YouTube - changing the minds of our children? YouTube. Everyone’s heard of it, but it’s more than just cat videos. It’s a place for directors, actors, comedians, musicians and more to expand and explore their work to build up a career. The media you see every day is influenced by YouTube but you may not know it. The media is changing to suit the younger generation, using YouTube as a platform. More than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month. In the new decade we are finding more YouTubers becoming apparent in our media and they are beginning to influence many choices the teenage generation is making. Some YouTubers are even young adults themselves. However, they are becoming much more like role models for the teenagers of this age and teens will even choose their GCSE options based on what their favorite YouTubers have already decided on. This poses the question ‘Do YouTubers have too much power in our children’s media?’ Are YouTubers becoming more famous, more influential and a bigger part of society? The answer is yes. YouTubers are gradually becoming more popular and successful in their careers. This is all thanks to the freedom YouTube provides, meaning creators can share their work and build an audience suited to them. Because of YouTube we have BBC actors such Chris, who has been making videos for our entertainment for a very long time. He used YouTube to show people his comedy and has mentioned before it has given him the confidence needed for him to move on to greater things. Many people have heard of the international pop star Justin (his last name cannot be mentioned) who took to the stage after a flood of people discovered him on YouTube. He is now a World-wide known name. Even though his music is not everyone’s favorite it is no doubt he would not have had his ‘big break’ if It was not for YouTube. Are some of our bestselling authors only getting so much attention from their channels? No doubt their writings are of good standard but would they have less publicity if they couldn’t relate and reach out to their audience so easily. But the talent in our media will still be the same if we have YouTube or not. Some people would disagree however and would just find YouTube another excuse for our generation to waste their time on the internet. You tube gives them an excuse to use the fact successful people have somehow made their way on the screen via the outlet. It is only a website to put up videos that will not give you a successful job and gives children false hope. The only reason some people are famous is because their videos are shown s to powerful people and they decide to exploit them. This is similar to what shows such as X factor and Britain’s Got Talent do. It may surprise you, but many popular figures originated from YouTube too, Justin Bieber, being one of the many. YouTube and the media have one of the biggest impacts on this generation but you have to ask yourself, ‘Is this a good thing?’ A recent survey showed that 9 out of 10 people think that the media’s influence on people is causing many problems. Many public figures display crude actions, which creates the wrong impression as to how society should be. The freedom that YouTube provides allows people from all over the world to display the behaviour they wish too, but is this freedom directing the youth in the wrong way? YouTube is so influential but the youth of today could become the lost generation if the YouTubers of the world do not use the responsibility that comes with the power of freedom.