As a global culture, we are going through an unprecedented time. In many countries, technology has provided a way to stay safe and communicated during lockdown. And to do this, organizations around the world have turned to video production companies to help them get their message out through video content.
Thanks to the marriage of technology and necessity, video content is helping us overcome — or at least manage — these events with a bit more ease.
In this piece, we are going to bring attention to five types of video content being used in this manner. These include online courses and museums, digital gatherings, information dissemination, and video calls.
Information Dissemination and Limiting Disinformation
One of the first things that have become clear about the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of spreading knowledge. Disseminating fact-based information across borders, companies, and society is one of the most powerful ways to fight disinformation and fake news.
Now, we’re not talking about harmless rumors and gossip. Disinformation can lead people to make decisions based on false facts. It can even potentially hurt lives. The amount of unreliable and misleading information spreading online during this pandemic results in journalists talking about a “disinfodemic.” That is, a pandemic of disinformation.
As such, medical experts have taken to YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms to offer information in video format. This provides a quick way to fight disinformation. A great example of this can be found in the short video pieces shared by Dr. Seema Yasmin. With a quick YouTube search, you can find all sorts of video content answering FAQs about the coronavirus. This includes health myths, comparisons with other diseases, and even film analysis.
However, keep in mind that most dubious content circulates under the radar through message apps. Even those with good intentions may contribute to the spread. Video content provides an effective and trustful way to debunk those messages.
Digital Gatherings and Communal Exchanges
As people continue to stay home, they are looking for new ways to stay in touch with loved ones and close friends. Weddings, birthday parties, sporting events, and concerts may be canceled. However, a new event is emerging: digital gatherings.
In the last few months, platforms like Discord and Twitch have become home to gatherings. These include book clubs, yoga classes, religious services, and even happy hours. After all, humans are social beings. Digital gatherings provide a way to make social distancing easier while we wait for a vaccine.
For a while now, online gamers have been using these platforms to interact and converse while playing a game together. And though this probably won’t replace face-to-face interaction any time soon, it does help maintain a sense of community in life that’s much needed.
Art Appreciation and Accessibility
Most cultural institutions around the world had to temporarily close their doors to maintain the safety of their employees and the public. Thankfully, video content provides museums and art institutions a chance to share these cultures with people at home.
For example, Google Arts and Culture is teaming up with museums and galleries around the world to provide virtual tours and online video exhibits of some of the most famous works of art in history. Some other museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits, such as the Royal Academy of Arts. Plus, YouTube is full of high-quality museum walkthroughs made by travel video bloggers. With a quick type in search, you can view the Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica.
The show must go on for musicians as well. Venues and bars have shut down in major countries. However, artists have taken to live streaming to share some musical joy with audiences at home. People may catch a stream of an encore performance from The Metropolitan Opera in New York, or dance to sets by their favorite DJs. As long as the shutdown endures, video content is the closest thing we have to being at a concert or show.
Online Classes and Courses
The pandemic has caused school shutdowns all across the world, but education cannot be postponed. As a result, many schools and universities are shifting towards digital. They have a powerful ally in video content.
For online courses, webinars, and eLearning platforms, this isn’t news. They’ve been using educational video content to teach audiences about specific problems they are experiencing, or relevant topics they would be interested in.
People studying online seek to get the most information in the shortest amount of time. There’s no more effective way to condense and convey information than through video content. Video also gives teachers the creative freedom to use a wide range of visual aids like animation, sound queues, and charts. This makes online teaching more engaging and improves information retention.
Video content provides a solution in a world faced with remote teaching and schooling platforms. Given that online classes are today’s new norm, the rise of eLearning will be further accelerated and a new hybrid model of education will emerge.
Integrating information technology and video content is becoming the main goal for school education. Even once the shutdown ends, some of the changes brought by the pandemic are here to stay and transform our societies for the better.
On this note, many platforms are offering free access to their video content to keep people occupied while they stay safe at home. For example, Harvard University has released hundreds of new courses each month about all sorts of topics including literature, history, and marketing.
Video Calls and Meeting Apps
Since remote work has taken hold in most countries affected by the pandemic, video calls and meeting apps have seen an unprecedented spike in downloads. Companies need their workers, clients, and customers to connect with each other and are using platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Webex.
The most popular apps are the ones that offer something more than just showing your face. For example, with GoToMeeting you can schedule meetings, live share screens for a presentation, and record your calls. These features are key to making virtual meetings as productive as they would be in person, or even more!
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason video content has become one of the most powerful resources of the marketer’s toolbox. Even before the pandemic started, companies and organizations have been using video to communicate with their audiences in captivating and effective ways. In times of crisis, we can learn valuable things about the way we communicate through video.
Victor Blasco is an audiovisual designer, video marketing expert, and founder/CEO of the explainer video production company Yum Yum Videos. Besides running the business, he’s a lifelong student of Chinese philosophy and a passionate geek for all things sci-fi.