互联网的下一代

Young people socialising online.

　　Websites which show user-generated video clips have had phenomenal success on the internet in 2006. The most successful of these sites is undoubtedly YouTube, which has become one of the world’s most popular websites in a matter of months.

　　YouTube is a free website that allows users to upload, view and share video clips. The clips may have been produced by the users themselves or be the work of professionals.

　　Although YouTube was only launched in 2005, it now has more than 30 million visitors a month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. More than 100 million clips are viewed daily with an additional 65,000 new videos uploaded each day.

　　With traffic like that, it’s no wonder that other major internet players are looking for a slice of the action. Microsoft, Yahoo, Google and MySpace have all launched, or plan to launch, their own video-sharing services.

　　However, YouTube has run into problems regarding copyright infringement as many of the clips uploaded to the site have been captured from television or ripped from DVD. The site has a system of self-policing whereby users are expected to report cases of copyright material being uploaded to the site.

　　YouTube has also faced criticism over some of the content on the site. In September 2006 the site was forced to take down a video filmed in a UK school of two girls fighting. Anti-bullying charities condemned the site for allowing users to upload films showing violent attacks made by school children on each other.

　　Despite these problems YouTube and other video-sharing sites seem likely to continue to grow, and the traditional media is beginning to sit up and take notice. Media giant, Warner Music, has signed a deal with YouTube allowing videos and interviews with its artists, which include Madonna and Green Day, to be used legally.

　　The BBC is also jumping on the bandwagon and will launch the BBC iplayer in 2007. The iplayer will allow users to download television programmes directly onto their computer at a time that is convenient for them.

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　　GLOSSARY 词汇表

　　user-generated video clips

　　使用者自制录像片段

　　phenomenal 惊人的

　　a matter of months 数月之内 upload 上载

　　traffic（网页）使用率 players（互联网）大户

　　a slice of the action 一份功劳 copyright infringement

　　侵犯版权

　　ripped 翻刻（光盘） self-policing 自我监管

　　copyright material 版权材料

　　faced criticism 面对批评

　　content 内容 take down 取下

　　anti-bullying charities

　　反虐待慈善机构 traditional media 传统媒体

　　media giant 媒体大亨

　　jumping on the bandwagon 乘机紧跟 signed a deal 签约

　　download 下载