has been signed by NBC's Carson Daly for an 18-month development contract in June 2006; Brodack was among the first individuals to transition into mainstream media through YouTube. [cite news|first=Denise|last=Martin|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117945151.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1|title=Daly digs YouTube talent|work=Variety|date=2006-06-12|accessdate = 2007-05-09] [cite news|first=Scott|last=Collins|url=http://msl1.mit.edu/furdlog/docs/latimes/2006-06-19_latimes_youtube_brodack.pdf|title=Now she has their attention|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2006-07-19|accessdate = 2007-03-03] Another discovery was the uncovered fictitious blog of lonelygirl15, now known to be the creation of New Zealand actress Jessica Rose and some film directors. In 2007, a Dutch vocalist and songwriter named Esmée Denters (esmeedenters) was signed to a recording contract by Billy Mann based on her YouTube performances. [cite news
url = http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2518918320070226
title = YouTube stars don't always welcome record deals
publisher = Reuters
date = 2007-02-25] [cite news
url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKN0831939520070308
title = Dutch YouTube star scores U.S. music deal
publisher = Reuters
date = 2007-03-08] Another YouTube singer, 15 year-old Savannah Outen, was signed to Levosia Entertainment after posting videos of her singing on the site.

On January 31, 2007, Fox announced that Lisa Donovan (LisaNova) would appear as a cast member during the 12th season of its sketch comedy show "MADtv". [cite news|url=http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C104322%7C1%7C,00.html|title='MADtv' Uploads YouTube Star|work=Zap2it TV news|date=2007-01-31|accessdate = 2007-03-03] Terra Naomi (terranaomi) has been signed with Island Records, a division of the Universal Music Group, one of the Big Four record labels. Brandon Hardesty (ArtieTSMITW), known for a popular reenactment series among his work, appeared in a GEICO television commercial [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKP84cb17k
title = Geico - 15 minutes online
publisher = YouTube
date = May 8, 2007] running nationally in the U.S. and it consists mostly of a segment taken from his "Strange Faces and Noises I Can Make III" video. Brandon has also been contracted by an agent and was hired for a role in the independent film, "Bart Got a Room". [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPx266rGw3E
title = Strange Faces and Noises I Can Make III
publisher = YouTube
date = January 1, 2007]

Ysabella Brave (ysabellabrave and ysabellabravetalk) announced in two videos on June 3, 2007, in connection with a "Los Angeles Times" feature article [cite web
url = http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-neil22jun03,1,6835647.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
title = Wish on a Star
publisher = Los Angeles Times
date = June 3, 2007] about her on the same day, that she has been signed by Cordless Recordings, a division of the Warner Music Group, also one of the four major records labels. TheReceptionist announced in a video on July 9, 2007 that he will be providing content for Comedy Central's website. [cite web
url = http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-6lDholT0s
title = Dead Tone
publisher = YouTube
date = July 9, 2007]

Daniel Geduld (everyonesvoice) now works in the voice-over business and he credits his discovery to his popular Skeletor remixes, which change an originally serious animation series into comedy. [cite web
url = http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070720/ap_on_hi_te/getting_discovered_online_2;_ylt=AiPdhj1E4qqtpLm7P9F4xJ4E1vAI
title = Web video sites mined by talent scouts
publisher = Associated Press
date = July 20, 2007] SamProof appeared on November 18th, 2007on Adult Swim's Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! [cite web
url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1143763/
title = "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" Episode 'Vacation'
publisher = IMDB
date = November 18th 2007]

Cory Williams (aka Mr. Safety of smpfilms) is the host of the first national television show to spawn from video bloggers. It's a "best of the net" type show called The FIZZ [http://www.thefizz.tv The FIZZ on DirecTV 101's website] ] on DirecTV channel 101 in the United States. [http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/728030/new_media_meets_tv_turlock_resident_attains_cult_status_with/index.html Modesto Bee article] ] The show has been on air since September of 2006 and features other popular YouTubers such as boh3m3, thewinekone, Kevin Nalty, TheHill88, and many others. Williams has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, MTV Scarred, as well as a few popular music videos (Bloodhound Gang and Against Me! being two of the bands).

