The Pew Internet & American Life Project recently reported that “48% of Internet users said they had visited a video-sharing site such as YouTube.” This data represents an increase over December 2006 statistics that showed 33% of Internet users had visited such sites. Online video certainly appeals to Internet users, and according to the Pew Research Center, women are the fastest growing online video viewing audience.

The proliferation of video online provides a way for some groups to produce how-to and informational videos, such as this one concerning myths about the common cold. Other groups use online videos to promote a particular viewpoint, such as storewars.org’s humorous Grocery Store Wars video, which features animated fruits and vegetables playing the familiar Luke, Darth Vader, Obi Wan, Chewbacca and Han Solo characters. The premise of the video is to inform consumers that pesticides used by non-organic farmers harm the air and water, and create a health hazard for the food supply. The video represents the viewpoint of the Organic Trade Association, which claims that organic food is healthier and more nutritious.

Even though online videos are popular and can often be entertaining, investigating their claims for truthfulness can be important. For example, one can examine facts about the benefits of pesticides such as keeping restaurants, hotels and malls free of insects and rodents, or preventing the spread of bacteria, including Staphylococcus.

The ubiquitousness of broadband makes online videos easy to enjoy. Many videos are mere entertainment while others contain marketing messages. Taking a moment to dig a bit deeper beyond what is presented on the screen can help viewers get a more balanced viewpoint. All of this said, I really appreciate the creativity of video creators who can take a boring subject and make it interesting. Why even cardboard can be entertaining on YouTube: Behold the folding cardboard chair!