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{{Short description|Video-sharing platform owned by Google}}
{{For|the company's channel on YouTube|YouTube (channel)}}
{{Pp|small=yes}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox website
| name = YouTube
| logo = YouTube Logo 2017.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2017
| logo_size = 250px
| logo_alt = The YouTube logo is made of a red round-rectangular box with a white triangular "play" button inside and the word "YouTube" written in black.
| screenshot = YouTube screenshot.webp
| caption = Screenshot of the video player on September 13, 2023
| collapsible = 
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]]
| type = [[Online video platform]]
| founded = {{start date and age|2005|2|14}}
| location = 901 Cherry Avenue<br />[[San Bruno, California]]
| country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide (excluding [[censorship of YouTube|blocked countries]])
| owner = [[Google LLC]]
| founder = {{ubl|[[Steve Chen]]|[[Chad Hurley]]|[[Jawed Karim]]}}
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Neal Mohan]] (CEO)|Chad Hurley (advisor)}}
| industry = {{ubl|[[Internet]]|[[Video hosting service]]}}
| products = {{ubl||[[YouTube Kids]]|[[YouTube Music]]|[[YouTube Premium]]|[[YouTube Shorts]]|[[YouTube TV]]}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{USD|31.5 billion}} (2023)<ref name="Weprin">{{cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=February 1, 2022 |title=YouTube Ad Revenue Tops $8.6B, Beating Netflix in the Quarter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-ad-revenue-tops-8-6b-beating-netflix-in-the-quarter-1235085391/ |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608081933/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-ad-revenue-tops-8-6b-beating-netflix-in-the-quarter-1235085391/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| parent = Google LLC (2006–present)
| url = {{URL|https://youtube.com/}}<br />(see [[#International and localization|list of localized domain names]])
| content_license = Uploader holds copyright (standard license); [[Creative Commons]] can be selected.
| programming_language = [[Python (programming language)|Python]] (core/API),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Claburn |first1=Thomas |title=Google's Grumpy code makes Python Go |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/01/05/googles_grumpy_makes_python_go/ |website=The Register |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en |date=January 5, 2017 |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214142433/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/01/05/googles_grumpy_makes_python_go/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[C (programming language)|C]] (through [[CPython]]), [[C++]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]] (through [[Google Guice|Guice]] platform),<ref>{{cite web|title=Guice Deuce |url=https://googlecode.blogspot.no/2009/05/guice-deuce.html |website=Official Google Code Blog|first=Jesse |last=Wilson|archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225735/http://googlecode.blogspot.no/2009/05/guice-deuce.html |url-status=live|date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://highscalability.com/blog/2008/3/12/youtube-architecture.html |title=YouTube Architecture |publisher=High Scalability |access-date=October 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004091618/http://highscalability.com/blog/2008/3/12/youtube-architecture.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Go (programming language)|Go]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Golang Vitess: a database wrapper written in Go as used by Youtube |website=[[GitHub]] |url=https://github.com/youtube/vitess |date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130213332/https://github.com/youtube/vitess |url-status=live }}</ref> [[JavaScript]] (<span class="ltr">UI</span>)
| advertising = [[Google AdSense]]
| registration = {{Collapsible list
| titlestyle      = font-weight:normal; text-align:left; background-color:transparent; color: inherit;
| title           = Optional
| Not required to watch most videos; required for certain tasks such as uploading videos, viewing flagged (18+) videos, creating playlists, liking or disliking videos, and posting comments
}}
| users = {{decrease}} 2.7 billion [[Monthly active user|MAU]] (January 2024)<ref name="forbes-stats">{{Cite web |title=Top Social Media Statistics And Trends Of 2023 – Forbes Advisor |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/social-media-statistics/ |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=Forbes |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614094637/http://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/social-media-statistics/ |url-status=live }}</ref><!--2.562=2022-->
| launched = {{start date and age|2005|02|14}}
| current_status = Active
}}
'''YouTube''' is an American [[online video platform|online video sharing]] platform owned by [[Google]]. Accessible worldwide,{{NoteTag|Excluding [[Censorship of YouTube|blocked countries]]}} YouTube launched on February 14, 2005, by [[Steve Chen]], [[Chad Hurley]], and [[Jawed Karim]], three former employees of [[PayPal]]. Headquartered in [[San Bruno, California]], United States, it is the [[List of most visited websites|second most visited]] website in the world, after [[Google Search]]. YouTube has more than 2.5 billion monthly users,<ref name="forbes-stats" /> who collectively watch more than one billion hours of videos every day.<ref name="1 billion hours">{{cite web|title=You know what's cool? A billion hours |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/you-know-whats-cool-billion-hours|last1=Goodrow |first1=Cristos|date=February 27, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806062438/https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/you-know-whats-cool-billion-hours/|via=YouTube |language=en-US|archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2021 }}</ref> {{as of |May 2019}}, videos were being uploaded to the platform at a rate of more than 500 hours of [[Content (media)|content]] per minute,<ref name="500 hours per minute">{{cite news   |title=More Than 500 Hours Of Content Are Now Being Uploaded To YouTube Every Minute |work=[[TubeFilter]] |location=Los Angeles, CA |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/05/07/number-hours-video-uploaded-to-youtube-per-minute/ |last1=Loke Hale |first1=James|access-date=June 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105143621/https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/05/07/number-hours-video-uploaded-to-youtube-per-minute/ |url-status=live|date=May 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Neufeld |first=Dorothy |date=January 27, 2021 |title=The 50 Most Visited Websites in the World |url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-50-most-visited-websites-in-the-world/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=Visual Capitalist |language=en-US |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210024145/https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-50-most-visited-websites-in-the-world/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and as of 2021, there were approximately 14 billion videos in total.<ref name=":0" />

