Rudolf Gaiseb
Learning a new language, a new dance, or watching a step-by-step tutorial on how to fix your car engine, content hubs have evolved into ‘open universities’ where anyone can learn anything at no cost.
Regardless of age, anyone can leverage the educational aspects of content platforms like YouTube.
Social media analysts suggest it has democratised knowledge by making it possible for learners from different backgrounds to access information that was once limited to classrooms and paid platforms.
Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) executive of communication and consumer relations, Mufaro Nesongano, said in an analysis reputable institutions, universities, and professionals share credible information on the platform, making it a reliable source of information.
He recently told New Era there is a strong emphasis on entertainment, particularly in Namibia, but YouTube plays an important role in informing audiences about global issues, technology, and lifestyle topics.
It offers practical tutorials and lessons that can support learning and skill development.
“Many local artists use YouTube to promote and showcase their music, while travel bloggers share highlights of the places they visit,” he said.
Significantly, with an internet connection, anyone can access content on YouTube on any subject at any time.
It is available around the clock, flexible for different learners’ schedules, he highlighted.
Launched in 2005, the platform enables users to upload videos, view them, rate them with likes and dislikes, share them, add videos to playlists, report, make comments on videos, and subscribe to other users.
It offers a wide variety of user-generated and corporate media videos.
This includes video clips , TV show clips , music videos, short and documentary films, audio recordings, movie trailers, live streams, and content such as video blogging, short original videos, podcasts, and educational videos.
Digital expert Nrupesh Soni emphasized that for learners and students, YouTube is a visual medium, making it easier to grasp abstract concepts often presented in textbooks.
He said its flexibility also enables learning at one’s own pace and allows users to revisit content as often as they need to.
“It further allows learners in Namibia to see content in different languages, with subtitles and even transcripts, which helps accessibility,” Soni added.
The platform is localised in more than 100 countries worldwide, across 80 languages.
Moreover, YouTube enables learning outside of formal systems, helping adults, parents, and workers improve themselves without the need to return to traditional educational settings.
Another advantage is the diversity of perspectives, as users learn from global experts and practitioners.
Initially, the founders of YouTube, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, intended to build an online dating service. Still, it ultimately failed, and the platform evolved into a video-sharing and uploading platform.
In April 2025, YouTube published that on average, there are more than 20 million videos uploaded daily on the platform.
The commonly cited statistics show there are approximately 2.5 million users monthly.
Soni said for lifelong learning, adults can treat YouTube as a personal development tool, learning digital skills, entrepreneurship, and even health and fitness to improve their daily lives. For creators, on the other hand, there’s an opportunity to produce more local content in Namibian languages.
“A physics explanation in Oshiwambo or a small business tutorial in Otjiherero can have an enormous impact. The government and mobile operators can also support this by creating affordable ‘education bundles’ that make data for learning content cheaper,” Soni explained.
With those steps, he believes, YouTube can transition from being merely an entertainment platform to a structured and reliable tool that contributes to Namibia’s broader goals of enhancing education and digital literacy.
Drawbacks
The experts agree that the abundance of entertainment content can easily distract, especially for younger users, causing them to shift their focus from educational material.
Over time, this can diminish the platform’s potential as a learning tool.
Additionally, anyone can upload videos, which means misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, or poor-quality content can also be carried, especially in areas such as health or finance, where a well-produced but inaccurate video can mislead people.
Education
For learners and students, Mufaro advises that it is important to verify the credibility of the content creator, cross-check information with other reliable sources, and apply critical thinking when consuming material.
“In Namibia’s context, where formal educational resources may not always be easily accessible, YouTube can still be a valuable tool, provided users are discerning in how they consume and apply the knowledge,” he said.
Meanwhile, Soni says data costs in Namibia remain high, making it difficult for low-income learners to use heavy video content.
He noted that access is not equal, especially in rural areas where connectivity can be unreliable.
“For Namibian students, it is important to cross-check videos against what is taught in class.
For example, a physics experiment demonstrated on YouTube can be very accurate, but the way it is explained might not always match the local curriculum or exam expectations. That doesn’t make it useless; it means it must be used as a supplement, not a replacement,” he suggested.
Teachers and institutions are encouraged to create or recommend playlists that align directly with the Namibian curriculum.
He said the key to using YouTube better in Namibia is through moving from “random searching” to structured use.
“Learners should focus on curated playlists rather than relying on the algorithm,” he underscored.
Soni believes YouTube is a reliable learning resource when it’s curated, guided, and consumed critically.
“With digital literacy, it can become one of Namibia’s most powerful educational tools,” he stated.
–rrgaiseb@gmail.com