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| == {{Anchor|Company history}}{{Anchor|Website history}}History ==
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| {{Main|History of YouTube}}{{See also|Timeline of online video}}
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| === Founding and initial growth (2005–2006) ===
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| [[File:Youtube founders.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|From left to right: [[Chad Hurley]], [[Steve Chen]], and [[Jawed Karim]], the founders of YouTube.]]
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| YouTube was founded by [[Steve Chen]], [[Chad Hurley]], and [[Jawed Karim]]. The trio were early employees of [[PayPal]], which left them enriched after the company was bought by [[eBay]].<ref name="Jackpot" /> Hurley had studied design at the [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania]], and Chen and Karim studied [[computer science]] together at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 11, 2006 |title=YouTube founders now superstars |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/youtube-founders-now-superstars-20061011-gdokrc.html |access-date=March 18, 2021 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413152749/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/youtube-founders-now-superstars-20061011-gdokrc.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| According to a story that has often been repeated in the media, Hurley and Chen developed the idea for YouTube during the early months of 2005, after they had experienced difficulty sharing videos that had been shot at a dinner party at Chen's apartment in San Francisco. Karim did not attend the party and denied that it had occurred, but Chen remarked that the idea that YouTube was founded after a dinner party "was probably very strengthened by marketing ideas around creating a story that was very digestible".<ref name="YouTube gurus">{{cite magazine |last=Cloud |first=John |date=December 25, 2006 |title=The YouTube Gurus |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570795,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516152014/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570795,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Karim said the inspiration for YouTube came from the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy]], when [[Janet Jackson]]'s breast was briefly exposed by [[Justin Timberlake]] during the halftime show. Karim could not easily find video clips of the incident and the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami]] online, which led to the idea of a video-sharing site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Surprise! There's a third YouTube co-founder |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-11-youtube-karim_x.htm |website=USA Today|first=Jim |last=Hopkins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004011143/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-11-youtube-karim_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |date=October 11, 2006|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McAlone |first1=Nathan |title=Here's how Janet Jackson's infamous 'nipplegate' inspired the creation of YouTube |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/idea-for-youtube-came-from-janet-jackson-nipplegate-2015-10 |access-date=April 13, 2024 |work=Business Insider|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418131048/https://www.businessinsider.com/idea-for-youtube-came-from-janet-jackson-nipplegate-2015-10 |url-status=live|date=October 2, 2015}}</ref> Hurley and Chen said that the original idea for YouTube was a video version of an [[online dating service]] and had been influenced by the website [[Hot or Not]].<ref name="YouTube gurus" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050428014715/https://www.youtube.com/ Earliest surviving version of the YouTube website] [[Wayback Machine]], April 28, 2005. Retrieved June 19, 2013.</ref> They created posts on [[Craigslist]] asking attractive women to upload videos of themselves to YouTube in exchange for a $100 reward.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJEXUNmP5M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XAJEXUNmP5M |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=r p 2006: YouTube: From Concept to Hypergrowth – Jawed Karim |date=April 22, 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Difficulty in finding enough dating videos led to a change of plans, with the site's founders deciding to accept uploads of any video.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube was meant to be a video-dating website|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/16/youtube-past-video-dating-website|first=Stuart |last=Dredge|work=The Guardian |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128200940/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/16/youtube-past-video-dating-website |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| [[File:Youtube logo.jpg|thumb|The YouTube logo used from its launch until 2007;{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} it returned in 2008 before being removed again in 2010.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Another version of this logo without the "Broadcast Yourself" slogan was used until 2011.]]
