CPL 2.0: Flickr and YouTube

YouTube! I love YouTube. I discovered it soon after it had launched (I didn't realize it was so new at the time) because it was the place where people posted clips from a television show I obsessed over at the time. I soon checked it out as a place to find clips that range from acceptance speeches from awards ceremonies (Hugh Laurie pulling out names from his pocket on the Golden Globes) to portions of old (and previously impossible to find) television shows, commercials and music videos. I'm irritated and sad to see how often brief clips are taken down by copyright owners (large media corporations). I've come across many of my favourite ted.com clips through youtube links from friends.

I know many children who post videos to their own YouTube accounts...showing how user-friendly it is.

Several years ago I was an active poster and, in some cases, moderator, on several online forums. Posting photos on those forums meant finding a photo hosting website, such as Photobucket and Flickr. My first account was with Photobucket, I think. Since digital photography has taken over, most people I know use photo hosting sites or are at least comfortable using them. I have amateur photographer friends who have found a very supportive online photography community (as well as fans of their work) through this sorts of sites.

I can't imagine not having access to YouTube or photo hosting sites like Flickr. I guess that shows how useful I find them?