YouTube, the popular video sharing site on the web, which has been giving television quite a run for its money in the entertainment of teenagers, recently launched the creation of something it calls the “Community Council.”
The company has tapped into the “long tail” of its users and empowered few of its more visible video posters to serve as liasons to the community at large.
The volunteer council will rotate out every six months and provide YouTube with updates from the community regarding suggestions for upgrades and changes. The development team is promising to seriously consider the changes the council recommends.
They got together to shoot a video in San Bruno by way of introduction to the community and announcement of the council.
This move promises a benefit both for the community of YouTube and the company’s owners if the developers harken to the concerns of its users. Other communities might do well to heed the actions of YouTube and institute similar systems.
How might the church operate in a world that increasingly demands end users should get to dictate how a community operates?
Do you think this system of operations is more or less in line with the biblical narrative?
Do you think councils like YouTube’s empower or exploit users?
Do you think students should have a say in how their faith community operates?