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| YouTube began as a [[venture capital]]–funded technology [[startup company|startup]]. Between November 2005 and April 2006, the company raised money from various investors, with [[Sequoia Capital]] and Artis Capital Management being the largest two.<ref name="Jackpot">{{cite news |first1=Miguel |last1=Helft |first2=Matt |last2=Richtel |title=Venture Firm Shares a YouTube Jackpot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10payday.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 10, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|433418867}} |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311122613/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10payday.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=San Francisco Hedge Fund Invested in YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12hedges.html |work=The New York Times|last1=Helft|first1=Miguel|volume=156|issue=53,730 |date=October 12, 2006 |id={{ProQuest|433422252}}|archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034144/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12hedges.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 8, 2018}}</ref> YouTube's early headquarters were situated above a pizzeria and a Japanese restaurant in [[San Mateo, California]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Sara |last=Kehaulani Goo |title=Ready for Its Close-Up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600660.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402153534/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600660.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |date=October 7, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}</ref> In February 2005, the company activated <code>www.youtube.com</code>.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whois Record for <code>www.youtube.com</code> |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/youtube.com|publisher=DomainTools |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402130611/http://whois.domaintools.com/youtube.com |url-status=live|access-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref> The first video was uploaded on April 23, 2005. Titled "[[Me at the zoo]]", it shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the [[San Diego Zoo]] and can still be viewed on the site.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube: Overnight success has sparked a backlash |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2480280/YouTube-Overnight-success-has-sparked-a-backlash.html|first=Richard |last=Alleyne|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2480280/YouTube-Overnight-success-has-sparked-a-backlash.html|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|archive-date=January 10, 2022|date=July 31, 2008|access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 23, 2005 |title=Me at the zoo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw |website=YouTube |last1=jawed |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jNQXAC9IVRw |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 3, 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The same day, the company launched a public [[BETA (programming language)|beta]] and by November, a Nike ad featuring [[Ronaldinho]] became the first video to reach one million total views.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hurley Declaration|url=https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//press/pdf/c_hurley_declaration.pdf|page=2|access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/browse.php?s=mp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102073554/https://www.youtube.com/browse.php?s=mp |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2005 |title=Most Viewed – YouTube |work=[[Wayback Machine]] |date=November 2, 2005 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> The site launched officially on December 15, 2005, by which time the site was receiving 8 million views a day.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube: a history |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/7596636/YouTube-a-history.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/7596636/YouTube-a-history.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Megan Rose |last=Dickey |title=The 22 Key Turning Points in the History of YouTube |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2 |website=[[Business Insider]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512055717/http://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |date=February 15, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Clips at the time were limited to 100 megabytes, as little as 30 seconds of footage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Video websites pop up, invite postings |date=November 21, 2005 |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-21-video-websites_x.htm|last=Graham |first=Jefferson |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=USA Today |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412064600/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-21-video-websites_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| YouTube was not the first video-sharing site on the Internet; [[Vimeo]] was launched in November 2004, though that site remained a side project of its developers from [[CollegeHumor]].<ref name="fortune vimeo">{{cite web|title=How Vimeo became hipster YouTube|url=https://fortune.com/2011/02/23/how-vimeo-became-hipster-youtube/|first=John Patrick|last=Pullen|date=February 23, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2020 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108022616/https://fortune.com/2011/02/23/how-vimeo-became-hipster-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The week of YouTube's launch, NBC-Universal's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' ran a skit "[[Lazy Sunday (The Lonely Island song)|Lazy Sunday]]" by [[The Lonely Island]]. Besides helping to bolster ratings and long-term viewership for ''Saturday Night Live'', "Lazy Sunday"'s status as an early [[viral video]] helped establish YouTube as an important website.