Documentarian and Bill & Ted franchise star Alex Winter discusses the creation, rise, and dangers of YouTube in his incredibly relevant new film.
The YouTube Effect is a fascinating documentary that explores the origins of one of the world’s most influential websites before diving into the dangers lurking beneath its friendly interface. The documentary features interviews from users and creators alike; YouTube founder Steve Chen, platform star Andrew Padilla, former alt-right extremist Caleb Cain, and more sat down to discuss the benefits and dangers of the site.
I think that was sort of under the surface, and I was looking for a way into examining Google and the influence that it's had, and the sheer, almost unimaginable size of that company. And Gale Anne Hurd, the great producer, came to me--she had seen some of my other docs, and was a fan--and had some access to YouTube, and asked if I wanted to do something there.
I was probably not dissimilar to Caleb in some ways, in terms of looking for a community. And then yes, you can find a community that's really hyper-negative. I didn't end up falling into that, but you're right. I probably could have in some way had the Internet been further along, because I was quite young when I first got on online.
I got a lot out of that interview from the standpoint that there's a degree to which she knows [the dangers of the platform], there's a degree to which she doesn't know, and there's a degree to which she should know. I think all of that is conveyed in the interview, so don't really feel a need to, like--I know that you're not saying this--wag my finger in her face and go, “Yeah, but! Yeah, but!” It’s all there.
Alex Winter: Yes, it actually did. I think you may be the first person to ask me that question. I've been around these technologies from the beginning--since before their beginning--and I have very specific views about the role of social media platforms, which are largely positive. I largely think they do more good than harm.
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