Social media

As part of exploring audiences of the media, I have chosen to analyse the social videographic platform, YouTube. 
Originated in 2005, YouTube has over 1.3 billion users, with 300 hours of content uploaded every minute. It's content progressively increased, highlighting 'YouTuber's' who began in the early days of its release, now having millions of followers, winning titles such as 'Influencer of the year,' with events such as Comic-con and Vidcon, and further filming of 'YouTube Rewind' at the end of each year, focusing on the main events that occurred within the internet and YouTube community throughout. These events cater for the YouTube community, and are examples of how the audience have reacted to the content produced.
Addiction
In terms of becoming addictive, YouTube is the main video uploading site. It has become the default for most video watching users, and the most popular for uploading videographic content. As a media student, I find myself using the platform for resources such as soundtracks as background music, alongside stock footage and informing myself on historical footage, or videos made to inform other students. As a consumer of the platform socially, I watch YouTuber's, and catch up on shows that may not be aired on Television. There are many shows in which showcase some of my favourite celebrities, such as Carpool Karaoke with James Corden. The show is widely popular with the new generation, gathering millions of views. Shows like this and other presenters such as Jimmie Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres are one of the reasons YouTube has an incline economically, and is over passing Television. I therefore believe that the platform can be addictive, however purely for the reason that it becomes dependable and provides a good source of entertainment.

Interaction
YouTube has live streams where audiences can comment at once, with comment sections on all videos for users to have their say. Like most common social sites, individuals can communicate with each other. They can do so in these comment sections, alongside the ability to make playlists. When having a channel, YouTube allows you to create playlists and share them with the public. Someone may create a playlist of songs to listen to when getting ready, for example, which may relate to many and become a popular playlist. However, I personally feel that audiences may use other social platforms such as Snapchat or Instagram to message and interact with each other. Another form of communication and interaction is between YouTuber's and their fans, when YouTuber's may ask their audience to leave opinions or answers in the comment section of the video. 

User generated content - Content that has been placed on the internet by audiences themselves, meaning the content is not supported financially or by contract, e.g Wikipedia. 

Prosumers - An individual who consumes and produces a product. They can be an enthusiastic consumer, then producing content off this. 

The platform depends on user generated content massively. It's money and overall use is for users of the public to upload and watch other videos. YouTube themselves do not upload certain videos, in fact audiences must decide to put content out. As the platform has progressed massively, globally, everyone loves and uses it, therefore there is a constant cycle of watching and creating. However it can be seen as a bad aspect, if the audience could not upload anything, there would be no content, meaning the popularity of YouTube declines, though almost anyone and everyone can upload to the site.

Money
Money is made through advertisements. YouTube has the power to embed advertisements into video's, relating the advert to the content that the user seems to be interested in. Advertisements are sponsored, and the advertiser pays YouTube based on the number of views the advertisement receives. This is where the idea of 'Click-bait' comes into action. YouTuber's and content producers make thumbnails (images and text you view before clicking on a video) to intrigue the viewer as much as possible. Advertisements play before the video begins, meaning audiences have clicked onto the video after being intrigued therefore have viewed the advert. It should be noted that YouTuber's receive roughly $18 per 1,000 advertisement views.


Pros - 
- Resources - stock footage, education videos
- Anyone can upload
- Accepts any MP4 quality
- Music
- Entertainment - shows and music videos
- Inspiring - influencers
- Community - comment sections
- Playlists and channels

Cons - 
- Addictive
- Toxic, hateful comments common
- Click-bait
- Decrease in views when uploading- too popular
- Restricted mode
- Copyright
- Anyone can upload
- Privacy invasion