IF YouTube is a human being, at 20 years old he or she would be finishing college and about to start a life in the brave new world outside school. The horizon of possibilities is endless for a 20-something person who is well-educated and ready to take on the world.

In our vast digital landscape, few platforms have left a mark as deep as YouTube. I just told my class in English this morning that they can tap YouTube as a reference source. It has TED Talks, documentaries and films that might be worth their while, whether they are writing about the crime rate in Cincinnati, Ohio; or the lack of teachers in Chicago; or the rise of racism in New York City.