With the news that the Pope is the latest world figure to obtain an official presence on YouTube, is it safe to assume that the great and good are realizing how powerful online video is as a medium of reaching out?
On The Map
YouTube began as a means of ordinary people such as you and I being able to upload personal clips or to share with a bigger audience. It was like one of those awful home video clip shows just without the cash reward or guarantee of fame.
But more recently, since Google acquired YouTube and the site exploded in terms of traffic, the trend has changed. Now, you’re just as likely to see professional clips on YouTube, produced specifically to make advertising money or to grow a brand, as you are to see some clip of a guy falling over.
And with that move to the professional, world leaders, and governments, and religious figures have seen how useful a tool YouTube, and online video as a whole, can be. It enables them to reach out and keep their followers up to date with news in an easy and efficient manner.
Turning To The Web
The British monarchy has its own YouTube channel, set up in time to show the Christmas 2007 Queen’s Speech minutes after it aired on broadcast television. While the recent escalation of troubles in the Gaza Strip was broadcast on the site thanks to the Israel Defence Forces.
Politicians in the U.S. have embraced Web video in a big way. Not only are the Presidential Weekly Addresses by Barack Obama now uploaded to YouTube, the Senate and the House of Representatives also have dedicated channels. Although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did have to resort to Rick-rolling in order to drum up traffic.
And now the Vatican has launched an official YouTube channel in order to spread the word of the catholic church and allow the Pope’s followers inside access to his thoughts, views, and daily schedule via the medium of video. The Church of England made a similar move this time last year.
Conclusions
Forget the crusades or missionary work to far-flung countries, the new method for religions to gain support and new followers is the Web, with video being the ultimate medium to spread the word. At least no-one is killed on YouTube if they fail to convert.
As the Web grows ever more-dominant in our lives, the people fighting to stay in power will no doubt use it to their advantage. Video is clearly going to be a big part of that due to its traffic-getting ability and visual impact. Whether we choose to listen to these people have to say is another matter entirely.
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