Kotivideot

Kotivideot is the Finnish term for home videos, referring to personal video recordings made for private use. They are typically created with consumer-grade camcorders, video cameras, or smartphones and stored on magnetic tapes, DVDs, or as digital files. The practice centers on capturing everyday life, family events, holidays, and milestones for personal kept memories.

The history of kotivideot mirrors the global shift in consumer video technology. In Finland, as elsewhere, families began recording with more accessible equipment in the late 20th century. Before widespread video formats, some used 8 mm film cameras. The introduction of VHS in the 1980s and its subsequent popularity greatly expanded the domestic recording habit, followed by later formats such as Video8 and Hi8. The transition to digital occurred from the 1990s into the 2000s, with formats like MiniDV and Digital8 giving way to DVDs, USB storage, and eventually hard drives and cloud storage as smartphones enabled easy, on-the-go filming.

Formats and technology have evolved from analog tapes to digital files. Early kotivideot used VHS and analog camcorder tapes; later generations used MiniDV, Digital8, and then optical media or direct computer storage. In recent years, many videos are recorded on smartphones and uploaded to private clouds or social platforms, raising considerations about privacy and long-term access.

Cultural and archival significance remains: kotivideot document family life and local culture, offering valuable personal and historical insight. Preservation challenges include tape degradation, format obsolescence, and the need for metadata and proper storage to maintain accessibility over time.