Howcast

We’re not born experts. Most life skills, whether building a bookshelf or learning how to kiss, require practice and, ideally, a how-to video. Not every video on the site models behavior suitable for children but overall its message, that learning can be easy and fun, is a positive one.

Amply covered with several hundred how-tos available in the Sex & Relationships section of the site. These videos, many of which can be funny, teach how to flirt, kiss, have sex in a car and fake an orgasm, among other romantic skills. A series called Ask Dan and Jennifer features a winsome therapist couple answering common questions about sex. Nudity is only hinted at, and of the dozen or so videos aimed at teens, only one ("How to Seduce your Professor") offers irresponsible advice about sex. Still, the adult sex how-tos are pretty, well, adult, and most parents will not want tweens watching these parts of the site without supervision.

Pretty commercial. Ads appear on top of videos, next to videos and occasionally mixed in with video thumbnail search results. The banners and Google ads are often tie-ins, which makes them especially effective; for instance, a video on how to tame frizzy hair might be accompanied by an ad for a hair-straightening product. Most of the products are G-rated mainstream stuff like automobiles, network TV shows and beauty products.