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YouTube

Online video sharing and social media platform.
YouTube

YouTube, launched in 2005, is owned by Google. It has 2.5 billion monthly users and offers various content categories. YouTube generates revenue from ads and offers a paid subscription option. It has expanded into mobile apps, TV, and partnerships with other platforms. The platform has had a significant social impact but faces criticism for various issues.

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Timeline

1978
Steven Shih Chen's Birth
Steven Shih Chen was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1978. His family later emigrated to the U.S. when he was eight years old.
2004
YouTube idea conceived at a dinner party
About a year earlier in 2004, the idea for YouTube was conceived at a dinner party in San Francisco by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. They were frustrated by the lack of easy ways to share video clips online.
2005
YouTube Launch
YouTube was launched in 2005 as a video-sharing platform, revolutionizing online video content creation and consumption.
2005-02-14
YouTube founded
YouTube was founded on Valentine’s Day in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, former employees of Paypal. The idea was born out of frustration with the difficulty of finding and sharing video clips online.
2005-02-14
YouTube Launch
YouTube, a video-sharing platform, was founded on February 14, 2005. It revolutionized the way people consume and share video content online.
2005-04-23
First YouTube Video Uploaded
Jawed Karim uploaded the first YouTube video titled 'Me at the Zoo' on April 23, 2005. The 18-second clip was filmed at the San Diego Zoo.
2005-04-24
First YouTube Video by Jawed Karim
Jawed Karim, one of the co-founders of YouTube, posted the first-ever video on YouTube titled 'Me at the Zoo' on April 24, 2005. The video gained immense popularity.
2005-12-15
YouTube Officially Launched
YouTube was officially launched on December 15, 2005, with the site receiving 8 million views a day.
2006-10-09
YouTube Purchase Announcement
On October 9, 2006, it was announced that Google would acquire YouTube for US$1.65 billion in stock. This acquisition paved the way for YouTube's exponential growth and dominance in the online video market.
2006-11-13
Google Acquires YouTube
Google purchased YouTube for US$1.65 billion in November 2006, marking one of the largest acquisitions in Google's history. This acquisition propelled YouTube to become a global media giant and significantly impacted the online video-sharing industry.
2007-02-07
YouTube Investors' Profits Revealed
Google's SEC filing on February 7, 2007, revealed the profits for YouTube's investors after the acquisition. Chad Hurley's profit was more than $395 million, while Steve Chen's profit exceeded $326 million, showcasing the financial success of the deal.
2007-06-19
Launch of Localization System
Google CEO Eric Schmidt launched the new localization system for YouTube on June 19, 2007, making the interface available with localized versions in various countries and regions.
2007-07-23
CNN and YouTube Presidential Debates
CNN and YouTube collaborated to produce televised presidential debates in July and November 2007. Democratic and Republican US presidential candidates answered questions submitted through YouTube.
2007-10-17
Launch of Hong Kong version of YouTube
On October 17, 2007, a Hong Kong version of YouTube was announced to have been launched. Steve Chen mentioned that the next target would be Taiwan.
2007-10-18
YouTube blocked in Mainland China
YouTube was blocked in Mainland China on October 18, due to the censorship of the Taiwanese flag. Users were redirected to China's search engine, Baidu, until it was unblocked on October 31.
2009-01
Google Videos service halted; U.S. Congress and Vatican launch YouTube channels
In January 2009, Google discontinued its Videos uploading service. Additionally, the U.S. Congress and the Vatican both debuted their official YouTube channels, providing unprecedented access to congressional proceedings and Vatican content for viewers.
2009-03
Dispute between YouTube and PRS for Music
In March 2009, a dispute between YouTube and the British royalty collection agency PRS for Music led to the blocking of premium music videos for YouTube users in the United Kingdom.
2009-04
YouTube wins Peabody Award and launches VEVO
In April 2009, YouTube received a Peabody Award for its exceptional work in electronic media. Additionally, it collaborated with Vivendi to introduce the music video service VEVO.
2009-06
YouTube closer to profitability
In June 2009, BusinessWeek reported that YouTube was far closer to profitability than previous reports had suggested.
