Educational versus Entertainment Videos

My first thought was that there was NO way that educational videos stood a chance against entertainment videos. Who would want to watch something educational when they could be watching something they really wanted to watch! According to Mary Madden's Online Video report (Pew and the American Life Project), 74% of broadband users watch or download online videos. As suspected, "young adults (those ages 18-29) with Internet access are among the most voracious video viewers" (p. 10). About 76% to be exact with 49% of them watching videos on YouTube (p. 11). And, with Madden stating that "Weird Al Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy” music video is one of the most-viewed videos of all time on YouTube" (p. 19), who could refute that educational videos don't stand a chance against the entertainment videos?

But wait...we may be wrong! Madden goes on to say that "news video is the most-watched genre of video, with 37% of adult Internet users reporting some type of viewing or downloading" (p. 17) and news "is the most popular genre with every age group except for those ages 18-29" (p. 18). She also says that many people, especially older adults, do watch educational videos, such as "How-to" or "DIY" videos and other videos that provide "practical everyday tips" (p. 21). Maybe educational videos DO stand a chance after all!

After reading Madden's report, I can see that there is a need for both types of videos. Originally I thought that mostly entertainment videos were being watched as opposed to the number of educational videos. I didn't realize just how many people watched educational and news videos or that it spanned such an age range. It did not, however, surprise me to find out that the young adults were the ones who did not watch these videos as much as the other age groups. So, I do believe now that both types of videos will hold their own...or at least put up a very good fight!