<ref name="First Launched">{{cite web |url=https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/heres-what-people-thought-of-youtube-when-it-first-laun-1832019272 |title=Here's What People Thought of YouTube When It First Launched in the Mid-2000s |first=Matt |last=Novak |date=February 14, 2020 |work=[[Gizmodo]] |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210158/https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/heres-what-people-thought-of-youtube-when-it-first-laun-1832019272 |url-status=live|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> Unofficial uploads of the skit to YouTube drew in more than five million collective views by February 2006 before they were removed when [[NBCUniversal]] requested it two months later based on copyright concerns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/business/media/a-video-clip-goes-viral-and-a-tv-network-wants-to-control-it.html |title=A Video Clip Goes Viral, and a TV Network Wants to Control It |first=John |last=Biggs |date=February 20, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308130248/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/business/media/a-video-clip-goes-viral-and-a-tv-network-wants-to-control-it.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite eventually being taken down, these duplicate uploads of the skit helped popularize YouTube's reach and led to the upload of more third-party content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lazy-sunday-10th-anniversary-snl-1201657949/ |title='Lazy Sunday' Turns 10: 'SNL' Stars Recall How TV Invaded the Internet |first1=Andrew |last1=Wallenstein |first2=Todd |last2=Spangler |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214093508/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lazy-sunday-10th-anniversary-snl-1201657949/ |url-status=live |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |date=December 18, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hollywood Flashback: 'SNL's' 'Lazy Sunday' Put YouTube on the Map in 2005 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-snls-lazy-sunday-put-youtube-map-2005-1044829 |first=Bill |last=Higgens |date=October 5, 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117164538/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-snls-lazy-sunday-put-youtube-map-2005-1044829 |url-status=live|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> The site grew rapidly; in July 2006, the company announced that more than 65,000 new videos were being uploaded every day and that the site was receiving 100 million video views per day.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube serves up 100 million videos a day online|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-16-youtube-views_x.htm |website=USA Today|archive-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231004209/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-16-youtube-views_x.htm |url-status=live|date=July 16, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>
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| The choice of the name <code>www.youtube.com</code> led to problems for a similarly named website, <code>www.utube.com</code>. That site's owner, [[Universal Tube & Rollform Equipment]], filed a lawsuit against YouTube in November 2006, after being regularly overloaded by people looking for YouTube. Universal Tube subsequently changed its website to <code>www.utubeonline.com</code>.<ref>{{cite news |title=Help! YouTube is killing my business! |last1=Zappone |first1=Christian |publisher=CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/12/news/companies/utube/index.htm |access-date=November 29, 2008 |date=October 12, 2006 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144540/https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/12/news/companies/utube/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Utube sues YouTube |last1=Blakely |first1=Rhys |work=The Times |location=London |url=https://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article623050.ece |date=November 2, 2006 |archive-date=April 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403234216/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article623050.ece |url-status=dead|access-date=November 29, 2008}}</ref>
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| === "Broadcast Yourself" era (2006–2013) ===
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| [[File:901 Cherry Avenue.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.15|YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California]]
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| On October 9, 2006, [[Google]] announced that they had acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google to buy YouTube for $1.65 billion|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/09/technology/googleyoutube_deal/|first=Paul R.|last=La Monica |website=[[CNNMoney]] |publisher=CNN|archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305094811/https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/09/technology/googleyoutube_deal/ |url-status=live|date=October 9, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Arrington |title=Google Has Acquired YouTube |url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/09/google-has-acquired-youtube/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 9, 2006 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024815/https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/09/google-has-acquired-youtube/ |url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> The deal was finalized on November 13, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Closes YouTube Acquisition |first=Michael |last=Arrington |url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/11/13/google-closes-youtube-acquisition/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024500/https://techcrunch.com/2006/11/13/google-closes-youtube-acquisition/ |url-status=live |date=November 13, 2006 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Google closes $A2b YouTube deal |url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/Busness/Google-closes-A2b-YouTube-deal/2006/11/14/1163266548827.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220214911/https://www.theage.com.au/news/Busness/Google-closes-A2b-YouTube-deal/2006/11/14/1163266548827.html |website=[[The Age]] |date=November 14, 2006 |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Google's acquisition launched newfound interest in video-sharing sites; [[IAC (company)|IAC]], which now owned Vimeo, focused on supporting the content creators to distinguish itself from YouTube.<ref name="fortune vimeo" /> It is at this time YouTube issued the slogan "Broadcast Yourself".