2009-11
1080p videos allowed on YouTube
By November 2009, YouTube started permitting the upload of 1080p high-definition videos on its platform.
2009-12
YouTube launches automatic speech recognition service
In December 2009, YouTube introduced its automatic speech recognition service, enhancing accessibility and searchability of videos.
2011-04
Launch of YouTube Live
April 2011 marked the introduction of YouTube Live, allowing content creators and organizations to stream live events such as concerts and sports, expanding the platform's capabilities.
2011-05
YouTube Reports Three Billion Views Per Day
In May 2011, YouTube announced receiving more than three billion views daily, with 48 hours of footage uploaded every minute.
2011-10
YouTube launches original channels
In October 2011, following the acquisition of Next New Networks, YouTube initiated its original channels program, investing in exclusive content creation for the platform.
2011-11
Launch of YouTube Analytics
In November 2011, YouTube introduced the 'Youtube Analytics' tool, allowing content creators to monitor their channel's performance by tracking viewership data such as audience demographics, viewing duration, and popular videos for better monetization strategies.
2011-12
YouTube Launches New Interface and Logo
In December 2011, YouTube introduced a new version of the site interface with video channels displayed centrally, along with a redesigned logo and comment section.
2012-12-21
Gangnam Style Surpasses One Billion Views
On December 21, 2012, the 'Gangnam Style' music video by PSY became the first YouTube video to surpass one billion views, marking a significant milestone.
2013-03-08
Introduction of YouTube One Channel Layout
In early 2013, YouTube introduced the 'One Channel' layout for channels, which allowed playlists to be organized into shelves on the channel front page but removed custom backgrounds. The layout became permanent for all users after a transitional period.
2014-02
Susan Wojcicki Appointed CEO of YouTube
Susan Wojcicki was appointed CEO of YouTube in February 2014.
2014-11
Introduction of Music Key on YouTube
November 2014 saw the launch of Music Key on YouTube, a subscription service offering ad-free music video streaming from select labels, paving the way for future premium content offerings.
2015-11
Launch of YouTube Red
YouTube Red was introduced in November 2015, later rebranded as YouTube Premium, providing subscribers with an ad-free viewing experience and exclusive content access.
2016-01
Adele's 'Hello' Reaches 1 Billion Views
In January 2016, Adele's music video for 'Hello' achieved the fastest 1 billion views on YouTube within 88 days of its release, setting a new record in online video popularity.
2016-02
Launch of YouTube Subscription Service
February 2016 marked the debut of YouTube's general subscription service, replacing YouTube Red and offering users a premium viewing experience with exclusive perks.
2018-04-03
YouTube headquarters shooting
A tragic shooting took place at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California on April 3, 2018, carried out by Nasim Najafi Aghdam. The incident resulted in injuries and loss of lives, shedding light on security concerns in tech workplaces.
2018-11-27
Removal of Existing Annotations
YouTube announced the removal of existing annotations on all videos on November 27, 2018, and the removal took place as scheduled on January 15, 2019.
2020-01-06
YouTube Implements COPPA Regulations
Starting January 6, 2020, YouTube began treating all videos designated as 'made for kids' as liable under COPPA regulations.
2021-11-10
Removal of Dislike Counts
On November 10, 2021, YouTube announced the removal of videos' count for negative user ratings ('dislikes') to protect creators from online harassment.
2022-07-28
Donaldson surpasses 100 million subscribers on main channel
On July 28, 2022, Donaldson reached a milestone by surpassing 100 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel.
2022-11-17
Guinness World Record for Most Subscribers for an Individual Male on YouTube
On November 17, 2022, Donaldson achieved the Guinness World Record for 'Most Subscribers for an Individual Male on YouTube' with his MrBeast channel.
2023-10-15
Donaldson surpasses 200 million subscribers
On October 15, 2023, Donaldson achieved another milestone by surpassing 200 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel.
2024-01-19
YouTube Tests Subscription Sorting and Improved Upload Flow
YouTube is testing subscription sorting and improving the upload flow for members only shorts.
End of the Timeline
YouTube

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