Popularity of video-sharing sites doubles

How can we explain the increased popularity of video-sharing sites?

Photo: Popularity of video-sharing sites doubles

According to Pew Internet and American Life Project report the number of Internet-users who have visited different video-sharing sites to watch or post video doubled in the past year.

The numbers are such:

- 48% of internet users had visited a video-sharing site such as YouTube. A year ago, in December 2006, the number was 33%. That represents growth of more than 45% year-to-year.

- 15% of respondents had used a video-sharing site "yesterday" - the day before they were contacted for our survey. A year ago, 8% had visited such a site "yesterday." Thus, the number of users of video sites nearly doubled from the end of 2006 to the end of 2007.

- 57% of internet users have watched videos online and most of them share what they find with others

The adoption of broadband and promotion of online video paved the way for people to embrace online video viewing. Fifty-seven percent of online adults have used the internet to watch or download video, and 19% do so on a typical day. Three-quarters of broadband users (74%) who enjoy high-speed connections at both home and work watch or download video online.

The study showed the increased use of such sites by men, adults under 30 and college students. About 30% of young adults watch a video on a site like YouTube on a typical day, while a fifth of all online men do the same.

The increased use is success for politicians, who have found a new way to promote their campaigns. For example, political candidates for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election have been using YouTube as an outlet for advertising their candidacies. Voters can view candidate statements and make videos supporting (or opposing) presidential candidates.