YouTube like tool for the construction of the society of the knowledge

Abstract

This paper is inserted in the thematic “Inclusive education and human development”, within the subtopic “Virtualization and learning scenarios”. It corresponds to a first approach of a wider research within the development of a doctoral thesis. The objective is to examine YouTube’s potential as tool to share knowledge. Firstly, the State of the Question of this research is based on the theoretical positions on this new stage in the history of humanity. The information society (IS), which emerges largely as a result of the massification of the new information and communication technologies. Secondly, the research is contrasted with the point of view of other authors who argue that the information society is not the same as the knowledge society. Then, the characteristics of the new internet-based media system are explored, with emphasis on collaborative media, as a significant axis of the knowledge society. Finally, the study focuses on YouTube, where its characteristics, formats, production practices are analyzed. Youtubers phenomena are also analyzed as important actors in the construction of a new culture of knowledge dissemination. It is concluded that YouTube is a space whose characteristics make it a potential tool whose use can contribute to the consolidation of the knowledge society.