Youtube: A cultural phenomenon

You may know the website as another place your kids go to watch pointless viral videos and waste time, or maybe you've seen a few news videos featured on the front page. It is highly unlikely thought that you have ever seen Youtube as the ultimate tutor. 

But it is, you just haven't realized it.

Way back in February of 2005, Youtube was created. In March of the same year, the first ever video "Me at the Zoo" was uploaded. It was only 18 seconds long and about as eventful as it sounds.

Now fast forward nine years to the present. Youtube has more than 72 hours of content uploaded every minute with over 800 million unique viewers every month. You can see here the website grows everyday, and is finding even more ways to help do good in even the most remote areas of the world.

Although the name Youtube is well known, an overwhelming amount of people are still unaware of the advantages the website has for them individually.

Hair tutorials, help on scholastic studies, inspiring messages, and much more is all at the tips of your fingers.  The capabilities of Youtube are highly underestimated yet so easily accessible, the only tricky part is knowing where to look.

Anyone who is in or was in school can remember the days when the trying to understand the homework was difficult. The book is probably no help in clarifying the problem and hiring a tutor is too expensive for many.

Fear not, it is a new day and many Youtube video bloggers, known as "vloggers" have created channels with you in mind.

Type in any type of academic topic from Algebra Trigonometry to the "Odyssey" and there are bound to be endless videos explaining the material, possibly even better than the teacher did. Popular channels like Crash Course, Sci- Show and Khan Academy aim to tutor you from the computer, and have quality go-to tutorials.

Some may argue these tutorials lack any real help because there is no communication between the viewer and the "tutor". However most of these academic-based channels do encourage you to leave questions in the comments and even offer a direct business email for you to ask questions or suggest their next video topics.

Along with educational value, Youtube showcases many other helpful vloggers. Every woman has to figure out how to dress up for a black tie event or look nice at some point. Rather than spending over $70 for a look that last one night, check out the expert's tips and tutorials. 

Beauty gurus devote their entire channels to hair and makeup tutorials. Vloggers like Zoella, Sprinkle of Glitter, and Missglamorazzi focus on fun simplistic tutorials.

Vidoes feature topics such as how to nail a smokey eye, the best way to use a curling wand, efficient tips to pack a suitcase, affordable drug store beauty halls and other tips and tricks.

Other channels give you advice for things like how do crafty DIY activities or tips for parenting. LauraDIY, The Mom's View, and Netmums all are geared  toward crafty moms or woman looking for fun ways to get creative around the house.

A channel simply trying to make the world better, the Vlog Brothers is one of the most popular channels. Two brothers offer videos containing inspiration, philosophical ideas and other fun topics most would enjoy. The Vlog Brothers also host fundraising projects through the channel and remind viewers at the end of videos, "Don't forget to be awesome".

Of course Youtube still contains many pointless videos, but finding the right channels makes Youtube a great place to find real answers and a place full of inspiration. The website has changed the way people connect and socialize, it's about time you see what it can do for you as well.