I’m curious about YouTube’s first video. Was it uploaded by the founders or by a regular user? Any details would be appreciated.
As someone who’s been using YouTube since its early days, I can confirm that the first video was indeed ‘Me at the zoo’. What’s fascinating is how this unassuming clip became the cornerstone of a digital revolution. I remember watching it back then and thinking, ‘This is it?’. But looking back, it’s clear that simplicity was key. It showed that anyone could share a moment from their life, no matter how mundane. The video’s low quality and casual nature actually made the platform feel accessible to everyday users like myself. It’s a testament to how big things often start small. YouTube’s evolution from that single video to the content powerhouse it is today is truly remarkable.
The very first video uploaded to YouTube was actually by one of the co-founders, Jawed Karim. It’s a short clip called ‘Me at the zoo’ where Karim stands in front of some elephants at the San Diego Zoo. He talks about their long trunks for about 18 seconds. It was uploaded on April 23, 2005, and you can still find it on YouTube today. It’s pretty basic compared to what we see now, but it kickstarted the whole platform. Interesting to see how far things have come since that simple beginning.