YouTube turns 20: Video platform's evolution from a 19-second zoo clip to MrBeast's 300 million subscribers

It started as a dating site, was bought by Google after one year and is one of the world’s biggest platforms

Me at the Zoo, left, was the first video uploaded to YouTube while MrBeast became the first account to reach 300 million subscribers. Photos: Jawed Karim; MrBeast

On February 14, 2005, three friends, having decided the options for sharing videos on the internet were not good enough, secured a domain name for a new site. YouTube has gone on to become one of the most important and most successful internet platforms. Here are the milestones in YouTube's journey.

February 1, 2004: Super Bowl controversy inspires YouTube co-founder

During the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, American singer Justin Timberlake exposes fellow entertainer Janet Jackson's breast to a live TV audience, in what is described as a “wardrobe malfunction”. YouTube co-founders Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, unable to find clips of the incident online, credit that moment with inspiring them to develop their video-sharing platform.

February 14, 2005: YouTube domain secured

The three former employees of PayPal work together to launch YouTube. They initially plan to make the platform a video dating site, with users uploading clips of themselves to try to meet potential partners. Unable to find enough dating videos, Hurley, Chen and Karim change tack and decide to accept uploads of all video content.

April 23, 2005: first video uploaded

Me at the Zoo, a 19-second clip of co-founder Karim, becomes the first video uploaded to the site. In the video, Karim is standing in front of elephants and briefly comments on them, saying they have big trunks.

May 2005: public beta launch

The site becomes accessible to the public for the first time, but is still in its beta form as the team continue to improve the experience based on user feedback.

October 2005: subscriptions debut

Accounts begin regularly uploading videos, gaining followers for their content. YouTube makes it easier to follow preferred creators by subscribing to their channels.

December 15, 2005: YouTube public launch

The site exits the beta phase and officially launches. That week, Saturday Night Live airs the digital short Lazy Sunday starring Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell, which is quickly uploaded by fans to YouTube. The early viral video helps to establish YouTube as an important platform.

November 2005: first video to reach one million views

Brazilian football player Ronaldinho in the early viral video. Photo: YouTube

A commercial for sports brand Nike featuring Brazilian football star Ronaldinho becomes the first video to hit one million views on the site.

July 7, 2006: first account to reach 10,000 subscribers

Brooke Brodack, known by her online moniker Brookers, becomes the first content creator whose account reaches 10,000 subscribers. Brookers, whose channel features humorous skits, holds the title of most subscribed account on YouTube for 43 days.

October 9, 2006: Google buys YouTube

Shortly after YouTube was bought by Google, the platform launched the tagline 'Broadcast Yourself'. AFP

Less than a year after its public launch, YouTube is bought by Google for $1.65 billion. The deal expanded the platform's business model, helped it expand into apps and live broadcasts, and turned it into a powerful platform for advertisements and paid content such as movies. The purchase coincides with the platform introducing its “Broadcast Yourself” slogan.

May 15, 2007: first account to reach 100,000 subscribers

Sketch comedy duo Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox's Smosh channel becomes the first to have 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. The pair go on to sell the channel and the brand to Defy Media in 2011, who then sold it to Mythical Entertainment in 2019.

April 7, 2009: first account to reach one million subscribers

Comedian Lucas Cruikshank strikes gold with his online persona Fred Figglehorn, whose channel becomes the first with one million subscribers. Cruikshank would use this success to move into films, television shows and cartoons.

July 2010: 4K video

YouTube allows the upload of 4K videos for the first time, improving on the video-viewing experience.

April 2011: Livestreaming

Expanding from just being a video sharing site, YouTube enables the option to livestream. Established content creators use the new feature to broadcast sessions in which they answer fan questions or play video games.

July 15, 2012: Gangnam Style uploaded

South Korean K-pop star Psy becomes a global sensation with the release of his song Gangnam Style. The lyrics satirise an affluent area of the capital Seoul and the people who go there. The song’s music video becomes the first to reach 1 billion views.

June 17, 2016: Baby Shark uploaded

The Baby Shark video was a big hit on YouTube. Photo: YouTube

Children’s song Baby Shark is uploaded to the site. Produced by South Korean children’s entertainment company Pinkfong, the song becomes very popular and the music video goes on to reach a record 10 billion views.

September 2020: YouTube Shorts launch

To keep up with the competition, the platform launches YouTube Shorts, its version of TikTok videos or Instagram reels. The videos are typically shorter and presented vertically to fill a smartphone screen.

July 10, 2024: first account to reach 300 million subscribers

Global YouTube star MrBeast has the most subscribers on the platform. Getty

YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, reaches 300 million subscribers to his channel. MrBeast’s content ranges from challenges that award the winner money, sentimental videos in which he does charity work or informational and educational videos like his latest at the Pyramids of Giza.