youtube-logo

Youtube Celebrates 5 Year Annivesary

Five years ago this month May, after months of late nights, testing and preparation, YouTube’s founders launched the first beta version of YouTube.com with a simple mission: give anyone a place to easily upload their videos and share them with the world. Whether you were an aspiring filmmaker, a politician, a proud parent, or someone who just wanted to connect with something bigger, YouTube became the place where you could “broadcast yourself.”

Over time, these beliefs created a vibrant and inspiring community that helped transform a murmur of interest into something far greater than any of us ever could have imagined. Today, thanks to our community, we’re announcing that our site has crossed another milestone and now exceeds over two billion video views a day.

What started as a site for bedroom vloggers and viral videos has evolved into a global platform that supports HD and 3D, broadcasts entire sports seasons live to over 200 countries, brings feature films from Hollywood studios and independent filmmakers to far-flung audiences, documents social unrest seeking to transform societies, and streams interviews with leading political figures to the world.

Check out the YouTube 5 Year channel we launched today to celebrate their anniversary at www.youtube.com/fiveyear. There, you’ll find the “My YouTube Story” project which features people from around the world describing how YouTube has changed, or shaped, their lives.

Users are invited to submit their own story to the mix at www.youtube.com/fiveyear. User video submissions may be selected to appear on the channel’s video wall or map.

The channel is also home to an interactive timeline containing some of the most important moments and memes in YouTube’s short history. YouTube has also asked a handful of luminaries, like Conan O’Brien, Vint Cerf and Katie Couric, to curate playlists showcasing their favorite videos on the subjects they know best, whether it be comedy, tech or news.
More >