YouTube FoundedEarly 2005Who founded YouTube? YouTube was founded by three individuals: Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. They were friends and former employees of PayPal.
The idea for YouTube emerged in 2005 when they couldn't find online videos about popular events such as Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl or the tsunami that occurred during that winter.
The idea for YouTube emerged in 2005 when they couldn't find online videos about popular events such as Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl or the tsunami that occurred during that winter.
Beta Site LaunchMay 2005YouTube's beta site was launched in May 2005. It reached its first one million-hit video in September 2005, featuring a viral Nike ad with Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho.
Record-Breaking ViewsDecember 2005Around this time, YouTube was serving over two million video views per day.
GA Site LaunchDecember 2005YouTube officially launched in December 2005. It received a $3.5 million investment from Sequoia Capital, enabling it to improve its servers and increase bandwidth.
Content Verification Program and Deal with NBCMarch 2006In response to copyright concerns, YouTube introduced the Content Verification Program. It later struck a deal with NBC for the promotion of the network's TV lineup.
Google buys YouTubeOctober 2006Recognizing its potential, Google acquired YouTube in October 2006 for $1.65 billion. This acquisition further accelerated YouTube's growth and integration with Google services.
Launch of Partner ProgramMay 2007In May 2007, YouTube launched its Partner Program, allowing content creators to monetize their videos and receive a share of advertising revenue.
Mainstream RecognitionJanuary 2009In January 2009, the 111th U.S. Congress launched its official Congressional YouTube channels, giving citizens unprecedented access to the government. The Vatican also launched its YouTube channel in February 2009.
YouTube LiveApril 2011In April 2011, YouTube launched YouTube Live, a service that allowed the streaming of various live content, from concerts to news coverage.
1B Hit Video, U.S. Presidential Election CoverageDecember 2012In December 2012, Psy's "Gangnam Style" became the first YouTube video to reach over one billion views. YouTube also played a significant role in the 2012 U.S. presidential election coverage.
Continued Expansion and Evolution2015 - PresentYouTube introduced subscription services like YouTube Red (later YouTube Premium) and YouTube Go for low-end devices. It faced challenges, including the 2018 shooting at its headquarters. In January 2022, YouTube was ranked as the second most popular social network worldwide.