Twenty years have passed since the first video posted on YouTube. Me at the zoowas loaded on April 23, 2005 by Jawed Karim, one of the three founders of the platform together with Steve Chen and Chad Hurley. To see him now he makes tenderness: the fixed shot, the unclear audio, the approximate quality. Yet this clip has marked the start of what has become today The most popular global television broadcaster in the world with more than 2.5 billion spectators.
The definition of «Planetary TV»It is a bit generic and approximate, but clearly explains the surprising evolution of YouTube from its foundation to today. The slogan of the project conceived by three former Paypal employees was “Broadcast Yourself”, sides yourself. Now the platform purchased by Google in 2006, has been transformed into the epicenter of global culturean impossible dimension to be foreseen to its beginnings.
A free and global voice
«Today is the place par excellence of creativity and represents the only open platform that allows you to share your item by overcoming generational differencesbecause everyone can also use it to find solutions to practical issues, as well as to inquire and learn new things, regardless of their age. In addition, it can boast of be the only platform that shares revenues with creators On a large scale, on multiple formats, “he says to Vanity Fair Francesca MortaraSouthern Europe YouTube Director.
YouTube hosts billions of hours of video, from music clips to daily vlogs, from tutorials to cinematographic quality productions. The platform has become an invaluable archive of historical moments, pop trends, training and entertainment content. Really, YouTube could be considered the largest video encyclopedia in the worldbut there is much more. The difference of the content, the huge and dynamic users of users, the exceptional business generated by the platform and technology make the difference.
In fact, YouTube’s success is due to several factors. First of all, has democratized video productionallowing anyone with an Internet connection to become a content creator. Secondly, he offered a free alternative and accessible to traditional television, with a variety of content that satisfy all tasteseven those of the smallest niches. Finally, the acquisition by Google provided the platform with the resources and infrastructures necessary to climb globally and to build a flourishing business model capable of lasting over time.
Fundamental resource of the economy of creativity
In the last three years, YouTube distributed 70 billion dollars to content creatorsto artists and media companies, contributing significantly to the economy. Only in Europe, the contribution of the platform to the GDP of the creative ecosystem was 6.4 billion euros, the equivalent of 185,000 full -time jobs. And that it is youtube a significant source of income For many, this demonstrates that more than 100,000 creators and partners only in the EU employ other people to work on their YouTube channels.
Growth is also very strong in Italy: More than 30,000 channels exceed 10,000 subscribersover 4,000 100,000 and more than 300 channels exceeded the million subscribers. In addition, over 40% of the visualization time of Italian content comes from abroad.
«YouTube has always had the ability to bring the creative vision and ideas of creators to people all over the world, also determining its success. Today the Creators are head of flourishing activities and impulse to local economies By creating new jobs: they have corporate strategies, authors and production teams and are creative entrepreneurs », underlines Francesca Mortara.
The future of the platform
Looking to the future, YouTube focuses on artificial intelligence to innovate further. Among the new features there are tools on automatic dubbing In other languages and new interactive features for vision on TV, which is now the main device in the United States with over a billion hours consumed every day. In addition, the platform aims to strengthen the monetization of podcasts and to expand the options for creators through shopping, recommendations and memberships.
Also interesting the use of AI for the protection of content From any abuse, not only by protecting copyright but even recognizing and blocking any deepfakes. Competition with other social networks such as Tiktok and Instagram remains intense, but YouTube has been able to maintain its leader’s position thanks to the diversification of its content and the loyalty of its users.
The most viewed videos ever
Some curiosities make the idea of the pervasiveness and power of YouTube better. Just quote the most viewed videos ever on the platform. In the first place with Over 15 billion views is there Baby Shark Dance – Animal Songfollowed by Luis Fonsi – Despacito with more than 8.6 billion and heel from Wheels on the bus – @Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs with 7.2 billion of steps.
Music is confirmed as one of the most important content for YouTube as the channels show with the greatest number of registered users, all of artists. The first is that of the Korean Girl Band Blackpink with 96.2 million subscribersfollowed by the other k-pop phenomenon, i BTS BANGTANTV with 80 million. In third place Justin Bieber With 75 million users registered in the channel, then Eminem and Taylor Swift.
It is always music that also keeps the bench in our country, the most viewed Italian video with over 360 million views is Pio chickbut singing in Spanish Eros Ramazzotti does much better, exceeding 640 million views with The beautiful Mas thing (the most beautiful thing). Among the most followed compatriots channels stands out Manuel Mercuri with 15.4 million subscribers and Lionfiels with 13.8 million subscribers, also beloved Khaby Lame with 12.4 million fun.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
