In 2006, Jawed Karim uploaded the first video on YouTube, titled “Me at the Zoo.” The clip, which showcases him in front of the elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo, has since garnered over 317 million views and nearly 11 million comments. This low-resolution video marked the beginning of YouTube’s journey.
Fast forward to today, and YouTube has grown exponentially, with 2.7 billion monthly active users worldwide. It has become a cultural phenomenon that connects people across borders, cultures, and languages through viral videos that have billions of views. Some of the most popular videos on YouTube are songs that children love worldwide, such as “Baby Shark” and “Despacito.”
The music video for “Gangnam Style” by Psy was the first video to reach a billion views on YouTube, setting a Guinness record in just five months. Since then, many other popular videos have followed suit, including songs like “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa, and “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. These videos have all achieved billions of views.
YouTube has evolved into a platform where content creators and artists can reach a global audience instantly. From viral music videos to educational content and vlogs, YouTube has changed the way we consume media and connect with the world around us. It has opened up new opportunities for creators to showcase their talent and reach people from all corners of the globe.