Did you know that on April 23, 2025, YouTube is celebrating its 20th anniversary? This news doesn't make us any younger, and yet it was in April 2005 that the first video was published on the platform by one of the founders of the online video service that revolutionized the way we consume video. To celebrate this anniversary, we invite you to discover a selection of videos that have marked these twenty years of YouTube.
YouTube, a service that revolutionized the Internet
Indeed, it was on April 23, 2005, that the first video was published on YouTube by one of the platform's founders, Jawad Karim. This video opened the door to a new way of entertainment. The following year, YouTube was acquired for $1.65 billion by Google. Initially, videos were viewed on computers, but YouTube was able to offer its services on mobile. For the platform's current CEO, YouTube has become "the new television". The site has also been able to cope with the emergence of TikTok by offering the Shorts format, which attracts more than 2 billion users each month.
In addition to revolutionizing our video consumption, YouTube has created a new economy thanks to monetization. Many content creators make a living from their videos with the YouTube Partners program.
To celebrate YouTube's 20th anniversary, we invite you to watch or rewatch these 15 videos that have marked the history of the platform and the Internet.
#1 Me at the zoo - 2005
This is the very first video uploaded to YouTube by Jawed Karim. We see him filming himself for 19 seconds at the San Diego Zoo.
#2 Evolution of Dance - 2006
This video, which humorously retraces the history of dance, went viral and marked the early years of YouTube.
#3 Charlie Bit My Finger - 2007
In this video, a child carries his little brother who bites his finger. This clip has over 880 million views!
#4 Gangnam Style - 2012
A musical phenomenon from Korea, PSY's Gangnam Style music video is the first music video to have over a billion views. A feat that forces YouTube to update its counters.
#5 Despacito - 2017
The music video by singer Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee has managed to reach a record number of views in record time. In 272 days, the video has 4 billion views.
#6 Baby Shark Dance - 2020
This children's song holds the record for the most-viewed video in YouTube history with over 15 billion views.
#7 Keyboard Cat
It's funny and pointless, and that's why this video of a cat playing the synthesizer became a meme.
#8 David After Dentist
Cult internet sequence: a young boy returning from the dentist who, after undergoing anesthesia, asks himself existential questions.
#9 Rickroll
Do you know the singer Rick Astley and his hit Never Gonna Give You Up? So you know the internet joke that has become a phenomenon: redirecting users to the song's music video.
#10 Susan Boyle - 2009
Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent is the perfect example of YouTube's power to showcase unknown talent to the world.
#11 Felix Baumgartner - 2012
In 2012, YouTube offered live streaming of the feat of Austrian Felix Baumgartner, who broke the sound barrier in freefall, reaching Mach 1.25, which represents 1,357.6 km/h. He has since been beaten by the vice president of Google.
#12 MrBeast
This YouTuber is part of the new generation of content creators who make their living from YouTube. He makes big-budget videos and is known for his generosity.
#13 Star Wars Kid - 2002
The first viral video on the Internet, it wasn't meant to be public. Directed by Ghyslain Raza, a teenager from Quebec, he imitates Darth Maul in Star Wars with a ball picker. Its author was mocked and cyberbullied before taking responsibility for the video to talk about the problems that can arise from the Internet.
#14 Leave Britney Alone! - 2007
First known as Chris Crocker, Cara Cunningham is known for her video Leave Britney alone!.
#15 Kaizen: 1 year to climb Everest by Inoxtag - 2024
French YouTuber Inoxtag sets out to climb Everest and makes a documentary of his performance. His video becomes the 4th most viewed on his channel. It has accumulated 43 million views. Even YouTube boss Neal Mohan congratulated him.
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