YouTube

YouTube is an internet platform where people and organizations upload, watch, and share videos. It was registered on February 14, 2005, and was founded by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. Its headquarters are located in California, United States.

The founding model was user-generated: the person uploading the video bears responsibility for what they post, while the platform manages storage, distribution, and recommendations. The first video uploaded, titled 'Me at the zoo', was posted on April 23, 2005.

History and Google acquisition

The beta version was made available to the public in 2005, after which the service grew rapidly. A year after its official launch, Google acquired YouTube for an estimated 1.65 billion dollars in stock. At that time, this was Google's largest acquisition.

How it works

Users create a channel on which they post videos. Viewers can like, comment, share, and subscribe to these channels. An algorithm—a computer system that determines what content appears next—largely governs which videos are shown to users, affecting how content is distributed and gain viewership.

The platform's revenue typically comes from advertisements embedded in videos, a portion of which is shared with video creators, as well as paid subscription services without advertisements. Many creators have turned this into a stable income source, giving rise to what is known as the creator economy.

Disputes and content moderation

Because the volume of uploaded videos is very large, the platform has faced questions regarding copyright, misinformation, and content unsuitable for children. Automated systems have been implemented to detect copyrighted material, and user policies suspend or restrict channels that violate rules. Various governments have also at times blocked or limited access to the platform within their borders.