YouTube, the world’s largest video platform, marks its 20th anniversary today. Launched on February 14, 2005, by former PayPal employees Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, the platform has grown beyond what its creators originally envisioned.
The ability to upload videos was introduced in April 2005, with the first-ever clip titled Me at the zoo. This 19-second video, featuring Karim at the San Diego Zoo, has since amassed over 348 million views. Over the past two decades, YouTube has expanded into a global powerhouse in digital media.
“YouTube was created by tech enthusiasts. Today, it is the world’s largest digital video service in terms of watch time and ad revenue. It’s an absolute giant,” said Ross Benes, an analyst at eMarketer.
Last year, YouTube recorded over 2.5 billion viewers worldwide, with its music and premium subscription services surpassing 100 million users. According to Google, users collectively watch more than a billion hours of YouTube content daily—just on television screens.
YouTube’s breakthrough came from challenging traditional television giants without the need for costly studios or large-scale productions. Instead, content is created and uploaded by users. The platform hosts everything from concert performances and political campaign ads to tutorials and much more. Google reports that over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.
A pivotal moment in YouTube’s history was its acquisition by Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion in stock. By combining its expertise in search and advertising with YouTube’s video-sharing capabilities, Google developed a highly successful revenue-sharing model. Analysts predict that within two years, YouTube will surpass all cable TV services in the U.S. in the number of paid subscribers.
