TroopTube Arrives

In May 2007 the Pentagon blocked YouTube, MySpace and other social networking sites from its computer networks. This was partly for security, in case sensitive material was accidentally posted, but also because of the strain it placed on Internet capacity.

That created a conflict with troops, who wanted the ease of communication with family and friends at home. Now there’s a solution, as TroopTube.tv has been launched. The service, which the Department of Defense describes as "designed to help military families connect and keep in touch while miles apart," is set up so users have to identify themselves as military personnel or a family member in order to upload videos, the Guardian reports.

All videos are screened by the Pentagon before they’re cleared, both for security and copyright.

The system is overseen by Military OneSource, part of the Department of Defense.