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| The company experienced rapid growth. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote that in 2007, YouTube consumed as much [[bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] as the entire Internet in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Lewis |date=April 7, 2008 |title=Web could collapse as video demand soars |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584230/Web-could-collapse-as-video-demand-soars.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584230/Web-could-collapse-as-video-demand-soars.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By 2010, the company had reached a [[market share]] of around 43% and more than 14 billion views of videos, according to [[comScore]].<ref>{{cite web |title=comScore Releases May 2010 U.S. Online Video Rankings |url=https://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/comScore_Releases_May_2010_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings |access-date=June 27, 2010 |publisher=[[comScore]] |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626124554/http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/comScore_Releases_May_2010_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, the company simplified its interface to increase the time users would spend on the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube redesigns website to keep viewers captivated |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfGfKKsiwbxNv8XoUbm8ZlRZZWyw |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226120718/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfGfKKsiwbxNv8XoUbm8ZlRZZWyw |url-status=dead|access-date=April 1, 2010}}</ref> In 2011, more than three billion videos were being watched each day with 48 hours of new videos uploaded every minute.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube moves past 3 billion views a day |url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/youtube-moves-past-3-billion-views-a-day/|publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206044204/https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/youtube-moves-past-3-billion-views-a-day/ |url-status=live|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Martin |date=May 25, 2011 |title=YouTube hits 3 Billion views per day, 2 DAYS worth of video uploaded every minute |url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2011/05/25/youtube-hits-3-billion-views-per-day-2-days-worth-of-video-uploaded-every-minute/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=The Next Web |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225051205/https://thenextweb.com/google/2011/05/25/youtube-hits-3-billion-views-per-day-2-days-worth-of-video-uploaded-every-minute/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="48-60">{{cite news |title=Exclusive: YouTube hits 4 billion daily video views |work=Reuters|last=Oreskovic |first=Alexei |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube-idUSTRE80M0TS20120123|archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308105444/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube-idUSTRE80M0TS20120123 |url-status=live|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> However, most of these views came from a relatively small number of videos; according to a software engineer at that time, 30% of videos accounted for 99% of views on the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=Almost all YouTube views come from just 30% of films |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8464418/Almost-all-YouTube-views-come-from-just-30-of-films.html|last=Whitelaw |first=Ben |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8464418/Almost-all-YouTube-views-come-from-just-30-of-films.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> That year, the company again changed its interface and at the same time, introduced a new logo with a darker shade of red.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 2, 2011 |title=YouTube's website redesign puts the focus on channels |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16006524 |access-date=December 2, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416164337/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16006524 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cashmore |first1=Pete |title=YouTube Gets New Logo, Facelift and Trackbacks – Growing Fast! |website=[[Mashable]] |url=https://mashable.com/2006/10/26/youtube-gets-new-logo-facelift-and-trackbacks-growing-fast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403122830/https://mashable.com/2006/10/26/youtube-gets-new-logo-facelift-and-trackbacks-growing-fast/ |url-status=live |date=October 26, 2006 |archive-date=April 3, 2019|access-date=December 2, 2011 }}</ref> A subsequent interface change, designed to unify the experience across desktop, TV, and mobile, was rolled out in 2013.<ref name="tnw-one">{{Cite news|title=Google Rolls Out Redesigned YouTube 'One Channel' Layout to All|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/youtube-rolls-out-redesigned-one-channel-layout-to-all-users|work=The Next Web|last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=June 5, 2013|access-date=July 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523124430/https://thenextweb.com/news/youtube-rolls-out-redesigned-one-channel-layout-to-all-users |url-status=live }}</ref> By that point, more than 100 hours were being uploaded every minute, increasing to 300 hours by November 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |title=YouTube users now upload 100 hours of video every minute |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/19/4345514/youtube-users-upload-100-hours-video-every-minute |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308194957/https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/19/4345514/youtube-users-upload-100-hours-video-every-minute |url-status=live|date=May 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=E. Solsman |first=Joan |date=November 12, 2014 |title=YouTube's Music Key: Can paid streaming finally hook the masses? |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-music-key-googles-stab-at-taking-paid-streaming-songs-mainstream/|publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308080226/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-music-key-googles-stab-at-taking-paid-streaming-songs-mainstream/|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref>
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| [[File:Logo of YouTube (2015-2017).svg|thumb|upright=0.9|YouTube logo from 2015 until 2017]]
