Today YouTube announced the release of a Canadian version of its famous online video-hosting site. Located at YouTube.ca, the site looks exactly the same (other than a small Canadian flag in the top right corner) as the original. The difference is that the “Featured Videos” and “Promoted Videos” found on the main page will be from Canadian users. Also, when you perform a search, you are most likely to come up with Canadian videos first.
According to YouTube representatives, many of the most popular users on the site are Canadian and the company wanted to create an avenue to express our country’s uniqueness and talent. Another goal is to connect users who are geographically close to each other and speak a “common language.” I’m sure this isn’t literal, but in an ideological sense.
So what do you think, good idea or bad? At first I was a little cynical about it. The aim is to view YouTube through a “Canadian lens,” but isn’t that something I do already–shouldn’t I be exposed to other lenses? Also, this could be seen as a degradation of the whole concept of international sharing and the breaking down of barriers. By featuring Canadian content to Canadian viewers, we’re just reinforcing norms we already know.
On the flip side, maybe we need to be more in-touch with what’s going on at home and what fellow-Canadians have to say. Perhaps YouTube could put little flags beside all videos so we know where they’re coming from–or is this too nationalistic? Bah, who knows, it’s probably just a scheme to get more advertising space and revenue from all the separate sites. What are your thoughts?
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3 Comments
I would say that at first hearing about this, I was a little sceptical at first as well. I mean, Canadians mainly speak English and French - so it does not appear to create any type of language integration.
I suppose it does create a few different strengths though - many Canadians are big internet users and may like to be able to have their own culture expressed rather than being lumped into America’s. This would all depend on user preferences. Truthfully, it seems that the possibility of more profitable targeted advertising would be the main driver of this strategic decision.
Hello webmaster…I Googled for canadian flags, but found your page about YouTube Goes Canadian…and have to say thanks. nice read.
I didn’t know YouTube actually goes local. Sounds interesting though,,