Launched in 2005, YouTube is home, or the origin of, the internet’s videos. Running times range from a few seconds to hours.
The platform is perfect for college students most of all. Students need entertainment to relieve exam stress or have music to listen to while studying. YouTube has whatever you can imagine. There are a variety of niches and genres on the platform, with a video to keep anyone entertained.
YouTube is one of the largest platforms for streaming music. Artists produce and release their music videos onto the site. Anyone with a wifi connection should be aware that the hit of summer 2017, Despacito, has 6.4 billion views. Fans also make lyric videos with the song’s audio.
There are also fellow college students filming day-in-the-life videos that we can relate to. Maybe we can’t relate to the picture-perfect dorm rooms, but we can relate to the hardships of studying and not knowing what to bring. I’m guilty of binge-watching college move-in and college packing vlogs this summer, preparing for my first year at university. I love these college vloggers. Many are both hilarious and informative at once. I felt more prepared and reassured on the first day, having seen that we are all going through the same journey.
At Susky this year, there is no longer cable provided to each of the dorms. There is a TV in the common rooms, but it would be hard to watch what you want while sharing with fifty other people. Instead, I suggest turning to YouTube for a large selection of original series, short films, and even full movies (sort of illegally, but as long as it hasn’t been copyright claimed, it is fine).
Thousands of hours of content are available from any location. YouTube is accessible on your phone, laptop, or even through Bluetooth to a Smart TV. The app’s mobility allows quick and easy entertainment on the go.
YouTube also has academic resources. Educational channels like Crash Course and Khan Academy have come in clutch several times throughout my school years. They help review material or understand a point that maybe was not made as clear with a professor’s lecture.
To sum it up, whether you’re looking for entertainment or to make your own videos, YouTube is the perfect platform for college students.