YouTube Was Launched as a Dating Site

YouTube is celebrating its 20th anniversary – but how did an idea that led to viral sensations and stars like Gangnam Style and Baby Shark come to life? Its name has even become a verb. Missed the latest viral phenomenon? Just YouTube it. Life in the 21st century without YouTube seems unimaginable, doesn’t it?

Yet, everything started as an unusual idea from three former PayPal employees – Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chen – who registered their domain on Valentine’s Day in 2005, without knowing exactly where it would lead, writes Deutsche Welle.

A Dating Site That No One Wanted

During a 2007 commencement speech at the University of Illinois, Jawed Karim, who was born in Germany, explained:

"We didn’t even know how to describe our new product. To attract attention, we simply said it was a new kind of dating site. We even had a slogan: ‘Tune in, Hook up.’"

However, no one in the U.S. was interested in their dating site. Not even ads in specialized magazines in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, offering women $20 to upload videos, helped.

Like, Comment, or Subscribe

The trio changed direction when they noticed that users were uploading videos of their pets, vacations, and other random content instead of dating videos.

"That seemed very interesting to us. We said, ‘Why not let users define what YouTube is?’ By June, we had completely redesigned the site, making it open to all kinds of content. And it worked."

In its first year, YouTube attracted global users thanks to its simple interface and a revolutionary concept – anyone could become a content creator. All they needed was a camera and an account.

Users could like, comment, and subscribe, creating an inclusive and interactive experience.

The Moment That Changed Everything

In November 2006, Google recognized YouTube’s potential and bought it for $1.65 billion in stock.

Jawed Karim came up with the idea of a video-sharing website in 2004 after struggling to find two very different video clips online:

• The infamous Nipplegate incident during the Super Bowl halftime show, where Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunctioned while performing with Justin Timberlake.
• The devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which left people worldwide desperate to find and share footage of the disaster.

Today, more than 500 hours of content are uploaded every minute on YouTube.

From Viral Videos to Global Influence

YouTube has become home to viral videos that have left an indelible mark on global culture – from the innocent charm of Charlie Bit My Finger to the record-breaking hit Gangnam Style by South Korean singer Psy in 2012.

This was the first video to surpass one billion views, proving YouTube’s ability to transcend cultural and language barriers.

Currently, the most-watched video on YouTube is Baby Shark Dance, with over 15 billion views.

From Unknowns to Global Stars

No story about YouTube’s impact is complete without mentioning Justin Bieber.

In 2007, his mother Pattie Mallette uploaded videos of him singing cover songs, catching the attention of music manager Scooter Braun.

The rest is music history. Bieber’s rise proved that YouTube could launch unknown talents into superstardom, leveling the playing field in the entertainment industry.

Hollywood Is Watching

YouTube has also paved the way for new voices in the film industry.

• Wesley Wang, a young director, went viral with his short film Nothing, Except Everything, a story about teenage anxiety that gained 4.4 million views and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indianapolis Short Independent Film Festival.

  • He is now working on a feature-length version of the film with acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky’s production company.

• Australian twins Danny and Michael Philippou, known for their YouTube channel RackaRacka, transitioned to Hollywood with their 2022 horror film Talk to Me, which became an international hit.

"How To…" – YouTube as a Learning Hub

Beyond entertainment, YouTube has become the ultimate source for tutorials – from "How to take a photo of the moon with an iPhone" to "Cleaning with Coca-Cola."

Educational channels like TED-Ed, Khan Academy, and CrashCourse have turned YouTube into a virtual classroom, accessible to everyone, anywhere.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube saw the highest growth among all social media platforms as people searched for ways to learn and stay engaged.

A fun fact: Finneas O’Connell, better known as Billie Eilish’s brother and music producer, once said that while he learned the basics of music from his parents, "the rest, I learned from YouTube."

He later produced Billie Eilish’s Grammy-winning album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Criticism and Controversies

Despite its success, YouTube has faced numerous controversies, including:

• Copyright management issues
• The spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation
• Exposure of minors to inappropriate content

The platform has introduced stricter guidelines and algorithmic improvements to tackle these issues, particularly combatting misinformation about vaccines and extremist content.

Critics argue, however, that misinformation still persists, and Google has resisted EU regulations that would impose stricter oversight.

What Happened to YouTube’s Founders?

The first-ever YouTube video, Me at the Zoo, was uploaded on April 23, 2005.

It lasts 19 seconds and features Jawed Karim standing in front of elephants at the San Diego Zoo.

Unlike tech moguls who seek the spotlight, Karim, Hurley, and Chen have mostly stayed out of the public eye since selling YouTube.

They have invested in various startups over the years but have largely remained private.

One YouTube comment perhaps best sums up their legacy:

"It’s crazy to think that these three guys didn’t just change the internet – they changed the entire world."