YouTube Guide For Beginners

YouTube is the world's most popular video-sharing platform with at least over 2.500 billion users in 2023. Its basic feature is to let users view, upload videos, and comment on others' videos. If you browse through YouTube, you will be amazed by its giant video database. It hosts videos about all kinds of topics, from tutorials, and education, to music and entertainment. 

1. Create a YouTube account

1. Go to https://www.youtube.com/.
2. Click Sign in.
3. Choose Create account.
4. Fill out all required fields and click Next.
5. Google will send you a 6-digit verification code through text message. Check your phone, then input the code and click Verify.
6. Fill out other fields and click Next.
7. Review Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and select I Agree.

2. Sign in to YouTube

1. Go to https://www.youtube.com/.
2. Click Sign In.
3. Type your email address and click Next.
4. Type your password and click Sign in.

3. Features

A. Uploading

All YouTube users can post videos up to 15 minutes long. Users who have been good about following YouTube's Community Guidelines may be able to upload videos that are up to 12 hours long. This requires the account to be verified by mobile phone. It used to be possible to upload long videos, but in March 2006, a 10-minute limit was put in place because most videos longer than that are illegal uploads of movies and TV shows. In July 2010, the time restriction was raised to 15 minutes. When a video is uploaded, speech recognition technology makes the captions for it automatically. Most of the time, these captions are not accurate, so YouTube gives creators the option to add captions to their videos by hand for better accuracy. YouTube also has some basic tools for editing uploaded videos, like the ability to add audio tracks, annotations, and video enhancements.

B. Video quality 

When YouTube first came out, there was only one quality level for videos, and the resolution was 320x240 pixels. In March 2008, a high-quality mode was added, which brought the resolution up to 480x360 pixels. In November 2008, 720p HD support was added, and the YouTube player's 4:3 aspect ratio was changed to 16:9 widescreen. In November 2009, it became possible to use 1080p HD. YouTube currently supports up to 8K resolution, with videos playing at 76804320 pixels, even though 8K monitors and cameras that can handle 8K resolution are still very rare. Videos with a resolution of 4K or higher can only be watched without stuttering if you have a 4K monitor, a high-end set-up, and a fast Internet connection.

Now, YouTube videos come in a variety of quality levels, which are shown as numbers that show the vertical resolution of the videos. These levels are SQ (Standard Quality), HQ (High Quality), and HD (High Definition) (High Definition).

C. 3D videos and 360o videos

YouTube began supporting 3D videos in July 2009. The videos employ several 3D techniques, such as Anaglyph 3D, Polarized 3D, and Side-by-side 3D. Each requires a certain sort of 3D glasses worn by the viewer.

YouTube allows users to submit and view 360-degree films in March 2015. Although this type of film can be viewed on a standard screen, virtual reality systems provide a superior viewing experience.

D. Platforms

Most modern smartphones can access YouTube either through an app or a website that is optimized for smartphones. YouTube Mobile came out in June 2007, but not all videos are available on that version of the site. In July 2010, it was relaunched using HTML5 and controls that worked better on touch screens. Android devices have always had an official app, but YouTube didn't release its first app for iOS devices until September 2012.

YouTube for TV, a version of the website for set-top boxes and other TV-based media devices with web browsers, came out in January 2009. Now, you can get an app for YouTube on all of the most popular game consoles, like the Wii, Xbox, and PlayStation.

E. Monetization

Google AdSense, a platform that tailors advertisements to the site's content and viewership, provides YouTube with advertising money. YouTube introduced its Partner Program in May 2007, allowing video uploaders to split advertising money generated by the website. The uploaders receive 55 percent of the advertising money from Partner Program content, while YouTube receives 45 percent. Once eligible, users can enable or disable monetization on demand for their videos.

YouTube introduced new Advertiser-friendly content rules in August 2016, which will be used to determine if a video is suitable for advertising. If it violates YouTube's guidelines, the video will not be authorized for monetization. Existing videos that breach the restrictions will have their revenue removed. Users may request a manual review of videos that have been demonetized. YouTube will remonetize the videos if the review reveals no violations. A large number of YouTube content providers have been divided about the guidelines' specifics.