[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlM_B521Oegbl7hAWCE9oOPZ_GjfsU1Aq[/youtube]

A long time ago, in a middle school far, far away is when I began using YouTube. It was initially my love of anime that attracted me to the medium. Not only could I watch and re-watch my favorite episodes, but I found an environment where I could creatively interact with the material. It was then I began creating animated music videos (AMVs). With a little music and a few clips, I could express myself and my feelings for the show. Most of these feelings included a crazed attraction to a fictional character. Unfortunately, this infatuation was seen negatively by my real-life peers, but not by YouTube. I discovered others who had my same passion. Through AMVs, we communicated with each other on anything from our take on certain plot points, passion for character couples, and—in some ways—how we viewed the world around us. The angst-y, heavy metal paired with sepia scenes vicariously conveyed our misanthropic feelings.

Around the same time, I discovered another one of YouTubes uses: the parody. In my search for more Yu-Gi-Oh inspired AMVs, I found Yu-Gi-Oh The Abridged Series (YGOTAS), a parody on the television show. For the first time, something other than television gave me a regularly scheduled episode to look forward too. Furthermore, it better represented my interests—unlike television. Here was a show that poked fun, seemingly with me, at a medium I felt a part of. It was as if I was sitting on my couch next to a best friend. Though the creator, LittleKuriboh, went on to become Internet famous, I continued to feel a personal connection, a niche where I belonged. To this day, I still wait in anticipation for the next YGOTAS episode to brighten my day.

(Above: LittleKuriboh, Creator of Yu-Gi-Oh The Abridged Series)

As my personal time dwindled and my interests changed, I no longer made AMVs, but I still kept YouTube in touch. I’ve noticed over the years that my taste in music, cartoons, and comedy have combined with each other in interesting ways. For example, I watch Ninja Sex Party, a band that uses music to parody the classic macho man paradigm. Most of the “What’s Wrong With This Movie” I watch criticize my favorite animated movies.

Another musical usage of YouTube is the ability to expose myself to foreign culture. This allows me to see an aspect of a society I might not otherwise have the chance to discover. What’s more, if I watch one K-Pop video, 10 recommendations usually follow, allowing me to watch even more.

With growing up came more adult pursuits. I now follow John Oliver, a social commenter and comedian. His videos connect me to current events and enlighten me on their pros and cons. Unlike the Daily Show and The Colbert Report, I can easily follow Oliver’s programming on my own time and without worrying about his content being flagged since the copy write holders upload the videos themselves.

Overall, YouTube allows me to connect with other people, whether through common interests or a curiosity for life across the globe. I find these connections necessary, as a human being. Where my hometown felt small and unaccommodating, YouTube provides a wide environment to create, play, and expand my views. It was—and is—the place I could belong.