The "you" in You Tube
In its short existence of twelve months this virtual video land called You Tube has already revolutionized internet communication in a series of ways. It is a method of web multimedia communication that is becoming increasingly popular as the months roll by, with a diversity of uses that extend from people pitching auction items on eBay to kids attempting to perform their own standup comedy routines from their basement. This breakthrough in technology accommodates all video formats, and allow for You Tube clips to be posted and viewed on any web browser. In fact, the way blogs can transform ordinary citizens into journalists, You Tube can help people achieve near celebrity status. And although predominantly among users with high speed internet access, if a certain video clip is significantly appealing, it can easily achieve widespread circulation within the internet community and even wind up getting coverage in the Mainstream Media.
The You Tube technology has indeed affected the cultural and social aspects of society, but other areas in society are undergoing changes as well. In the midterms elections, You Tube played a prominent role for many Congressmen seeking a more friendly, personal method of communication with the public and, thus, many adopted video streaming as an effective way of relaying important campaign messages. But You Tube can also be accredited for the skyrocketing negative publicity for some candidates, such as the notoriety of the Macacagate incident of Senator George Allen. The video of the Senator's referall to an Indian supporter of his oponent as a "macaca"was captured on web camera, and the clip circulated quickly around the internet and soon “macaca” became a common cyber term. This also helped to launch extensive media coverage on the alleged racism tendancies of George Allen and his sordid political situation was only exacerbated by the additional racial speech implications he was accused of.
As far as these technological improvements go for the Big Media media industries,well they've definitely given them what to compete with. People are becoming increasingly self sufficient in terms of the methods they use to keep abreast of developments in the news, and less reliant on the big media. YouTube has helped to supplement a whole new dimension in news content on the internet. In the blogging community a large number of blogs are embedded with appropriate or relevant video clips. The growing availibility of news clips online helps to enhance the news gathering process overall and make internet news more palpable, as it free and instantaneous for anyone with a decent internet connection.
YouTube also helps to creates a new standard for the mainstream media. Video clips on the internet often provide access to the complete recorded versions without the editing and filtering processes done by news networks were making things more “family friendly” often downplays some of the violence like in Darfur, Lebanon or Iraq for instance. A solider can film the insurgency in Bagdad, and unlike the news networks, not have to be concerned with showing too much blood or gore. YouTube can help to improve overall truth and accuracy in the Mainstream media find it increasingly difficult to conceal bias and distortion as people will have such an extensive array of other sources at immediate access. A new standard of news will thus be likely emerge as a result.

But like any other innovation in technology, with the great liberties of You Tube comes new responsibility. Some serious ethical and legal problems are going to need to be addressed and inevitably, certain sacrifices such as privacy rights, are going to have to have to be made. The question may even arise if the benefits yielded by YouTube will be worth their stake.