Tag: YouTube

Social media to the rescue: YouTube project to help bullied gay teenagers

An Indiana teenage boy committed suicide earlier this month, after being bullied in school for being gay. Sad, sad, sad, sad.

I will refrain from comments, opinions, and things I think we should do. I’m writing this post to draw attention to this YouTube project – an effort to reach out to kids in rural parts of the country who may not have access to in-person support: the It Gets Better Project. Gay adults can post videos telling teenagers that… it gets better.

Although I can’t claim to be able to relate to the experience (I grew up in Romania, where bullying wasn’t the norm, as far as I know; I’m not gay) – if I can help, let me know. I live in Indiana – if you’re a teenager happening upon this post, and if you need help or just companionship – send me an email. I’d feel privileged to be your friend.

And for those who are wondering about the relevance of this post to the mission of the blog (well, you know what, it’s my blog, I can post whatever I want) – this is an interesting case study about social media being used to help people.

Note: Don’t even bother to post homophobic comments, I’m telling you upfront that I won’t publish them.

YouTube culture

Yes, it’s an hour long. One of the best hours you might spend. Watch this video.

Why?

  • Because you’re immersed in social media or because you’d like to understand it better.
  • Because this video will help you take a deeper look at YouTube culture, and by extension, social media culture, contemporary culture.
  • Because you don’t usually take the time to scratch below the surface, beyond blogger relations, ROI, product promotion. But you’d like to.
  • Because this is your world, our world, and it’s our duty to understand it.

This is the video of a presentation Kansas State anthropology professor Dr. Michael Wesch gave at the Library of Congress.

No, it’s not a boring PowerPoint. No, it’s not boring and academic. It’s funny, insightful, human, and provocative. Who knows, it might even help with that ROI.

P.S. Yes, the lyrics of the “Numa” video are in Romanian.