Mar
06
2007Has Google Finally Destroyed YouTube?
06
2007
I’ve been becoming increasingly annoyed at the lack - and disappearance - of commercial stuff from YouTube, due to Google’s making nice with copyright holders. I recently strolled down memory lane and bookmarked a ton of really groovy 70’s era Sesame Street clips. Two days later - gone. More recently, a friend introduced me to the ever-so-twisted “Wonder Showzen” via short clips on YouTube. Again, two days later - gone.
If I may indulge in a rare moment of anti-Web 2.0 cynicism… Is it possible - just maybe - that the foundation of the “user generated video” obsession is really just based on people stumbling across interesting amateur stuff while seeking out popular mass media clips - and that when those popular clips are gone, the walls will come a-tumblin’ down?
I think so.
Now, I don’t think “user generated content” will ever really die, but I think once the bedrock of ripped off commercial clips is gone, so will go the mass audiences - and the bloated media attention - leaving the real “social video” afficionadoes as a far more insular group - performing mainly for the enjoyment of each other, like old school jazz cats.