<!-- History -->In October 2006, YouTube was purchased by Google for $1.65&nbsp;billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=1.53|start_year=2006|r=2}}&nbsp;billion in {{Inflation year|index=US}}).<ref>{{cite news |last=Hooker |first=Lucy |date=February 1, 2016 |title=How did Google become the world's most valuable company? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35460398 |access-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526191009/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35460398 |url-status=live }}</ref> Google expanded YouTube's business model of generating revenue from [[Advertising|advertisements]] alone, to offering paid content such as movies and [[List of YouTube Premium original programming|exclusive content]] produced by and for YouTube. It also offers [[YouTube Premium]], a paid subscription option for watching content without ads. YouTube incorporated [[Google AdSense|Google's AdSense]] program, generating more revenue for both YouTube and approved content creators. In 2022, YouTube's annual advertising revenue increased to $29.2 billion, more than $9 billion higher than in 2020.<ref name="Weprin"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube Revenue and Usage Statistics (2023) |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/youtube-statistics/ |website=Business of Apps |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906142643/https://www.businessofapps.com/data/youtube-statistics/ |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023 }}</ref>

<!-- Content and operations -->Since its purchase by Google, YouTube has expanded beyond the core website into [[mobile app]]s, network television, and the [[Interoperability|ability to link]] with other platforms. Video categories on YouTube include [[music video]]s, [[video clip]]s, [[news]], [[short film|short]] and [[feature film]]s, [[songs]], [[documentary film|documentaries]], [[trailer (promotion)|movie trailers]], [[teaser (trailer)|teasers]] and [[Television advertisement|TV spots]], [[live stream]]s, [[vlog]]s, and more. Most content is [[user-generated content|generated by individuals]], including collaborations between "[[YouTuber]]s" and corporate sponsors. Established media, news, and entertainment corporations have also created and expanded their visibility to YouTube channels in order to reach greater audiences.

<!-- Impact and reception -->YouTube has had [[Social impact of YouTube|unprecedented social impact]], influencing popular culture, internet trends, and creating multimillionaire celebrities. Despite its growth and success, the platform is sometimes criticized for allegedly facilitating the spread of [[misinformation]], the sharing of [[YouTube copyright issues|copyrighted content]], [[YouTube and privacy|routinely violating its users' privacy]], [[Censorship by YouTube|enabling censorship]], endangering [[child protection|child safety and wellbeing]], and for its inconsistent or incorrect implementation of platform guidelines.

{{TOC limit|3}}

== {{Anchor|Company history}}{{Anchor|Website history}}History ==
{{Main|History of YouTube}}{{See also|Timeline of online video}}

=== Founding and initial growth (2005–2006) ===
[[File:Youtube founders.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|From left to right: [[Chad Hurley]], [[Steve Chen]], and [[Jawed Karim]], the founders of YouTube.]]

