the Sam Jackson College Experience

Marshall Kirkpatrick wrote yesterday over at TechCrunch (bastion of all that is Web 2.0) about YouTube’s brand new section, creatively titled “Colleges on YouTube.”

His feelings about the move lean towards disapproval.

Students, staff and alumni of 30 universities can access video from their school community by using a .edu email address and other users can’t access those pages. Users are encouraged to suggest that their school be added to the list. This strategy has clearly been successful for Facebook, probably the 2nd most recognized online social network in the US with separate sections for more than 2000 schools. Just like Facebook is moving away from its initially closed nature, though, it makes little sense to me to see YouTube launching private sections on what was initially a viral video site. A closed college section is to the rest of the site like a suburban gated community is to a hip downtown scene.

I can’t help but think that a college section is appealing because it will keep out the freaks (and pirates) that make YouTube so lively. More Tea Partay, less 66Six. And thus more profitable advertising, in the short term at least.

Basic cut of his jib: “Creating closed sections of your site for large communities is not the direction the best of the web it going in.”

TechDirt also mentioned this shift, though it was fairly neutral in its coverage.

In both places the comments reveal a more mixed reaction from the general public.

The first comment off TechDirt:

Overindulgent and geared towrds 20-year olds. Perhaps this will increase traffic to the site. But unless it can package the traffic for advertisers it won’t matter how many eyeballs the new service delivers. Seems so 2000.

But there was of course, dissent. See the first comment from TechCrunch:

Welcome back to School. The motto catch them when they are young has worked well for Apple especially with the iPod. This is Great strategic move for YouTube. Web 2.0 rocks. The users are the controllers.

Personally I’m left wondering where the community and YouTube are going to go from here, because its reception with the contributing public will determine its success. I question YouTube’s intentions in this move, but it might end up providing better overall content in one easy-to-access area. Only time will tell, but with school getting back in session, I don’t think we’ll have to wait very long.

I wonder what colleges think of this? Is this just another way to increase the density and visibility of embarassing videos, or is it a good marketing opportunity?

By the way, I’m going to (try to) take a little break from the blog to catch up with my internship and get ready for school. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in no time at all.