What you didn't know about YouTube.

Summary

This video reveals the top 40 lesser-known secrets about YouTube, from its initial concept as a dating site to its current status as a video-sharing giant. It covers the platform's history, including the first video to reach a million views and the most viewed video ever. The video also explores hidden features, such as keyboard shortcuts and mobile gestures, and delves into YouTube's rating systems and scrapped features like annotations. Additionally, it touches on the platform's mysteries, like the 'Webdriver Torso' channel and the 'rickrolling' phenomenon, finishing with insights into YouTube's growth and the sheer volume of content uploaded daily.

Takeaways

• 🌈 Typing 'awesome' on a computer keyboard while on YouTube can make the timeline bar turn into a flashing rainbow color.
• 📺 YouTube was initially intended to be a dating site where people could upload videos to find their ideal partner.
• 🔄 The first video on YouTube was just 19 seconds long and featured one of the founders at the zoo.
• 🏆 The first video to reach 1 billion views was 'Gangnam Style', which was so popular it broke YouTube's view counter.
• 🎵 The most viewed video on YouTube is 'Baby Shark Dance', while the most liked video is 'Despacito' with 50 million likes.
• 🔍 The most searched term on YouTube worldwide is the Korean pop group BTS.
• 🔄 YouTube has undergone several rating system changes, from stars to a like and dislike system, and now to just a like counter.
• 🎥 Video responses, a feature that allowed users to upload a video reply to another video, were scrapped due to low engagement.
• 🔗 YouTube has a secret page at youtube.com/new for premium subscribers to test experimental features.
• 🏆 YouTubers can earn special play buttons for reaching subscriber milestones, with custom and ultra-rare versions for higher tiers.
• 🚫 YouTube is banned in certain countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Turkmenistan to limit Western cultural influence.

Q & A

What was the original purpose of YouTube when it was first created?

The original purpose of YouTube was to serve as a dating website where people could upload videos of themselves talking about their ideal partner to find them.

Why did YouTube change from being a dating site to a platform for all kinds of videos?

YouTube transitioned from a dating site to a platform for all kinds of videos because no one uploaded dating videos, and the founders decided to open it up to various content types to encourage more uploads.

What was the first video ever uploaded on YouTube?

The first video ever uploaded on YouTube was a 19-second clip of one of the founders standing around at the zoo.

Which video was the first to reach a billion views on YouTube?

The first video to reach a billion views on YouTube was 'Gangnam Style' by PSY.

What is the most viewed video on YouTube as of the time the script was written?

As of the time the script was written, the most viewed video on YouTube was 'Baby Shark Dance' with almost 12 billion views.

What is the most liked video on YouTube?

The most liked video on YouTube is 'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee, with 50 million likes.

What is the most searched term on YouTube worldwide?

The most searched term on YouTube worldwide is BTS, the Korean pop group.

What are some hidden features on YouTube for desktop users?

Some hidden features for desktop users include the ability to loop a video or copy its URL with a single right-click, and enabling picture-in-picture mode with a double right-click.

What is the current maximum length for a YouTube video?

The current maximum length for a YouTube video is 12 hours.

Why did YouTube decide to set a limit on video length?

YouTube decided to set a limit on video length because no one was going to watch hundreds of hours of content in one go, and they would have to pay for the servers to store those videos.

What is the origin of the term 'Rickrolling'?

The term 'Rickrolling' originated in 2007 when a user tricked people into clicking a link to watch a trailer for Grand Theft Auto 4, but instead sent them to Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' video.

How many employees did YouTube have when it was acquired by Google?

When Google acquired YouTube in 2006, it had only 65 employees.

How much content is uploaded to YouTube every minute?

Every minute, users upload 500 hours of content to YouTube.