20 years of YouTube: 'We couldn’t have predicted how the platform would evolve'

What toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, launched the careers of Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran, and gave the world Gangnam Style and K-pop, sneezing pandas, and Mr Beast? 

Yes, YouTube. Happy 20th birthday to the video-streaming platform with three billion users in 100 countries, the world’s second biggest search engine, and a billion hours of content a day. Crikey. Has it really been 20 years?

Already a subscriber? Sign in

You have reached your article limit.

Take us with you this summer

Annual €130 €65

Best value

Monthly €12€6 / month

Subscribe

Introductory offer. Annual billed once for first year. Monthly (discount first 3 months) billed monthly, then €12 / month. Ts&Cs apply.