YouTube was founded by [[Steve Chen]], [[Chad Hurley]], and [[Jawed Karim]]. The trio were early employees of [[PayPal]], which left them enriched after the company was bought by [[eBay]].<ref name="Jackpot" /> Hurley had studied design at the [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania]], and Chen and Karim studied [[computer science]] together at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 11, 2006 |title=YouTube founders now superstars |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/youtube-founders-now-superstars-20061011-gdokrc.html |access-date=March 18, 2021 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413152749/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/youtube-founders-now-superstars-20061011-gdokrc.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a story that has often been repeated in the media, Hurley and Chen developed the idea for YouTube during the early months of 2005, after they had experienced difficulty sharing videos that had been shot at a dinner party at Chen's apartment in [[San Francisco]]. Karim did not attend the party and denied that it had occurred, but Chen remarked that the idea that YouTube was founded after a dinner party "was probably very strengthened by marketing ideas around creating a story that was very digestible".<ref name="YouTube gurus">{{cite magazine |last=Cloud |first=John |date=December 25, 2006 |title=The YouTube Gurus |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570795,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516152014/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570795,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Karim said the inspiration for YouTube came from the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy]], when [[Janet Jackson]]'s breast was briefly exposed by [[Justin Timberlake]] during the halftime show. Karim could not easily find video clips of the incident and the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami]] online, which led to the idea of a video-sharing site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Surprise! There's a third YouTube co-founder |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-11-youtube-karim_x.htm |website=[[USA Today]]|first=Jim |last=Hopkins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004011143/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-11-youtube-karim_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |date=October 11, 2006|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McAlone |first1=Nathan |title=Here's how Janet Jackson's infamous 'nipplegate' inspired the creation of YouTube |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/idea-for-youtube-came-from-janet-jackson-nipplegate-2015-10 |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=Business Insider|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418131048/https://www.businessinsider.com/idea-for-youtube-came-from-janet-jackson-nipplegate-2015-10 |url-status=live|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Hurley and Chen said that the original idea for YouTube was a video version of an [[online dating service]] and had been influenced by the website [[Hot or Not]].<ref name="YouTube gurus" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050428014715/https://www.youtube.com/ Earliest surviving version of the YouTube website] [[Wayback Machine]], April 28, 2005. Retrieved June 19, 2013.</ref> They created posts on [[Craigslist]] asking attractive women to upload videos of themselves to YouTube in exchange for a $100 reward.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJEXUNmP5M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XAJEXUNmP5M |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=r p 2006: YouTube: From Concept to Hypergrowth – Jawed Karim |date=April 22, 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Difficulty in finding enough dating videos led to a change of plans, with the site's founders deciding to accept uploads of any video.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube was meant to be a video-dating website|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/16/youtube-past-video-dating-website|first=Stuart |last=Dredge|work=The Guardian |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128200940/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/16/youtube-past-video-dating-website |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Youtube logo.jpg|thumb|The YouTube logo used from its launch until 2007;{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} it returned in 2008 before being removed again in 2010.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Another version of this logo without the "Broadcast Yourself" slogan was used until 2011.]]

