Using YouTubeWhat is YouTube?

Lights, camera, upload!

It's easy to shoot video footage nowadays. Anyone with a camcorder, a digital camera with movie mode or the latest model of mobile phone can capture special memories of family and friends, or even create a short movie.

Sharing

Share your special memories

The hard part is when you want to share your videos with other people, as the files are usually too big to email. And that's where the free website YouTube comes in.

Like other users around the globe, you can upload your own video clips to the YouTube website and then let selected friends access your clips or – if you're feeling brave – share them with the whole planet.

You might even become a mini-celebrity, like geriatric1927– a 79-year-old man who keeps his video diary on the site.

Lots to discover

Viewers can enjoy anything from homemade comedy sketches and crazy stunts to gadget reviews and video diaries.

Out takes and rare footage from films and TV shows also make an appearance; however, it's illegal to distribute such material unless you're the copyright owner – so only officially sanctioned clips, such as trailers, are available legitimately although YouTube has recently signed a deal with the major record labels to post music videos on the site.

Without a proper broadcaster, you'd think that YouTube would be full of unwatchable rubbish. In fact, most of it is pretty interesting stuff and puts some of the material on mainstream TV to shame.

The best clips are easy to find, as YouTube's users rate the videos they've watched. It’s not all perfect, however. Delve beneath the surface and you're as likely to discover a boring, amateurish or even distasteful video as you are a hidden gem.

Advice and safety

YouTube openly states that the site is not suitable for under-13s and that under-17s should use the site only with parents' permission.

Some of the content is restricted to over-18s and the language used on some users' pages is inappropriate for both younger audiences and those who are sensitive to more adult material.

On the whole, however, YouTube is a great way to watch and share video; it's fast being recognised as an influential force in broadcasting. And, best of all, it's totally free.