You fear what you do not know.

There always seems to be a backlash to the new popular ways students find information and learn from. I am sure there is legitimate concern for the student but maybe it is fear of the unknown that is main cause of resistance. It is easy for a teacher to make a surface level judgment of applications they do not fully understand. Some educators see Youtube as entertainment, a distraction, or garbage. Wikipedia is unreliable. Even Google Earth might appear as just a fancy map with unnecessary amusement features. As a result, many districts block these types of websites and applications.
Pewamo-Westphalia is rather open compared to many districts. However, when I first started teaching last year YouTube was blocked. I asked a few fellow teachers and the principle why. Not surprisingly it was blocked after teachers complained that students were watching videos when they should be working.
I talked with the principal and a few teachers about the issue and attempted to address their concerns and convince them of the benefits. I argued it is the responsibility of the teacher to design lessons and implement good classroom management techniques that would prevent students from getting off task. In addition to that, I explained YouTube has numerous educational benefits, including, access to documentaries, tutorials, and the ability to upload and view student work. There was no written policy and it ultimately came down to what the principal wanted. After sending the email I previously posted the ban was lifted the next week.

Does your district block YouTube? Is there any chance you could fight and win?