Drew B has highlighted some really nice, clear and simple videos on this YouTube channel, which I’ve been flicking through this morning. They’re simple introductions to a variety of social media in plain English, intended as an introduction for the beginner. Take this one about blogging, for example:

The channel by CommonCraft (the producers) has a variety of videos, covering RSS, social networks, Twitter and, er, zombies. While the experienced social media user won’t learn anything new from them, they’re ideal for educating friends, coworkers and even clients. As their blog puts it:

You aren’t always the end user of Common Craft videos, instead you use them to inform and educate people around you. They help you increase your influence and create change by introducing others to new trends and ideas.

You could a lot worse than these if you need to give someone a quick primer on these topics - and don’t consider it cheating or a shortcut either. After all, sharing videos and UGC is at the very heart of what being social on the web is all about.