YouTube is an American social media and online video platform owned by Google. Founded in 2005 by former PayPal employees, YouTube has become a global phenomenon, boasting over 2.7 billion monthly active users who collectively watch billions of hours of videos daily.
On October 9, 2006, YouTube was purchased by Google for $1.65 billion. Google expanded YouTube's business model, shifting from solely relying on advertising revenue to include paid content like movies and exclusive content produced for YouTube. It also introduced YouTube Premium, a paid subscription for ad-free viewing. By incorporating Google's AdSense program, YouTube generated increased revenue for both itself and approved content creators. In 2023, YouTube's advertising revenue reached $31.7 billion, a slight increase from the previous year. From Q4 2023 to Q3 2024, YouTube's combined revenue from advertising and subscriptions exceeded $50 billion.
Since its acquisition by Google, YouTube has expanded beyond its core website, encompassing mobile apps, network television, and integration with other platforms. Video categories on YouTube are diverse, including music videos, video clips, news, short and feature films, songs, documentaries, movie trailers, teasers, TV spots, live streams, vlogs, and more. Most content is generated by individuals, often in collaboration with corporate sponsors. Established media, news, and entertainment corporations have also established channels on YouTube to reach wider audiences.
YouTube has had a profound social impact, influencing popular culture, internet trends, and creating numerous multimillionaire celebrities. However, the platform has faced criticism for various issues, including the spread of misinformation and copyrighted content, routine violations of user privacy, excessive censorship, threats to children's safety and well-being, and inconsistent enforcement of platform guidelines.
