There's no doubt the internet has a strong and unique pull for people of all ages.  About 45 million children and teens have access to the internet and what worries a lot of parents is that they may be exposing themselves to less-than-appropriate media content and videos without their knowing it.  Also, most parents feel left out on all the action especially when the internet has the full attention of their kids. 

This is why it's essential that parents find ways to have fun with their kids with the use of the internet.  With so much learning possibilities, the internet could be harnessed to supplement school lessons, teach proper social behavior and integrate ethics and values without lecturing the child.  It can also be a way to strengthen family bonds by allowing families to work and learn together.

The trick for parents is to choose sites that are reliable in terms of family-friendly content.  It can be a bit confusing to discern which internet videos are appropriate for children of different ages, but with a little prior research, parents will be able to pick which content to show their kids.  Commonsensemedia.org has a grid criteria based on content to determine the age-appropriateness of videos.  You can check out their site to find out which video content to show and which ones to stay away from.

There are many sites that you can check out for internet videos families can enjoy.  Here are some that offer a variety of choices and information:

commonsensemedia.org
This site is run by a non-profit, non-partisan organization and is focused on creating a way to promote family-friendly tools and information.  It does not advocate media censorship, but it does promote internet videos that provide educational and wholesome fun that is geared towards family entertainment.  Videos are rated according to age appropriateness and reviews are also provided on site.

The site also provides sneak peeks of the latest TV shows and movies, along with recommendations for games, stories, shows and other sites.  From kids to teens to young adults, this site offers a good choice of internet videos that's just right for families.

video.aol.com
AOL has also taken cue from the popularity internet videos have been enjoying.  This site contains all the videos you could want, including 'Best of the Web' videos, learning and adventure, special interests, news, sports TV and even the latest viral videos.  Family members will have all the reasons to stick around and watch because there's hundreds to choose from.  The site also features 'Clip of the Day' and 'Hotlist'.

One small issue, though – you'll need a lot of memory.  Some of the best video clips last as long as 2 hours, but they're worth downloading if only to go back to again and again.  Kids' features include animation and well-loved cartoon characters from Nickelodeon and Warner Bros.  There are free clips that can be viewed and others that you'll need to pay for.  Recent features include Madeline, Shrek, The Jetsons, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

Warnerbros.com
Warner Bros. offers variety in terms of mixing entertainment, learning and problem solving.  Many of the videos on its site are downloadable for free and much of what's available are animated features.  Aside from the more famous characters in the Warner Bros. lot, there are also other video heroes, heroines and villains that are just waiting to be discovered.  You can download short video clips and games that are age-appropriate since many of the videos are rated and come with a short content description.

familyfun.go.com
For families who like to do activities together and for those who like crafts, this is a site to check out.  There are lots of 'how-to' videos to choose from, including crafts, weekend projects and simple hobby tips.  There's something for every member of the family to enjoy and learn from.

National Geographic
National Geographic is more famous for its wildlife features, but there are videos that offer a lot of priceless information on geography, travel, world culture and history.  There are short video clips that may be downloaded for free. 

There are also other contents on the site that are flash-animation or slideshow files, but don't discount their value.  They are a great source of information, some of which are not included in the videos.  Kids of all ages have plenty to discover on this site.

metacafe.com
This site features videos that promote learning and fun, such as a clip showing how marbles are made, how to perform card tricks and magic escape tricks.  You'll need to turn on Family Filter though, so you can keep out some videos that kids might find more challenging to understand.  The videos are rated according to viewer preference which more or less gives you an idea whether they're good to watch or not.

veoh.com
This site includes all sorts of internet video topics, such as arts, animation, education, comedy, family, sports, religion, technology, news and travel.  It has a good mix of internet videos with varied ratings, so you'll need to use discretion.  Some videos are about topics that very young children may find disturbing or difficult to understand.

