In 2007, British Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first world leader to create a YouTube channel.
As the largest video-sharing service in the world, it’s unlikely that YouTube will lose its top spot anytime soon.
Whether we use the website or app to watch conspiracy theories or cute cat videos, most of us access it daily.
Regardless of how it’s used, these 40 amazing facts about YouTube are definitely worth a read!
YouTube was established on February 14, 2005, by three ex-PayPal employees.
The platform was initially funded by the bonuses received by the employees when eBay acquired PayPal.
The first video ever uploaded on YouTube was on April 23, 2005. It featured a co-founder at the San Diego Zoo.
YouTube was first created as a video dating site called “Tune In Hook Up.”
Google purchased the platform for $1.65 billion in stocks only 18 months after its founding.
With over one billion users, YouTube accounts for almost a third of all Internet users.
YouTube has a production space in Los Angeles that is free to use, but only if you have at least 10,000 subscribers.
The oldest cat video on YouTube dates back to 1894 and shows two cats boxing.
Over 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.
In 2014, Grumpy Cat, a famous YouTube personality, earned more money than Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Compared to Bing, Yahoo!, and Ask combined, YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google.
Every April Fool’s Day, YouTube plays a prank on its millions of users. The first prank involved turning the website upside down and Rick Rolling everyone.
The first appearance of Rickrolling on YouTube was in 2009. Over 18 million US adults were Rickrolled at the height of its popularity in 2008.
YouTubers watch 6 billion hours of video per month and 4 billion videos every day.
Aside from the US, most YouTube views come from Saudi Arabia since TV, Facebook, and Twitter are banned while YouTube is not.
The most popular tutorial searched for is “How to kiss,” followed by “how to tie a tie.”
Music is the most popular topic on YouTube.
The total number of videos uploaded in 2010 is equivalent to over 150,000 full-length movies in theaters every week.
Tony Blair was the first world leader to create a YouTube channel in 2007.
According to a 2013 study, 60% of the 1,000 most viewed YouTube videos are banned in Germany.
The longest video on YouTube is 571 hours, 1 minute, and 41 seconds long, which is the same as 23 days and 19 hours!
The video to reach 1 billion views the fastest was “Hello” by Adele, which achieved the milestone in only 88 days.
The video to receive the most views on its first day of being uploaded is “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Official Teaser #2, which was viewed 112 million times in 24 hours.
Justin Bieber gained fame through YouTube after posting covers that were discovered by Usher. Facebook users watch over 150 years of YouTube every day. In Thailand, YouTube was blocked for five months in 2007 due to a video defacing the king. YouTube’s Automated Content ID scans over 100 years of video daily for copyright infringement. In 2018, a shooting occurred at YouTube’s headquarters in San Bruno. In 2011, 30% of all videos accounted for over 99% of views. YouTube is banned in 23 countries, including China and North Korea. YouTube had 30,000 daily visitors upon launching in 2005, but now has over one billion users. YouTube’s advertising revenue reached $28 billion in 2021, with over 70% of viewers buying products or services after seeing them on the platform. YouTube Premium has over 20 million paid users to prevent ads during videos. Apple spent $237.15 million on YouTube advertising in 2020.
FAQ
1. What was the first video ever uploaded to YouTube?
The first video ever uploaded to YouTube was titled “Me at the zoo” and was uploaded by co-founder Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005. The video is only 18 seconds long and features Karim standing in front of the elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo.
2. What is the most viewed video on YouTube?
The most viewed video on YouTube is currently “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong. As of October 2021, it has over 9.4 billion views. The video features a catchy children’s song about a family of sharks and a dance routine that has become a viral sensation.
3. How many hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute?
As of 2021, over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. This means that it would take over 82 years to watch all the new content uploaded to YouTube in just one day.
4. Who are the most subscribed YouTubers?
The most subscribed YouTuber is currently T-Series, an Indian music video channel with over 200 million subscribers. However, the most popular individual YouTuber is PewDiePie, a Swedish gamer and comedian with over 110 million subscribers.
5. How much money do YouTubers make?
The amount of money YouTubers make can vary greatly depending on factors such as the number of views, the type of content, and the monetization strategy. Some YouTubers can make millions of dollars a year, while others may only make a few hundred dollars. YouTube pays creators a portion of ad revenue and also offers sponsorship and merchandise deals as additional sources of income.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.