YouTube: the Web's dernier cri

By Andy Walker

Has a teenager recently begged you to perform for their video camera?

"C’mon on, do something!"�

"Turn that thing off."�

"Aw c’mon. Pleeease?"�

If you give in and perform a semi-decent impression of a chicken, you could find yourself starring on YouTube.com, a video-sharing web site that’s become a pop culture phenomenon among Internet hipsters.

YouTube was created by three Silicon Valley geeks in 2005 and quickly grew to be one of the most popular web sites on the Internet. On any given day last summer, 100 million clips were viewed and 65,000 were uploaded. Last October, Google bought the site for US$1.65 billion, leading some to dub the site GooTube.

Who uses it?

There are 79 video clips of amateur chicken impressions (as of mid-February). The zillions of other clips include amateur film productions, personal video outtakes, street-fighting teens captured by mobile phones and some mainstream TV and film content. Unedited footage of Saddam Hussein’s execution was also posted. YouTube has also spawned impromptu Internet celebrities. They include a 79-year-old UK man who posts video autobiographies and 20-something Brooke Brodack, whose work includes a spoof drama about eating potato chips. Brodack was signed to the Carson Daly Show, a U.S. late night talk show, after her work attracted millions of viewers.

How do I do it?

To view YouTube video, simply visit www.youtube.com with your web browser. You may need to download the browser add-on program Flash from Adobe.com first. To post video, sign up for a free YouTube account and transfer the video file from your computer.

You can create your own movies using a video camera, webcam or video-capable digital still camera. Proficient YouTubers edit their clips first using a program like Apple iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements.