YouTube is ten years old

Or should that be ‘only’ ten years old? Because it can sometimes be hard to remember a time when internet video wasn’t just a click/swipe away.

But it wasn’t until May 2005 that YoutUbe launched, and even then it was only in beta. It would be another six months before the platform would be rolled out to the public. To celebrate this milestone YouTube will every day for the next 26 days take a look back at some of the most memorable videos to have ever graced the service.

The site has grown to become not just the biggest video platform on the web — a community of more than one billion people, where hundreds of millions of hours of video are watched and billions of views are generated every day — but one of the largest and most diverse collections of self-expression in history,” the company said.

YouTube is a portrait of our global culture, seen through the lenses and perspectives of people around the world. It is a portrait built by a creative community of bold and fearless individuals. Built by comedians, gamers, activists, artists, performers, teachers, and pranksters. Built with cats and rainbows and blenders and ninjas and unicorns. It was built on the silly. It was built on the profound. It was built by you.

You’ve helped turn creators into the biggest names in entertainment. You’ve given people opportunities to share their voice and talent no matter where they are from or what their age or point of view. You built a world where little ideas can bring about amazing things and where amazing things can bring little delights to each of us.”

You can follow the 10 Years of YouTube Celebration on the YouTube blog.