How is YouTube Challenging Edtech Companies

Youtube’s popularity as a video-streaming service surpasses its brand value; chances are that you’ve already spent your day watching something on Youtube before reading this blog! More than just funny cat videos or “Charlie bit my finger” or “Gangnam Style," Youtube has now become an encyclopedia of everything and anything informative. Want to fix your cycle, or learn how to code in Flutter? YouTube has it all! The ascent to its Edtech form has raised questions among many regarding how Edtech companies view Youtube since it's an accessible medium for all things learning. What does this mean for the future of learning, and how does it actually challenge ed-tech companies? Read on to find out!

Youtube has a huge advantage over other ed-tech companies when it comes to content. Youtube’s wide array of anything and everything for absolutely no cost put it at the top. From tutorials to lectures and webinars, anybody who wants to learn can, irrespective of the resources available to them. All you need is an internet connection, and you can basically learn anything you want!

This free access poses a huge challenge for ed-tech companies since it puts pressure on both content quality and pricing plans. While some EdTech startups offer free trials or limited access to their content, without significant marketing strategies and proven use-cases, they may struggle to attract a wide user-base.

Youtube’s algorithm has to be one of the key markers in its ed-tech ascent. Based on viewers' history and preferences, recommendations have made it easier for the average user to learn content that is closely related to what they’re interested in. Say you’re streaming a particular physics experimental laboratory channel to help you ace your practical exams. With YouTube’s recommendations, your feed gets related content, thus helping you understand topics better. This technique helps the user stay engaged as well as review the same content from different perspectives, thanks to Youtube’s wide variety of content. 

In contrast, ed-tech companies may struggle to provide the same level of recommendations when compared to YouTube, thanks to the latter’s accessibility of user data.

It is the era of influencers and content creators, and YouTube is yet another streaming platform that paved the way for it! While memes claiming that the Youtube content creator teaches better than your college circulate the internet, the truth doesn’t lie very far from the joke either. This has thus bypassed the traditional norms of the education industry, allowing anybody who has the sheer will and knowledge to teach. This has led to a community of content creators who thus create and upload their own educational content, allowing the average user to understand it as easily as possible.

However, ed-tech companies cannot follow suit. The time and effort that need to be taken into consideration, as well as getting professionals to handle it, would mean quite an expensive experience. Youtube is also free, while users would have to pay to avail themselves of the content from professionals there. Not to mention, authenticity. Youtube content is considered authentic because of the lack of tools available to the average tutor, which helps the user relate more to the Youtube tutor whose content is relatable.

Youtube’s integrations with Google have allowed it to collaborate with multiple Google products, like Google Classroom, making education via Youtube easier. Tutors can now add Youtube videos to their Google Classroom, thus helping students study better via Youtube. When tutors themselves recommend YouTube videos to students, YouTube’s market just gets bigger than ever!

On the other hand, ed-tech companies cannot hope to ensure that educators will use their products since Google is a major player here. Since a similar level of integration isn’t possible, Youtube would still rank higher than its ed-tech competitors.

Since Youtube streams user-generated content, quality control isn’t kept in check here. Fact-checking or quality testing isn't done here, meaning certified learning courses are a win. While Ed-tech platforms have renowned certificate courses and content curated by professionals, many would rather choose Ed-tech platforms. For students who are not yet able to evaluate the accuracy of the information, this lack of quality control can be particularly problematic.

Furthermore, relying solely on YouTube can limit the range and depth of knowledge that learners acquire. Ed-tech platforms offer a structured and comprehensive learning approach that helps individuals stay committed to the course. 

From a student's point-of-view, the will to commit and complete is highly needed for self-learning. While YouTube would require tremendous will and a lot more time, ed-tech platforms chart out your learning progress with continuous tests and a timeline. Not to mention, since the course is paid for by the individual, the motivation to complete is clearly on cue. While YouTube could also be easily distracting thanks to its wide array of content, ed-tech platforms help individuals stick to their learning goals and complete courses within the specific timelines they’re intended to. 

Anybody can learn, anywhere! That is what YouTube is all about! But does that mean its over for Ed-Tech companies? Absolutely not! The Covid-19 impact pushed the market size of edtech in India to $6 billion in 2022 vs. $4 billion in 2020! Major Ed-Tech platforms have aced the game by creating flawless and engaging content, helping individuals gain knowledge on-the-go! While YouTube can be a recreational learning platform, and is also the cheaper option in hand, most individuals prefer certified Ed-tech platforms like Udemy, Unacademy, MasterClass, and much more. This hype isn’t going anywhere!