It seems like everybody has experienced YouTube to some extent. Whether it be private home viewing, a funny video in school, a church event, or any group related activity, everyone taps into the massive arsenal of videos on YouTube. The reason almost anyone can find anything they are looking for on YouTube is because people will post anything, YouTube is a media giant on the Internet with its hands in every topic of society.

Considering how much is expressed through YouTube, the site becomes a major factor in society today. Most public figures, organizations, and many individuals have their own channel through which they promote themselves and their views. Considering that many videos can boast of over a million views from people, it is safe to say it’s influence is not only relevant but much bigger then we give it credit for at times. The question becomes, what kind of influence is it?

Some of the more popular “You Tubers” are generally comedians, posting clever and comical videos that range from sketches to just a plain vlog (video blog). If you watch them you’ll find they have many viewers, averaging among a million views per video. These people have become so popular, in fact, that they are YouTube partners and make money off what they do. They have a tendency towards sexual humor, language, and, with YouTube being relaxed in what people can put up, they do whatever they want, including far too many racist jokes.

Their stories seem to be the same for most of them. Many refused to go to college or get a real job but spent all their time making videos. All those videos gained them recognition and resulted in them becoming partners and making some money off of, what most people would call, slacking. If you watch their videos and hear their stories their character seems less then exemplary and their influence does little more than degrade serious topics and people.

Another big presence on YouTube are a multitude of atheist views, men and women who sit in front of a camera and slam religion. Their cynical and insulting rants would not be sanctioned in many areas of media today. They are blunt, abrasive, and very rude. So they have an influence that is anti-religion and in many instances become very anti-morals. Also, in their attacks on religions like Islam, they border on racism.

The religious influence is present but not entirely strong. You have videos of many supporting their views and opinions in relation to spiritual things. But out of all of them there seems to be a prominent collection of Christian and Muslim based videos. They dominate the religious atmosphere of YouTube, with the Muslim videos supporting Islam and many times refuting Christianity. On the flip slide, Christian videos tend to little snippets of creativity promoting the gospel and Jesus Christ. You also have groups who spend their time attacking other Christian doctrines and leaders, with a smattering of those who defend Christianity against attacks from the outside.

YouTube is open to anyone, and anything, with a line that only seems to stop people from flat out pornography. What this does is open to the door to extremes, letting every crazy person who is highly opinionated say whatever they want to and however they want to. You cannot define its influence with any one phrase or idea, for it partakes in everything. There arises an issue though, with total freedom you create total chaos. Even in a free nation you have restrictions.

I believe YouTube helps but it also damages, giving voice to things that are positive and negative. The influence of YouTube is in that it gives people a way to be an influence. Whether it is good or bad depends on what people choose to watch when they are on it. It is not fair to condemn or entirely correct to praise the site, you can only consider the many individuals who use it. In conclusion, YouTube is a tool, how you use it is up to you.