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| During this time, the company also went through some organizational changes. In October 2006, YouTube moved to a new office in [[San Bruno, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The revolution wasn't televised: The early days of YouTube |url=https://mashable.com/2015/02/14/youtube-history/|website=[[Mashable]]|last1=Wasserman|first1=Todd|archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213052612/https://mashable.com/2015/02/14/youtube-history/|url-status=live |date=February 15, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2018 }}</ref> Hurley announced that he would be stepping down as chief executive officer of YouTube to take an advisory role and that [[Salar Kamangar]] would take over as head of the company in October 2010.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 29, 2010 |title=Hurley stepping down as YouTube chief executive |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggtnJSISuXoPHgxu6HwPJJqVTT6g?docId=CNG.f7ff59e3829714d23524d35ed1afdd63.921 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226121025/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggtnJSISuXoPHgxu6HwPJJqVTT6g?docId=CNG.f7ff59e3829714d23524d35ed1afdd63.921 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| In December 2009, YouTube partnered with [[Vevo]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 7, 2009 |title=Music Industry Companies Opening Video Site |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/media/08vevo.html |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |id={{ProQuest|1029889187}} |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820162901/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/media/08vevo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2010, Lady Gaga's "[[Bad Romance]]" became the [[List of most-viewed YouTube videos|most viewed video]], becoming the first video to reach 200 million views on May 9, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bad Romance By Lady Gaga Becomes First YouTube Video To Hit 200 Million Views|url=https://pulse2.com/bad-romance-by-lady-gaga-becomes-first-youtube-video-to-hit-200-million-views/|access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195642/https://pulse2.com/bad-romance-by-lady-gaga-becomes-first-youtube-video-to-hit-200-million-views/ |url-status=live|date=May 9, 2010 }}</ref>
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| YouTube [[Viacom International Inc. v. YouTube, Inc.|faced a major lawsuit]] by [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom International]] in 2011 that nearly resulted in the discontinuation of the website. The lawsuit was filed as a result of alleged [[copyright infringement]] of Viacom's material by YouTube. However, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] ruled that YouTube was not liable, and thus YouTube won the case in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McSherry |first=Corynne |date=April 5, 2012 |title=Viacom v. Google: A Decision at Last, and It's Mostly Good (for the Internet and Innovation) |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/04/viacom-v-google-decision |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505223149/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/04/viacom-v-google-decision |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| === Susan Wojcicki and going mainstream (2014–2018) ===
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| [[File:YouTube Logo 2017.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|YouTube logo from 2017 until 2024]]
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| [[Susan Wojcicki]] was appointed [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of YouTube in February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Google taps longtime executive Wojcicki to head YouTube|work=Reuters |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube/google-taps-longtime-executive-wojcicki-to-head-youtube-idINBREA141Y420140205|last=Oreskovic|first=Alexei|access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916183049/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube/google-taps-longtime-executive-wojcicki-to-head-youtube-idINBREA141Y420140205|url-status=dead|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> In January 2016, YouTube expanded its headquarters in San Bruno by purchasing an office park for $215 million. The complex has 51,468 square metres (554,000 square feet) of space and can house up to 2,800 employees.<ref name="office_park">{{cite news |last=Avalos |first=George |date=January 20, 2016 |title=YouTube expansion in San Bruno signals big push by video site |work=Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29405413/youtube-expansion-san-bruno-signals-big-push-by |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122103350/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29405413/youtube-expansion-san-bruno-signals-big-push-by |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube officially launched the "polymer" redesign of its user interfaces based on [[Material Design]] language as its default, as well a redesigned logo that is built around the service's play button emblem in August 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube has a new look and, for the first time, a new logo |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/29/16216868/new-youtube-logo-redesign-font-color-app-design|last=Popper |first=Ben |access-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106091346/https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/29/16216868/new-youtube-logo-redesign-font-color-app-design |url-status=live|date=August 29, 2017 }}</ref>
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| Through this period, YouTube tried several new ways to generate revenue beyond advertisements. In 2013, YouTube launched a pilot program for content providers to offer premium, subscription-based channels.<ref name="subscription">{{cite news|title=YouTube launches pay-to-watch subscription channels|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22474715|work=[[BBC News]] |date=May 9, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410082148/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22474715 |url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23184159/youtube-providers-could-begin-charging-fees-this-week |title=YouTube providers could begin charging fees this week |last=Nakaso |first=Dan |work=[[San Jose Mercury News|Mercury News]] |date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2013 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312084711/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23184159/youtube-providers-could-begin-charging-fees-this-week |url-status=live }}</ref> This effort was discontinued in January 2018 and relaunched in June, with US$4.99 channel subscriptions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paid content discontinued January 1, 2018 – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7515570?hl=en |access-date=April 19, 2021 |publisher=Google Inc. |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419185440/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7515570?