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One of the most popular online video sites is YouTube.  So if you are looking for an online video website for entertainment, YouTube is a great choice.  You will find thousands of videos available at YouTube and most of them can be viewed at no charge.

If you aren’t familiar with the YouTube website, you may be curious as to what type of videos they have to offer.  As with the vast majority of online video sites you’ll find that most of the videos are of the homemade variety.  The reason for this is because these movies are made by your everyday internet users.  We all have different experiences in our lives so you are sure to find a wide variety of videos available to choose from on YouTube.

The YouTube site does it’s best to make finding the video you want easy.  When you’re on their site you’ll notice they have divided the videos into categories.  These categories help to make it easy to find online videos by examining the ones that have been viewed the most, ones that are rated the highest, or those that have the most comments. You’ll also find other categories that further breakdown the video selections into specific subject categories, based on the content of the video. 

Everyone likes a good laugh, which is probably why the comedy category, is the most popular category on YouTube.  Comedy is always a good choice because most people visit online video websites looking for entertainment.  What better way to be entertained than with an online video that gets you laughing so hard you almost fall off your chair!

The Pets category is another popular choice, as people do love their pets. You’ll find a wide variety of different animals featured in videos on YouTube, including cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and birds, just to name a few.  Often these videos can also be considered of the comedy variety because many of the videos will feature animals that have not only special talents but funny talents as well.

We certainly can’t forget the travel category either as that is another big part of our lives. The “travel and places” videos will often include videos that vacationers have captured while they were in another country.  While locations outside of the USA are quite popular, you’ll also find videos that focus on different places in the USA as well.

Then of course there is the entertainment category on YouTube.   A lot of people have created videos that they think are a good source of entertainment. It’s also quite common to find a collection of scenes, accompanied by music, of popular TV shows, soap operas, and also movies.
 
There is also a music section, which is a great place for those who are documenting themselves or perhaps their friends singing or participating in singing competitions.  YouTube even has a special program for up and coming musicians.  This popular feature allows musicians to create their own music videos and share them with other Internet users. Those looking for entertainment will get to see an entertaining online video for free, but it also helps you become aware of a new band, that you otherwise you may never have heard of.

The categories we’ve discussed here just a few of the many that you can found at the YouTube website. They also have other categories such as arts and animation, vehicles, news,blogs, people, sports, and science and technology.  With so much variety to choose from you’re sure to find something you like.

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The World Wide Web can be a challenging place to wade through, what with the age of Web 2.0. Yesterday’s Internet was all about advertising, giving information, and showcasing design talent. Today’s Internet is all about interaction, free speech, and creating a virtual world through games and programs. Web 2.0 has also brought the use of Internet videos to the fore, whether people use videos to express themselves, show off their cinematography and directing talents, or even sell a product.

Internet videos can be offered in different formats.

•    Streaming video entails that the Internet video viewer watch the video by accessing it from the video source site. This keeps them from downloading the video and disseminating it, but it can work only for those with fast Internet connections. The availability of streaming video is also limited by the source site’s bandwidth and the number of people accessing the video at the same time.

•    An Internet video may be downloaded to one’s computer, either through a source site, or through the assistance of a peer-to-peer program. Downloading is often more advantageous to users with slow Internet connections, as it can save them the hassle of having to watch a streaming video in parts. Downloaded videos will also often be of higher quality than streaming videos, and they can be viewed at the user’s own convenience.

•    Instead of offering videos in media player formats, some creators opt to transfer the video to a smaller format, such as Flash or GIF, turning it into an animation file. Such files can be viewed through the browser, and will take a much shorter time to download. They can be of lower quality, however, and will show only parts of the original video.

If you are interested in viewing Internet videos, then examine the speed of your Internet connection and see if viewing them is a viable option for you. You may also need to check your budget: not all Internet videos are offered for free, and those that are free will often be of low quality. If you need an Internet video of very high quality, such as a lecture on the scientific method that you may want to show to your secondary school students, or footage of a debate in Congress or Parliament that you may want to analyze, examine, and listen to, word-for-word, then be prepared to pay a fee.

