YouTube: Twenty Years And Counting
A 19-second YouTube video from April 23, 2005, changed the course of internet history. The video titled “Me at the zoo” by YouTube’s co-founder Jawed Karim, focused on elephants at the San Diego zoo. Presently, YouTube serves as the de facto website for governments, media, artists, and others use to communicate with the world. According to a 2024 report by The Atlantic, the site hosts over 14 billion public videos with millions more either hidden or private.
YouTube: Platforming Talent And Beyond
Beyond being a mere channel for communication, YouTube has platformed talent and skill like no other social media site/app. A 2021 listicle by BuzzFeed highlights 19 musicians who were ‘discovered’ on YouTube as ‘children.’ These musicians include Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Dua Lipa and Soulja Boy. These artists launched their careers with song “covers” that eventually catapulted them to fame and celebrity. Likewise, many prospective singers/artists continue to emulate predecessors and chase the elusive ‘viral’ fame on the site.
Despite the presence of several other apps/websites that showcase fresh talent, YouTube’s ubiquity stems from its simple design and interface. Music festivals, political rallies, gaming streams, interviews, cooking videos, dog/cat videos – name it and YouTube literally has it.
Billion Views Club: A Unique Distinction
Of the numerous uploads, a select few boast the unique distinction of being part of the billion-views club. Thanks to the app’s unprecedented popularity with young children (and their parents), many videos in the billion club are “nursery rhymes.”
Apart from rhymes that continue to dominate the views counter, several songs continue to rise in popularity. Latin Grammy award winning Puerto Rican singer, Luis Fonsi’s song “Despacito” has over 8.7 billion views currently. The song’s influence cannot be ignored as several critics and listeners credit Fonsi for “renewing the popularity of Spanish-language music in the mainstream market.” Rapper Wiz Khalifa’s 2015 song “See You Again” made for the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise has over 6.4 billions views. British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s 2017 song “Shape Of You” has amassed 6.2 billion views currently. South Korean phenomenon Psy’s chartbuster “Gangnam Style” has 5.5 billion views.
Today, as YouTube celebrates its 20-year anniversary, it is necessary to acknowledge the lasting impact of the social media colossus as it continues to prod on.
Featured Image Credits: freestocks.org/pexels