Updated Jun 13, 2022 | 07:57 AM IST What was the first-ever video on YouTube?
YouTube has changed the way we watch videos and consume content. In many ways, it has revolutionised the way we use the internet. By and large, it has been the most widely used and influential platform of the internet age for people of all age groups. Over the years, the popularity of YouTube has skyrocketed to such a level that it now covers almost all subjects. From news, documentaries, and film trailers to analysis, vlogs, and events, YouTube is always the most preferred platform. We come across several YouTube videos every day. Some videos you watch and save, and some you share. YouTube has become an enduring internet routine for millions around the world. Which brings us to some questions that you might have asked yourself many times - What was the first-ever video on YouTube and when was it posted? YouTube was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It was bought by Google for $1.65 billion in October 2006, 18 months after posting its first video and 10 months after its official launch. Jawed Karim uploaded the first-ever video on YouTube - a 19-second-long clip of himself from San Diego Zoo while standing close to an elephant enclosure. The clip, which now has over 235 million views and over 12 million likes, was posted on the Instagram account of YoUTube India on 11 June. Karim, who is of Bangladeshi and German descent, posted the video on April 23, 2005. It was captioned: "If you think about it, it all started with a Short." Watch it here: The clip received a reply from San Diego Zoo about two years ago. They wrote: "We're so honored that the first ever YouTube video was filmed here." Here's how netizens reacted to the Insta post: A user wrote, "Would you believe me on youtube if I say everyone has watched this video 100 times. "And yet i saw this for the first time today," wrote another. "I knew it but I'm astonished by watching how much we've grown on YouTube and youtube itself," commented a third user. What was your first-ever YouTube upload? The first ever video on YouTube was uploaded 17 years ago on April 23, 2005 and since then the popular video sharing platform has emerged into a giant with millions of users visiting it daily. The 18-second video was by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim titled ‘Me at the zoo’. Since it was uploaded, the video has garnered 23.5 crore views till date. Recently, the official Instagram handle of YouTube shared the video once again, with the caption, "If you think about it, it all started with a Short #YouTubeFactsFest." Though Karim's channel has nearly 3 million subscribers, it never uploaded any other video. As the title suggested, Karim’s video ‘Me at the zoo’ featured the co-founder standing in front of an elephant enclosure at San Diego Zoo. "The cool thing about these guys (elephants) is that they have really, really long trunks. And that's cool," Karim says in the video. A year after Karim shared ‘Me at the zoo’ video, Google bought the platform for $1.65 billion. Since it was first uploaded, the video has appeared on a number of platforms. When it was recently uploaded on the website's Instagram handle, netizens were amazed at how the video marked the advent of vlogging and many got nostalgic. One user wrote, “I have seen it! Who would have known back then it will become a career.” Another user said, “I’m astonished by watching how much we’ve grown on YouTube and YouTube itself.” "This YouTube changed so many people’s lives," added another. Another comment read, “We came full circle!” One user asked if YouTube would believe that the video has been watched by everyone 100 times. The social media platform YouTube was officially launched on February 14, 2005, by Jawed Karim, Steve Chen and Chad Hurley. At present, the platform has over 2 billion logged-in users visits each month, according to YouTube. ALSO READ: Why is YouTube banning and unbanning crypto channels? (Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani) YouTube, founded on February 15, 2005, had its first ever video uploaded on April 23, 2005 -- exactly 17 years ago. Well, almost. YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim posted the 18-second video, titled "Me at the zoo" and it has since garnered more than 20 million views and has 11 million "likes" . Karim's channel, which has close to 3 million subscribers, never uploaded any other video. As the title suggested, "Me at the zoo" is a video of Karim standing in front of elephants' enclosure at the zoo. "Alright," he begins. "So here we are, in front of the elephants." "The cool thing about these guys is that they have really, really, really long, um, trunks. And that's, that's cool." And that's all the 18-second video is all about. "Me at the zoo" is the first video uploaded to YouTube, on April 23, 2005,[1] 8:31:52 p.m. PDT, or April 24, 2005, at 03:31:52 UTC. It features YouTube's co-founder Jawed Karim, who was 25 years old at the time, in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo, noting their long trunks.[2][3] Using Karim's camera,[4] it was recorded by his high school friend, Yakov Lapitsky, a University of Delaware PhD student at the time, who was in San Diego to deliver his research to the American Chemical Society.[4] Release dates Running time The transcript of the video is as follows:
All right, so here we are in front of the, uh, elephants, and the cool thing about these guys is that, is that they have really, really, really long, um, trunks, and that's, that's cool, and that's pretty much all there is to say. The Los Angeles Times explained in 2009 that "as the first video uploaded to YouTube, it played a pivotal role in fundamentally altering how people consumed media and helped usher in a golden era of the 60-second video".[5] The Observer described its production quality as poor.[6] Digital Trends called it a "nondescript affair" and "tongue-in-cheek" video that set "the tone for what was to come" on YouTube.[7] Greg Jarboe describes the video's representation of an "ordinary moment" to be "extraordinary" for its time, demonstrating YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim's vision of what YouTube would become. According to Jarboe, "Me at the zoo" showed that YouTube was not simply about trying to "capture special moments on video" but rather trying to empower YouTube users "to become the broadcasters of tomorrow". This paved the way for YouTube to become the world's most popular online video-sharing community.[8] Aaron Duplantier said that the ordinary "everydayness" and "dry aesthetics" of "Me at the zoo" set the tone for the type of original amateur content that would become typical of YouTube, especially among YouTubers and vloggers.[9] In addition to being the first video on YouTube, it has been described as the first YouTube vlog clip.[10] Business Insider ranked it the most important YouTube video of all time, stating: "It is representative of YouTube—it doesn't need to be this fancy production; it can be approachable. The first YouTube video is something anyone could create on their own."[11] The New York Observer also ranked it the most important video in YouTube history, stating "the thing is practically a historical artifact".[12] BuzzFeed News listed it among the 20 most important online videos of all time.[13] On multiple occasions, Karim has used the video's description feed to criticize YouTube's business actions. In November 2013, in response to Google requiring YouTube users to use Google+ accounts to comment on videos, he updated the description to say "I can't comment here anymore, since i don't want a Google+ account".[14] In November 2021, the video's description was changed in response to YouTube's decision to remove video dislikes from public view, reading: "When every YouTuber agrees that removing dislikes is a stupid idea, it probably is. Try again, YouTube🤦♂️".[15][16] A few days later, the description was changed again to a more detailed condemnation of YouTube's decision.[16]
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