Social networking websites have been a major factor in providing individuals an outlet to express themselves and learn about others. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter provide its users with up-to-date posts and happenings amongst the interconnected groups of people that share news about their lives. Although Facebook and Twitter provide ways to post video on their websites, is there a chance that a website like YouTube could become the next avenue for live visual social networking?
Many businesses nowadays are starting to use the concept of telepresence to conduct meetings with clients that don’t have the ability to you make face-to-face interactions. According to lecture, telepresence is defined as, “using audio/video conferencing components (across 2 or more locations) to create an immersive communication experience that simulates an in-person encounter” (E-Commerce). Although many of these conferences can be extremely expensive the idea of interacting with people through visual conversation could be the next big step for online social networking.
Websites like YouTube allow users to upload videos to share with their friends, colleagues and fans, but if the website were able to allow its users to directly share content through live-online video feeds the outcome could have a huge impact on the way we interact with each other. In a study conducted by Kent State University professors Paul Haridakis and Gary Hanson that measured the use of YouTube usage, “it was estimated that 85% of college age Internet users 18–24 had watched videos on sites such as YouTube” (Haridakis & Hanson 2009). According to Haridakis and Hanson, the study found that internet users watching videos on YouTube used the site for; “convenient entertainment, convenient information-seeking, co-viewing, and social interaction motives were not significant predictors of watching videos (Haridakis & Hanson 2009).
Computer-mediated communication may be at the forefront of problems that causes YouTube to not be able provide its users with social interaction motives. Although YouTube is not considered a Hybrid source of computer-mediated-communication, it provides its user the ability to comment, like, rate and share videos with their friends. The problem is that most users aren’t getting the instance gratification of being able to share up to the minute video posts. It takes a shorter amount of time to type in a message than it does to film a video and upload it for people to watch. The possibility of live video social networking is going to be debatable until the standards of mobile processing speed are enhanced enough to where people can immediately post and share video feed in live setting online.
Haridakis, P., & Hanson, G. (2009). Social Interaction and Co-Viewing with YouTube: Blending Mass Communication Reception and Social Connection. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53(2), 317-335. doi:10.1080/08838150902908270
