The global Internet opens a plethora of access to friends and information. In addition, the World Wide Web provides a source of entertainment. Some even find the online universe more enjoyable than television, logging on to access videos posted by various people.

YouTube, a web video-sharing site, continues to sweep the nation. According to answers.com, YouTube provides a venue for sharing videos among friends and family as a showcase for new and experienced videographers.

Although Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, three former employees from PayPal, founded the site in February 2005, Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion on Nov. 13, 2006.

“I think some of the videos on YouTube are funny,” Elizabeth Mendrin, ’07, said. “They make me laugh because some of the videos are totally random.”

NBC Universal and News Corp combined with AOL, MSN and Yahoo Inc., to create a free video uploading site, expected to launch this summer. The Stever Robbins Company quoted Jeff Zucker, NBC’s CEO on the new site plans.

“The new site would also allow users to buy and download programming, particularly movies, similar to the way that Apple Inc. sells TV shows on its iTunes stores,” Zucker said. “The prices would likely be comparable to those seen on iTunes and elsewhere.”

YouTube continues to face hurdles, even after the change of ownership.

Viacom recently filed a billion dollar lawsuit against YouTube for showing “The Colbert Report,” on their website on March 13, 2007. Viacom wanted a removal request and, after court documents were filed, decided to reverse their stance.

YouTube employs 65 at their headquarters in San Bruno, California, and maintains a variety of clips ranging from music videos to people performing stunts.

“I think YouTube is really cool and I like it a lot,” Walter Scott, ’08, said. “I like the fact that people are doing dumb stuff and posting it for people to see.”

Though many enjoy laughing at certain videos, clips may seem inappropriate to some YouTube fans. There is a challenge sweeping YouTube, called Blasphemy Challenge, a string of video episodes urging children to deny Christ. Their goal is to reach 7000 kids.

“I think YouTube is good to a certain extent,” Scott Yantis, ’09, said. “When it starts getting into the Blasphemy Challenge and things related to that, this is when I don?t like it and they need to stop those videos.”

Some believe many of the videos posted are offensive, because they insult YouTube fans searching for humor.

“I think YouTube is going too far with some of their videos they are posting,” Melissa O’Leary, ’10, said. “Personally, I think some of the videos are wrong and shouldn?t be posted, however, the idea of YouTube is an advancement in technology and has the potential to cater to anyone.”