YouTube began as a [[venture capital]]–funded technology [[startup company|startup]]. Between November 2005 and April 2006, the company raised money from various investors, with [[Sequoia Capital]] and Artis Capital Management being the largest two.<ref name="Jackpot">{{cite news |first1=Miguel |last1=Helft |first2=Matt |last2=Richtel |title=Venture Firm Shares a YouTube Jackpot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10payday.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 10, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|433418867}} |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311122613/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10payday.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=San Francisco Hedge Fund Invested in YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12hedges.html |work=The New York Times|last1=Helft|first1=Miguel|volume=156|issue=53,730 |date=October 12, 2006 |id={{ProQuest|433422252}} |access-date=September 8, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034144/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12hedges.html |url-status=live}}</ref> YouTube's early headquarters were situated above a pizzeria and a Japanese restaurant in [[San Mateo, California]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Sara |last=Kehaulani Goo |title=Ready for Its Close-Up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600660.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402153534/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600660.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |date=October 7, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 }}</ref> In February 2005, the company activated <code>www.youtube.com</code>.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whois Record for <code>www.youtube.com</code> |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/youtube.com|publisher=DomainTools |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402130611/http://whois.domaintools.com/youtube.com |url-status=live|access-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref> The first video was uploaded on April 23, 2005. Titled "[[Me at the zoo]]", it shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the [[San Diego Zoo]] and can still be [[Pageview|viewed]] on the site.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube: Overnight success has sparked a backlash |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2480280/YouTube-Overnight-success-has-sparked-a-backlash.html|first=Richard |last=Alleyne|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2480280/YouTube-Overnight-success-has-sparked-a-backlash.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 31, 2008|archive-date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 23, 2005 |title=Me at the zoo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw |website=YouTube |last1=jawed |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jNQXAC9IVRw |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 3, 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May, the company launched a public beta and by November, a Nike ad featuring [[Ronaldinho]] became the first video to reach one million total views.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRHk8ol0vTw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125105508/https://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=aRHk8ol0vTw |url-status=dead  |work=[[Wayback Machine]]|archive-date=November 25, 2005|date=November 25, 2005|access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/browse.php?s=mp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102073554/https://www.youtube.com/browse.php?s=mp |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2005 |title=Most Viewed – YouTube |work=[[Wayback Machine]] |date=November 2, 2005 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> The site launched officially on December 15, 2005, by which time the site was receiving 8&nbsp;million views a day.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube: a history |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/7596636/YouTube-a-history.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/7596636/YouTube-a-history.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Megan Rose |last=Dickey |title=The 22 Key Turning Points in the History of YouTube |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2 |website=[[Business Insider]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512055717/http://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |date=February 15, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Clips at the time were limited to 100 megabytes, as little as 30 seconds of footage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Video websites pop up, invite postings |date=November 21, 2005 |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-21-video-websites_x.htm|last=Graham |first=Jefferson |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[USA Today]] |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412064600/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-21-video-websites_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

YouTube was not the first video-sharing site on the Internet; [[Vimeo]] was launched in November 2004, though that site remained a side project of its developers from [[CollegeHumor]].<ref name="fortune vimeo">{{cite web|title=How Vimeo became hipster YouTube|url=https://fortune.com/2011/02/23/how-vimeo-became-hipster-youtube/|first=John Patrick|last=Pullen|date=February 23, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2020 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108022616/https://fortune.com/2011/02/23/how-vimeo-became-hipster-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The week of YouTube's launch, NBC-Universal's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' ran a skit "[[Lazy Sunday (The Lonely Island song)|Lazy Sunday]]" by [[The Lonely Island]]. Besides helping to bolster ratings and long-term viewership for ''Saturday Night Live'', "Lazy Sunday"'s status as an early [[viral video]] helped establish YouTube as an important website.<ref name="First Launched">{{cite web |url=https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/heres-what-people-thought-of-youtube-when-it-first-laun-1832019272 |title=Here's What People Thought of YouTube When It First Launched in the Mid-2000s |first=Matt |last=Novak |date=February 14, 2020 |work=[[Gizmodo]] |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210158/https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/heres-what-people-thought-of-youtube-when-it-first-laun-1832019272 |url-status=live|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> Unofficial uploads of the skit to YouTube drew in more than five million collective views by February 2006 before they were removed when [[NBCUniversal]] requested it two months later based on copyright concerns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/business/media/a-video-clip-goes-viral-and-a-tv-network-wants-to-control-it.html |title=A Video Clip Goes Viral, and a TV Network Wants to Control It |first=John |last=Biggs |date=February 20, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308130248/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/business/media/a-video-clip-goes-viral-and-a-tv-network-wants-to-control-it.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite eventually being taken down, these duplicate uploads of the skit helped popularize YouTube's reach and led to the upload of more third-party content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lazy-sunday-10th-anniversary-snl-1201657949/ |title='Lazy Sunday' Turns 10: 'SNL' Stars Recall How TV Invaded the Internet |first1=Andrew |last1=Wallenstein |first2=Todd |last2=Spangler |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214093508/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lazy-sunday-10th-anniversary-snl-1201657949/ |url-status=live |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |date=December 18, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hollywood Flashback: 'SNL's' 'Lazy Sunday' Put YouTube on the Map in 2005 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-snls-lazy-sunday-put-youtube-map-2005-1044829 |first=Bill |last=Higgens |date=October 5, 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117164538/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-snls-lazy-sunday-put-youtube-map-2005-1044829 |url-status=live|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> The site grew rapidly; in July 2006, the company announced that more than 65,000 new videos were being uploaded every day and that the site was receiving 100&nbsp;million video views per day.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube serves up 100 million videos a day online|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-16-youtube-views_x.htm |website=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231004209/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-16-youtube-views_x.htm |url-status=live|date=July 16, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