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=June 22, 2018 |title=YouTube introduces paid subscriptions and merchandise selling in bid to help creators monetize the platform |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/22/youtube-introduces-paid-channel-subscriptions-and-merchandise-selling.html |publisher=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214316/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/22/youtube-introduces-paid-channel-subscriptions-and-merchandise-selling.html |url-status=live|access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> These channel subscriptions complemented the existing Super Chat ability, launched in 2017, which allows viewers to donate between $1 and $500 to have their comment highlighted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Laura |date=April 12, 2017 |title=A Chat With a Live Streamer Is Yours, for a Price |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/technology/personaltech/paying-for-live-stream-chat.html|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011619/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/technology/personaltech/paying-for-live-stream-chat.html |url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2014, YouTube announced a subscription service known as "Music Key", which bundled ad-free streaming of music content on YouTube with the existing [[Google Play Music]] service.<ref>{{cite news |last=Newton |first=Casey |date=November 12, 2014 |title=YouTube announces plans for a subscription music service |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/12/7201969/youtube-music-key-new-subscription-service|archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308192132/https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/12/7201969/youtube-music-key-new-subscription-service |url-status=live|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> The service continued to evolve in 2015 when YouTube announced [[YouTube Red]], a new premium service that would offer ad-free access to all content on the platform (succeeding the Music Key service released the previous year), premium original series, and films produced by YouTube personalities, as well as background playback of content on mobile devices. YouTube also released [[YouTube Music]], a third app oriented towards streaming and discovering the music content hosted on the YouTube platform.<ref name="Youtubered">{{cite web|title=Google wants you to pay $9.99 per month for ad-free YouTube |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/21/google-wants-you-to-pay-9-99-per-month-for-ad-free-youtube/|last1=Reader|first1=Ruth |website=Venturebeat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308075506/https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/21/google-wants-you-to-pay-9-99-per-month-for-ad-free-youtube/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 8, 2021|date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=October 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 21, 2015 |title=Exclusive: An inside look at the new ad-free YouTube Red |language=en-US |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9566973/youtube-red-ad-free-offline-paid-subscription-service|last=Popper |first=Ben|archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404133500/https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9566973/youtube-red-ad-free-offline-paid-subscription-service |url-status=live|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Engadget-ytmusic">{{cite web|title=YouTube Music isn't perfect, but it's still heaven for music nerds|url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/11/12/youtube-music-app-hands-on/|website=Engadget.com |date=November 12, 2015|last=Ingraham |first=Nathan|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022054/https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-12-youtube-music-app-hands-on.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| The company also attempted to create products appealing to specific viewers. YouTube released a mobile app known as [[YouTube Kids]] in 2015, designed to provide an experience optimized for children. It features a simplified user interface, curated selections of channels featuring age-appropriate content, and parental control features.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hands on With "YouTube Kids," Google's Newly Launched, Child-Friendly YouTube App |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/23/hands-on-with-youtube-kids-googles-newly-launched-child-friendly-youtube-app/|first=Sarah |last=Perez|website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]]|date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626223616/https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/23/hands-on-with-youtube-kids-googles-newly-launched-child-friendly-youtube-app/ |url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Also in 2015, YouTube launched YouTube Gaming—a [[video gaming]]-oriented vertical and app for videos and live streaming, intended to compete with the [[Amazon.com]]-owned [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google launches YouTube Gaming to challenge Amazon-owned Twitch |work=The Guardian |first=Stuart |last=Dredge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/26/youtube-gaming-live-website-apps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906044745/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/26/youtube-gaming-live-website-apps |url-status=live|archive-date=September 6, 2015|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref>
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| The company was attacked on April 3, 2018, when [[2018 YouTube headquarters shooting|a shooting]] occurred at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California, which wounded four and resulted in the death of the shooter.<ref name="shooting">{{cite news |date=April 4, 2018 |title=YouTube shooting: Suspect visited shooting range before attack |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43645812 |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308085103/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43645812 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| === Recent history (2019–present) ===
