This study was designed to learn usage habits on YouTube amongst DePaul University students. The observations are linked to the reasons why users are motivated to access YouTube, registration, and usage patterns. The study further explores the habits that different types of users on YouTube have with the website. Our study is aimed at drawing connections between the most commonly watched video categories and the type of user they are classified as.

Since the start of YouTube, the popular site has become a massive source of communal information through a video-sharing medium. The YouTube FAQ page states, "48 hours of video are uploaded every minute, resulting in nearly 8 years of content uploaded every day.” With that many videos being watched all around the world, the types and categories are endless. In addition, the users range from all over the world, all with different backgrounds and taste. Reception in each video’s shares, likes, favorites, and comments varies within each person. Not everyone is compelled to subscribe after watching one sole video, and sometimes it takes warming up to the channel in order to subscribe to it. It’s apparent that the way each individual user interacts with the video-sharing site differs immensely between different demographics.

A question addressed in our observations relates to the most common type of video accessed on the site. An article published by The Daily Telegraph in London investigates why YouTube has become the main source of music sharing among teenagers. According to Barnett (2012), “Nearly two-thirds of 18-year-olds and younger U.S. teens say that they prefer the Google-owned video platform ahead of all other music mediums” (p. 27). Ever since the television network, MTV, switched from broadcasting the latest music videos to mostly airing reality TV shows, people needed a source for music exposure. Music videos are practically non-existent on TV nowadays and people do not want to worry about paying for their music. This is where YouTube steps in. Any music genre, of any language, is easy to search for with no difficulty and best of all, for free.

Aside from music being a significant motivator to use, YouTube, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and How-To videos are making their way up as a popular form of video to share. Our study explores the categories that DePaul students mostly watch as a result of trying to learn something new. Paul Farhi (2012) quotes in the Washington Post about a new study that reviews how the site provides information to its users. It is quoted as the platform acting as, “a new kind of visual journalism.” (p. C01). With its diversity of users, there are experts on almost all subjects and fields that provide the world of the web with their expertise through video. For the visual learner it’s way easier to remember a concept or technique by watching someone else do it exactly rather than reading about it and becoming mislead by ambiguous methods.

Even though YouTube has been around since 2005, there have not been many studies that uncover the usage habits of its users. Demographics, personality and taste, along with interests depend on how a person interacts and goes about their handling of the site. Consequentially, this study hopes to discover connections amongst DePaul students and their usage habits while on YouTube.