Web 2.0 can also allow you to shoot your own Internet videos. If you are interested in shooting and uploading Internet videos, then examine the following aspects of amateur Internet video production.

•    Different media formats will also translate into different video quality. See which media format you would most like to work with, or one that you are most comfortable with working. If you know the advantages and disadvantages of using a certain media format, then you can tailor your shoot, lighting, and sound to come up with the best video possible.

•    Have a script ready, or know your interviewees beforehand, so that you can keep the duration of your Internet video to a minimum. The shorter your video, the easier it can be downloaded. If you can tailor your message to be short and strong, then you can attract more web users. The Internet, after all, is a busy marketplace: if you can catch attention in mere seconds, then you have yourself a viewer, customer, or fan.

•    If you can afford it, hire a professional video editor. Poorly edited videos can be painful to watch, and your Internet video may end up being ignored. Create a state of the art Internet video with the tools available to you, and you can earn the admiration of those who will watch it.

•    When choosing a site to which you can upload your video, select the one that can allow viewers to comment on your work or contact you for more information. A comments box or suggestions page may open you to criticism, so be prepared to take it all in stride. You may actually get useful feedback that will help you improve on your Internet video shooting, directing, and creating skills.

Internet videos are not only a means to sell or express, but a way to practice your skills in the visual and film arts. Web 2.0 has allowed the artists and directors in all of us to emerge, so join the revolution and make a name for yourself online. With the right tools and know-how, you may find yourself the king of your own Internet world soon enough.

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Online video websites have become one of the hottest things on the Internet and as a result new online video sites are springing up everyday. If by some chance you don’t know what these online video sites offer; these online video sites allow people to make their own videos, then upload them, so they can be shared with others.  When you take into consideration that there are millions of internet users browsing through online video websites, the chances are very good that you could make a video and have it seen by thousands of people all over the world!

Since making a video is not something everyone does everyday, some people are not quite sure how to do it or what they should make a video on.  Most of the videos on these video sharing sites are homemade videos so it can basically be on anything you want. However you need to familiarize yourself with the terms posted at the online video site where you want to upload your video. Most online video websites will not allow videos that are pornographic, racist, making threats to someone or anything else that may harmful to someone.

One thing that you may want to consider for your video is to do a comedy skit of some sort, as people always like a good laugh. Another popular type of video could be a how-to-video.  You may surprise yourself about what you know how to do, that others may not know.  You should keep your videos short, about 5-10 minutes

For example you could do a video on how to make a certain food dish that’s quick and easy or perhaps how to decorate for party quickly.  By starting out with a how-to video you’ll find it’s a excellent way to get started making online videos, and you will also be providing the viewers with something to watch that is actually useful to them. 

As we mentioned earlier, a comedy skit could also be a great idea to try for your first online video.  Your comedy skit doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, it could just be you telling some good jokes or performing clown acts. Be sure to follow the rules posted at the website for what’s acceptable and what isn’t or you’re likely to find your video deleted and they will probably ban you as well.

Once you have mastered your video making techniques, you may want to move on to other video themes.  You can also often pickup some good subject matters by carrying your camcorder around with you, you never know what may happen that you could catch on video.  Often a lot of the most popular videos found online aren’t really of anything in particular.  Many times these videos were just something someone just happened to have witnessed at the right time, at the right place, and had their camcorder with them.

Tags: full motion video, funny videos, Online Video, online videos, video traffic, web video, youtube

Here it is!  After our store robbery in July, I posted the incident on YouTube and was contacted by Court TV's Most Shocking to use the footage for the show. See the YouTube robbery here. Watch for my complete report on how YouTube has helped our family with this unfortunate story…..sign up here and get updates and the full story.

Tags: camtasia, full motion video, Online Video, online videos, video editing, video formats, video memberships, video websites, web video, youtube