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| By February 2017, one billion hours of YouTube videos were being watched every day, and 400 hours worth of videos were uploaded every minute.<ref name="1 billion hours" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Lumb |first=David |date=February 27, 2017 |title=One billion hours of YouTube are watched every day |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525081426/https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, the uploads had risen to more than 500 hours per minute.<ref name="500 hours per minute" /> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], when most of the world was under [[stay-at-home order]]s, usage of services like YouTube significantly increased. One data firm{{which|date=October 2022}} estimated that YouTube was accounting for 15% of all [[internet traffic]], twice its pre-pandemic level.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbit Hole, episode Eight: 'We Go All' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html|last=Rouse |first=Kevin |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060158/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html |url-status=live|date=June 4, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref> In response to EU officials requesting that such services reduce bandwidth as to make sure medical entities had sufficient bandwidth to share information, YouTube and [[Netflix]] stated they would reduce streaming quality for at least thirty days as to cut bandwidth use of their services by 25% to comply with the EU's request.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Netflix and YouTube are slowing down in Europe to keep the internet from breaking |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html|publisher=CNN |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128181816/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html |url-status=live|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> YouTube later announced that they would continue with this move worldwide: "We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation."<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube is reducing the quality of videos for the next month — and it's because increased traffic amid the coronavirus outbreak is straining internet bandwidth |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3|work=Business Insider |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615151942/https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3|url-status=live|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref>
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| Following a 2018 complaint alleging violations of the [[Children's Online Privacy Protection Act]] (COPPA),<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube Illegally Tracks Data on Kids, Groups Claim in FTC Complaint |language=en-US |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/|last=Spangler|first=Todd|archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608030638/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/|url-status=live|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref> the company was fined $170 million by the FTC for collecting personal information from minors under the age of 13.<ref>{{cite web |title=FTC's Latest Fine Of YouTube Over COPPA Violations Shows That COPPA And Section 230 Are On A Collision Course |last=Mike |first=Masnick |url=https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |website=Techdirt. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906200850/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2019|date=September 6, 2019 |access-date=September 7, 2019 }}</ref> YouTube was also ordered to create systems to increase children's privacy.<ref name="verge-coppafine">{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Google will pay $170 million for YouTube's child privacy violations |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214341/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fung |first=Brian |title=Google and FTC reach $170 million settlement over alleged YouTube violations of kids' privacy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=[[CNN Business]] |date=September 4, 2019 |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111115824/https://cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following criticisms of its implementation of those systems, YouTube started treating all videos designated as "made for kids" as liable under COPPA on January 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=David |date=January 6, 2020 |title=YouTube rolls out new controls aimed at controlling children's content |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |access-date=January 9, 2020 |work=TechSpot |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095937/https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=December 11, 2019 |title=YouTube calls for 'more clarity' on the FTC's child privacy rules |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214402/https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |url-status=live }}</ref> Joining the [[YouTube Kids]] app, the company created a supervised mode, designed more for [[Preadolescent|tweens]], in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=February 24, 2021 |title=YouTube New 'Supervised' Mode Will Let Parents Restrict Older Kids' Video Viewing |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316045244/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, to compete with [[TikTok]], YouTube released [[YouTube Shorts]], a short-form video platform.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sato |first1=Mia |title=YouTube is adding a slew of new TikTok-like features to Shorts |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/1/23814549/youtube-shorts-live-video-feed-effects-monetization-tiktok |website=The Verge |date=August 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref>
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| During this period, YouTube entered disputes with other tech companies. For over a year, in 2018 and 2019, no YouTube app was available for [[Amazon Fire TV|Amazon Fire]] products.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube is finally coming back to Amazon's Fire TV devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement|last=Welch |first=Chris|website=The Verge|archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418172012/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement |url-status=live|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> In 2020, [[Roku]] removed the YouTube TV app from its streaming store after the two companies were unable to reach an agreement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Solsman |first=Joan E. |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Roku: YouTube TV app removed from channel store as deal with Google ends |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/|publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503094719/https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/ |url-status=live|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref>
