Just two short years ago, no one even knew what youtube was. In fact, it was only founded shortly over two years ago. Now here we are, in a full-fledged youtube generation. This morning in our 7:30 half-hour, we had a story on the first annual youtube awards, which are being unveiled later today. Categories ranging from most inspirational to best comedy to, simply, most adorable, are crowning some of the biggest sensations on the web from the last year. Check out associate producer Roberto Bailey's post on all the winning videos HERE. Youtube has taken off to the point where it's a normal part of daily conversation, and a clip getting put on youtube can really change someone's life.
Over the past couple of years, we have seen the rise of so-called youtube stars, like my personal favorite from a few years back -- that kid singing the numa numa Romanian song. Even a regular television show can get a boost from youtube. Skits from SNL routinely pop up on youtube the week after the show, and can make the show even more buzzworthy as it takes on a life of its own on the web. Just as Justin Timberlake and his famous gift in a box from last year's Christmas show. People's personal triumphs and humiliations become the stuff of internet lore. Even I found myself buried in the depths of youtube, thanks to an embarrassing high school French class video that an old classmate felt compelled to post.
As David said in the introduction to the piece this morning, if you haven't posted a video yourself, you have undoubtedly watched several. Just as "google" has become a commonplace verb in its own right, so too has youtube become an internet craze that is now part of our everyday lives.