Band and music promotion

YouTube has also become a means of promoting bands and their music. One such example is OK Go which got a huge radio hit and an MTV Video Music Awards performance out of the treadmill video for Here It Goes Again. [cite news|first=Jose Antonio|last=Vargas| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090100012.html| title=Waiting for OK Go: MTV Awards' Existential Moment| date=2006-09-01 | accessdate = 2007-03-03 ] [cite news| first=Zachary| last=Chapman| url=http://media.www.browndailyherald.com/media/storage/paper472/news/2007/02/13/CampusNews/Ok.Go.Wins.Grammy.For.Treadmills.Video-2715899.shtml| title=OK Go wins Grammy for treadmills video| date=2007-02-13| accessdate = 2007-03-03] In the same light, a video broadcasting the Free Hugs Campaign with accompanying music by the Sick Puppies led to instant fame for both the band and the campaign, with more campaigns taking place in different parts of the world. The main character of the video, Juan Mann has also achieved fame, being interviewed on Australian news programs, even appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show. [cite web|url=http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200610/20061030/slide_20061030_284_101.jhtml|title=The Gift of Giving Back: Free Hugs!|work=The Oprah Winfrey Show|accessdate = 2007-03-03] Singer-songwriter Tay Zonday's video of "Chocolate Rain" had such play that it led to a music video promoting a Dr Pepper product. [ [http://www.adrants.com/2007/11/youtube-celeb-tay-zonday-goes-commercial-.php AdRants: "YouTube Celeb Tay Zonday Goes Commercial with Dr Pepper," November 30, 2007.] ]

haring revenue with popular users

In May 2007, YouTube invited some of its most viewed users to become "YouTube Partners." This exclusive status, previously only offered to commercial content providers, allows users to earn revenue from advertisements placed next to videos. [ [http://youtube.com/blog?entry=4b3PkL8HQcw YouTube Elevates Most Popular Users to Partners] , [http://youtube.com/blog The YouTube Blog] May 3, 2007] Participants include Ben Going (boh3m3), Paul Robinett (renetto), Lisa Donovan (LisaNova), Jessica Rose (lonelygirl15), Kevin Nalty (Nalts) Tony Huynh (thewinekone), Brandon Hardesty (ArtieTSMITW), Christine Gambito (HappySlip), Cory Williams (Cory "Mr. Safety"), Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoollike), and Yousef Abu-Taleb (Danielbeast), among the 100 partners. [ [http://youtube.com/members?s=ms&t=w&g=5 YouTube Partners] , as of June 23, 2007]

YouTube gatherings

YouTubers periodically hold public gatherings to celebrate the video sharing community. [Coyle, Jake [http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/08/22/youtube_vloggers_congregate_offline/ "YouTube Vloggers Congregate Offline"] Associated Press, August 22, 2007] One of the earliest of such gatherings, the recurrent and international "As One", was first held in January 2007 in Los Angeles by Cory Williams of smpfilms. The second "As One", also hosted by Cory Williams, was held on February 17, 2007 at Pier 39 in San Francisco, managed to attract many of YouTube's highest viewed individuals. [Sandoval, Greg [http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6160390.html "Top YouTube videographers descend on San Francisco"] [http://www.cnet.com cnet.com] , February 17, 2007] Notable attendees included: Caitlin Hill; Ben Going; and Yousef Abu-Taleb, the actor who plays DanielBeast in the YouTube serial lonelygirl15. A third gathering took place on July 7, 2007, at Washington Square Park in New York City. A singing invitation to the event, posted on YouTube by Christine Gambito, YouTube's "Happyslip", gained over 2.6 million views. [Wilson, Craig [http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-07-04-seven_N.htm "Saturday's date — 07/07/07 — gives birth to fortune frenzy"] USA Today, July 6, 2007] Notable attendees included: Brooke Brodack; Caitlin Hill; and
Kevin Nalty. Yet another took place in Washington D.C. on September 8, 2007. An As One gathering was held in Melbourne, Australia on December 1, 2007 at Federation Square. Another two gatherings are planned by smpfilms at the beginning of 2008.cite news|first=Catherine|last=Rampell|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/09/AR2007090901641.html|title=YouTubers Try a Different Forum: Real Life|work=Washington Post|date=2007-09-10|accessdate = 2007-09-14]

A gathering is planned in Manchester, England on the, March 29, 2008 by YouTube community channel CheekyBoy19. [http://www.locksleynet.com/blog/entry/356/youtube-gathering/ Manchester YouTube Gathering : 29th March '08 | ->>www.locksleynet.com<< ] ] The last Youtube Gathering was in Toronto, CA On August 8th also known as 8.8.8.

The economics of YouTube

Before being purchased by Google, YouTube declared that its business model was advertisement-based, making 15 million dollars per month. Some industry commentators have speculated that YouTube's running costs – specifically the bandwidth required – may be as high as 5 to 6 million USD per month, [ [http://willy.boerland.com/myblog/youtube_bandwidth_usage_25_petabytes_per_month] . "Forbes". April 27, 2006.] thereby fueling criticisms that the company, like many Internet startups, did not have a viably implemented business model. Advertisements were launched on the site beginning in March 2006. YouTube subsequently stopped using AdSense but has resumed in local regions.

References