Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
YouTube: Two Decades of Shaping Online Video Culture
The initial offering was a short, unremarkable 19-second clip. Uploaded on April 23, 2005, the grainy footage showed co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo, remarking, “All right, so here we are in front of the elephants.” It hardly seemed like the genesis of a video revolution, but YouTube has become a cornerstone of modern media. From music videos to extended product reviews, the platform hosts rising stars, conspiracy theories, vintage commercials, and ambient noise, disrupting television and cultivating a diverse world of video creators catering to every imaginable niche.
Humble Beginnings: The First Upload
The inaugural YouTube video, “Me at the zoo,” features Jawed Karim observing elephants. Karim co-founded YouTube in February 2005 with Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, departing the company in 2006.
Key Moments in YouTube History
Here’s a look at some of the landmark moments in the evolution of YouTube:
December 17, 2005: “Lazy Sunday” Goes Viral
The “Saturday Night Live” sketch “Lazy Sunday,” featuring Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg rapping about cupcakes and movie concessions, achieved viral fame. Fans promptly uploaded the video after its initial airing. The widespread sharing of these clips led NBC Universal to request their removal, citing copyright infringements, in February 2006.
October 9, 2006: Google Acquires YouTube
YouTube quickly evolved into a hub for viral content, showcasing hits like “Flea Market Montgomery,” “Charlie the Unicorn,” and “Evolution of Dance.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Attracted by its expanding audience, corporations like Viacom, Microsoft, and Yahoo showed interest in procuring YouTube. Ultimately, Google declared its acquisition of the platform for $1.65 billion in October 2006.
2007: The Rise of Justin Bieber and “Bieber Fever”
YouTube videos that created a buzz in 2007 include “Chocolate Rain,” “Charlie Bit My Finger,” “Shoes,” and “Leave Britney Alone.”
Home recordings of a young Canadian artist with a remarkable voice also garnered attention, building a dedicated fan base. These videos caught the eye of Usher and Scooter Braun, an aspiring music manager. Braun signed Justin Bieber, igniting “Bieber Fever.”
January 31, 2009: “David After Dentist”
David DeVore Sr. initially posted a video of his son, David, following a dental procedure, to share with family. The disoriented and vocal child, featured in “David After Dentist,” quickly spread across the internet.
The younger David shared on Tamron Hall’s talk show that his newfound fame “came to me in pieces.”
“I was 7 when it first happened, and a week later we were in New York for the first time,” he recalled.
2010: The Emergence of A.S.M.R
The rise of ASMR content on YouTube.
The sounds of eating crabs, tapping fingernails, and whispering grocery lists can trigger a tingling sensation known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (A.S.M.R.), a term coined in 2010.
March 2011: Rebecca Black’s “Friday”
Despite a plethora of amateur-produced music videos on YouTube, Rebecca Black’s “Friday” became a phenomenon, criticized by online critics yet embraced by a broad audience.
Today, Ms. Black continues to create music and DJ, and has been a guest on Katy Perry’s tour and Trixie Mattel’s Solid Pink Disco tour.
March 5, 2012: “Kony 2012”
“Kony 2012,” a 30-minute documentary by Invisible Children about Central African warlord Joseph Kony, defied typical viral content.
Bolstered by celebrity endorsements from Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey, the video amassed 100 million views in a single week.
Despite its widespread attention, “Kony 2012” had a complex legacy. Kony’s whereabouts remain unknown, and a hearing regarding war crimes charges is scheduled for September 9 at the International Criminal Court.
December 21, 2012: “Gangnam Style” Reaches One Billion Views
Psy’s music video for “Gangnam Style” became the first video to reach one billion views. By 2022, however, Psy admitted to The New York Times that the song’s success haunted him.
“The songs are written by the same person, the dance moves are by the same person and they’re performed by the same person. Everything’s the same, but what was so special about that one song? I still don’t know, to this day.” Psy confessed.
October 29, 2014: T-Pain’s “Tiny Desk” Redemption
T-Pain, initially known for his Auto-Tune-heavy hits, silenced critics with a “Tiny Desk” concert showcasing his raw vocal talent without digital enhancements.
The Rise of Unboxing Videos and Tech Reviews
A popular YouTube genre is unboxing, with creators meticulously showcasing and describing products like phones and gadgets.
Marques Brownlee, a successful creator, has unboxed iPhones, PlayStations and AirPods, evolving from a student reviewer to a full-time YouTuber after graduating in 2015. With 19.9 million subscribers, Brownlee is respected within the tech world.
June 2016: “Baby Shark” Domination
The global phenomenon “Baby Shark” began modestly with a video uploaded by SmartStudy under the Pinkfong brand in November 2015.
Pinkfong remixed the song, launching the ubiquitous version in June 2016. By November 2020, it became the most-viewed YouTube video. To date, it has 15.8 billion views.
January 13, 2017: “Despacito” Overthrows “Gangnam Style”
Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” featuring Daddy Yankee, surpassed previous records to become the most-watched on the platform. The video boasts over 8.7 billion views.
August 2018: Navigating Free Speech
YouTube, like other social media platforms, has faced continual challenges in content moderation. In 2018, YouTube joined other tech venues by banning Alex Jones and Infowars.
The platform later restricted voices like Donald Trump and Andrew Tate, though Trump’s suspension was reversed in March 2023.
February 9, 2021: “I’m Not a Cat”
Rod Ponton, a Texas lawyer, became a viral sensation when he appeared as a cat during a Zoom hearing after being unable to disable a filter.
He embraced his internet fame, stating that his mishap “did let everybody have a moment of humor and a moment of sanity during the dark days of the pandemic.”
November 24, 2021: MrBeast Recreates “Squid Game”
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, found success with his philanthropy-driven content. “456,000 Squid Game In Real Life!” is his most popular upload.
2023: The Rise of Video Podcasts
Podcasts, now frequently recorded on video, are increasingly posted on YouTube.
In late 2023, a Times analysis indicated that 16 of the top 30 podcasts were filmed, up from seven two years prior.
April 11, 2024: Conan O’Brien on “Hot Ones”
Conan O’Brien’s appearance on “Hot Ones” generated massive buzz.
His reactions while sampling progressively spicier sauces caused “Conan O’Brien” to trend. He shared that friends thought he had died due to his performance.
Chicken-based interview shows are now common, with “Chicken Shop Date,” hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg, generating viral moments.