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| After testing earlier in 2021, YouTube removed public display of dislike counts on videos in November 2021, claiming the reason for the removal was, based on its internal research, that users often used the dislike feature as a form of [[cyberbullying]] and [[vote brigading|brigading]].<ref name="BBC YouTube dislikes">{{cite web|title=YouTube removing dislike 'discourages trolls' but 'unhelpful for users'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070|website=[[BBC News]]|archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070 |url-status=live|date=November 12, 2021|access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> While some users praised the move as a way to discourage [[Internet troll|trolls]], others felt that hiding dislikes would make it harder for viewers to recognize [[clickbait]] or unhelpful videos and that other features already existed for creators to limit bullying. YouTube co-founder [[Jawed Karim]] referred to the update as "a stupid idea", and that the real reason behind the change was "not a good one, and not one that will be publicly disclosed." He felt that users' ability on a social platform to identify harmful content was essential, saying, "The process works, and there's a name for it: the [[wisdom of the crowd]]s. The process breaks when the platform interferes with it. Then, the platform invariably declines."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vincent |first1=James |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube co-founder predicts 'decline' of the platform following removal of dislikes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |website=The Verge |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117142742/https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Binder |first1=Matt |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube cofounder protests decision to remove 'dislikes' with an edit to first-ever YouTube upload |url=https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes|website=Mashable |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118000227/https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes |url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kan |first1=Michael |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube Co-Founder Says Removing Dislike Counts Is a 'Stupid Idea' |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |access-date=November 30, 2021 |website=PC Magazine |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529055917/https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, software developer Dmitry Selivanov created Return YouTube Dislike, an [[Open source|open-source]], third-party [[browser extension]] for [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] and [[Firefox]] that allows users to see a video's number of dislikes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Browser Extension Brings Back Dislike Count to YouTube Videos |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130230749/https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |archive-date=November 30, 2021|work=[[PC Magazine]]|access-date=January 20, 2022}}</ref> In a letter published on January 25, 2022, by then YouTube CEO [[Susan Wojcicki]], acknowledged that removing public dislike counts was a controversial decision, but reiterated that she stands by this decision, claiming that "it reduced dislike attacks."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojcicki |first1=Susan |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Letter from Susan: Our 2022 Priorities |url=https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=YouTube Official Blog |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006154605/https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| In 2022, YouTube launched an experiment where the company would show users who watched longer videos on TVs a long chain of short un-skippable adverts, intending to consolidate all ads into the beginning of a video. Following public outrage over the unprecedented amount of un-skippable ads, YouTube "ended" the experiment on September 19 of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Livemint |date=September 19, 2022 |title=YouTube ends experiment that forced users to watch large unskippable ads |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |access-date=September 21, 2022 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921060005/https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In October, YouTube announced that they would be rolling out customizable user handles in addition to channel names, which would also become channel URLs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krasnoff |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Krasnoff |date=October 15, 2022 |title=How to choose your YouTube handle |url=https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214230354/https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2022}}</ref>
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| On February 16, 2023, Wojcicki announced that she would step down as CEO, with [[Neal Mohan]] named as her successor. Wojcicki took on an advisory role for Google and parent company [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]].<ref name="Wojcicki steps down">{{cite web|title=YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down after nine years at the helm |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |last2=Roth |first2=Emma |date=January 16, 2023 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216185547/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> Wojcicki died a year and a half later, on August 9, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Afshar |first=Paradise |date=2024-08-10 |title=Susan Wojcicki, former YouTube CEO, dies at 56 {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/10/business/susan-wojcicki-obit/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240810100727/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/10/business/susan-wojcicki-obit/index.html |archive-date=2024-08-10 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
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| In late October 2023, YouTube began cracking down on the use of [[ad blocker]]s on the platform. Users of ad blockers may be given a pop-up warning saying "Video player will be blocked after 3 videos". Users of ad blockers are shown a message asking them to allow ads or inviting them to subscribe to the ad-free [[YouTube Premium]] subscription plan. YouTube says that the use of ad blockers violates its terms of service.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allow ads on videos that you watch - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en |website=[[Google News]]|archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en|url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dave |first=Paresh |title=YouTube's Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls of Ad Blockers |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref>
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| In April 2024, YouTube announced it would be "strengthening our enforcement on third-party apps that violate YouTube's Terms of Service, specifically ad-blocking apps".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=April 16, 2024 |title=YouTube puts third-party clients on notice: Show ads or get blocked |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/youtube-will-start-blocking-third-party-clients-that-dont-show-ads/|website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417140857/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/youtube-will-start-blocking-third-party-clients-that-dont-show-ads/ |url-status=live|access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>
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| == Features == | | == Features == |
