The YouTube Effect

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The YouTube Effect

2022,

1h 39m,

Documentary

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85%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The story of YouTube is both inspirational and cautionary; the video-sharing website appeared in 2005 and quickly grew to become one of the most ubiquitous and powerful media platforms in the world. It is impossible to overstate its impact on global culture by providing easy and immediate access to news, entertainment media and other vital forms of information. It has, however, helped radicalize some of its viewers with right-wing propaganda and other dangerous forms of media. The story of YouTube is the great dilemma of our times; the technology revolution has made our lives easier and more enriched, while also presenting dangers and challenges that make the world a more perilous place. And at this extraordinary moment in history, it is the story of how we got here and where we're going.

Olly Richards

Empire Magazine

Aug 11, 2023

3/5

An ambitious documentary on one of the most intriguing, frightening phenomena of our time. The attempt to cover every aspect of a broad topic results in an intriguing if slightly disjointed watch.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

Jul 21, 2023

Really well done.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Jul 13, 2023

3/5

Core concern about its [Youtube] dangers is what really drives The YouTube Effect, and re-enforces its central finding that it has had an undeniably corrosive effect on our lives, even as we've fallen for its steady stream of pablum and bootlegged shows.

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Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

Nov 21, 2024

4/5

A great summary of where YouTube came from and why we should both celebrate and be afraid of where it is now.

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Anne Brodie

What She Said

Aug 11, 2023

3/4

YouTube can’t separate negative and positive and negative videos; it just wants clicks. Vulnerable people gain ground. YouTube helps fire the culture wars and the dumbing down of discourse; the dark side of algorithm life is here.

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Jonathan W. Hickman

The Newnan Times-Herald

Aug 4, 2023

7/10

... an interesting time capsule that will be studied for years to come.

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Alex Winter

Director

Alex Winter

Screenwriter

Gale Anne Hurd

Producer

Alex Winter

Producer

Glen Zipper

Producer

Ian Orefice

Executive Producer

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The YouTube Effect: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The story of YouTube is both inspirational and cautionary; the video-sharing website appeared in 2005 and quickly grew to become one of the most ubiquitous and powerful media platforms in the world. It is impossible to overstate its impact on global culture by providing easy and immediate access to news, entertainment media and other vital forms of information. It has, however, helped radicalize some of its viewers with right-wing propaganda and other dangerous forms of media. The story of YouTube is the great dilemma of our times; the technology revolution has made our lives easier and more enriched, while also presenting dangers and challenges that make the world a more perilous place. And at this extraordinary moment in history, it is the story of how we got here and where we're going.

Director: Alex Winter
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd, Alex Winter, Glen Zipper
Screenwriter: Alex Winter
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 39m

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