Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of services we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Video Share Websites.

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Ratings

Audience Features

These aspects of the video share site cater to the viewer. These features may include a search box, the ability to search by category, screenshot previews for the videos, user submitted video ratings and other items that enhance the viewing experience.

Producer Features

These aspects of the website are for those submitting content-the producers. These features may include video creation tools and resources, like articles, the ability to add a description and select whether the video is public or private.

Content

We graded each video share site on the quantity and quality of the content it hosts. We determined how the content is organized, whether it is by tags or categories, if the service has guidelines that regulate the content and whether or not viewers can regulate inappropriate content with flags.

Ease of Use

We considered how easy the video share site is to navigate and use, whether or not the functions work properly and how quickly the videos load and play. There shouldn't be any buffering delays or unrelated search results.

Help/Support

Though video share sites are free, help and support is still an important part of the service. The developer of the site may provide help and support through FAQs, user guides or through customer service by email or phone.

Audience Features

Search Box

The site offers a tool that will search videos by keyword so finding relevant clips is quick and easy.

Advanced Search

You can further narrow your search by duration, genre, exact phrases and other criteria.

Search by Category

The site has video categories so you can browse by a particular subject or genre; for example, sports, educational or comedy.

User Submitted Video Rating

The videos include a rating given by other users. You can submit your own rating for a video and often sort videos by rating.

Comments

You can add your comments to the videos and read others' comments.

Continuous Playback

The site has a feature that will play the video over and over.

Screenshot Preview

There is a small picture preview for each video clip. This gives you an idea of what the video contains.

Time

The length of video is displayed.

RSS Feeds

You can subscribe to really simple syndications (RSS) so you will know when new content has been added by a certain user or to a certain category.

Create Video Playlist

You are able to organize a playlist so your selected videos will play one after another.

Producer Features

Video Creation Tools/Resources

The service offers tools, like video editors, or resources, like articles on video production, to help you create quality videos.

Add Description

When you submit a video, you are able to add your own description of the clip.

Public Share

You can choose to share your video with the public, which means that anyone will be able to access and view your video.

Private Share

You are able to upload your video and keep it private or share it only with certain people.

Max File Size

The maximum video file size that you can upload.

Content Related Features

Description of Video/Content Rating

Each video has a detailed description or content rating so you know if it contains explicit, violent, vulgar or other potentially offensive material before clicking to watch the video.

Content Policy/Guidelines

The video sharing site has a policy or guidelines to regulate video content. Most policies forbid copyrighted, pornographic, racist, extremely violent, hateful, illegal or abusive videos.

Tag Words

The videos have tag words, usually assigned by the producer, that group videos together and make it easy to find videos of a particular content or genre.

Viewer Flags

Viewers can flag a video as inappropriate if they feel it shouldn't be on the site or doesn't follow the site's policy. The video will then be reviewed by site regulators and taken off if deemed inappropriate.

Viewer Warnings

Before the video plays, the site will display a warning if the video may be inappropriate for some people. Sometimes you are able to turn the warning on or off after creating an account.

Help/Support

Phone

The site developer offers support by phone.

Email

You can email customer support with questions.

Tutorials

There are tutorials that will teach you about the basic features of the video share site, like how to upload a video, add someone to your contact list or take a video off of the Internet.

Knowledge Base

You can find information pertaining to the site and its features in the knowledge base. Knowledge bases are often searchable by keyword.

FAQs

You can find answers to common question on the frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.

User Forum

You can discuss video sharing and production topics with other users in a forum. You can post questions and answers to other users’ questions

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