The choice of the name <code>www.youtube.com</code> led to problems for a similarly named website, <code>www.utube.com</code>. That site's owner, [[Universal Tube & Rollform Equipment]], filed a lawsuit against YouTube in November 2006, after being regularly overloaded by people looking for YouTube. Universal Tube subsequently changed its website to <code>www.utubeonline.com</code>.<ref>{{cite news |title=Help! YouTube is killing my business! |last1=Zappone |first1=Christian |publisher=CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/12/news/companies/utube/index.htm |access-date=November 29, 2008 |date=October 12, 2006 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144540/https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/12/news/companies/utube/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Utube sues YouTube |last1=Blakely |first1=Rhys |work=The Times |location=London |url=https://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article623050.ece |date=November 2, 2006 |archive-date=April 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403234216/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article623050.ece |url-status=dead|access-date=November 29, 2008}}</ref>

=== "Broadcast Yourself" era (2006–2013) ===
[[File:901 Cherry Avenue.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.15|YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California]]
On October 9, 2006, [[Google]] announced that they had acquired YouTube for $1.65&nbsp;billion in Google stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google to buy YouTube for $1.65&nbsp;billion|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/09/technology/googleyoutube_deal/|first=Paul R.|last=La Monica |website=[[CNNMoney]] |publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305094811/https://money.cnn.com/2006/10/09/technology/googleyoutube_deal/ |url-status=live|date=October 9, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Arrington |title=Google Has Acquired YouTube |url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/09/google-has-acquired-youtube/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 9, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024815/https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/09/google-has-acquired-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal was finalized on November 13, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Closes YouTube Acquisition |first=Michael |last=Arrington |url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/11/13/google-closes-youtube-acquisition/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024500/https://techcrunch.com/2006/11/13/google-closes-youtube-acquisition/ |url-status=live |date=November 13, 2006 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=March 26, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Google closes $A2b YouTube deal |url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/Busness/Google-closes-A2b-YouTube-deal/2006/11/14/1163266548827.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220214911/https://www.theage.com.au/news/Busness/Google-closes-A2b-YouTube-deal/2006/11/14/1163266548827.html |website=[[The Age]] |date=November 14, 2006 |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Google's acquisition launched newfound interest in video-sharing sites; [[IAC (company)|IAC]], which now owned Vimeo, focused on supporting the content creators to distinguish itself from YouTube.<ref name="fortune vimeo" /> It is at this time YouTube issued the slogan "Broadcast Yourself".
The company experienced rapid growth. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote that in 2007, YouTube consumed as much [[bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] as the entire Internet in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Lewis |date=April 7, 2008 |title=Web could collapse as video demand soars |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584230/Web-could-collapse-as-video-demand-soars.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584230/Web-could-collapse-as-video-demand-soars.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By 2010, the company had reached a [[market share]] of around 43% and more than 14&nbsp;billion views of videos, according to [[comScore]].<ref>{{cite web |title=comScore Releases May 2010 U.S. Online Video Rankings |url=https://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/comScore_Releases_May_2010_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings |access-date=June 27, 2010 |publisher=[[comScore]] |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626124554/http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/comScore_Releases_May_2010_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, the company simplified its interface to increase the time users would spend on the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube redesigns website to keep viewers captivated |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfGfKKsiwbxNv8XoUbm8ZlRZZWyw |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226120718/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfGfKKsiwbxNv8XoUbm8ZlRZZWyw |url-status=dead|access-date=April 1, 2010}}</ref> In 2011, more than three billion videos were being watched each day with 48 hours of new videos uploaded every minute.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube moves past 3&nbsp;billion views a day |url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/youtube-moves-past-3-billion-views-a-day/|publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206044204/https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/youtube-moves-past-3-billion-views-a-day/ |url-status=live|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Martin |date=May 25, 2011 |title=YouTube hits 3 Billion views per day, 2 DAYS worth of video uploaded every minute |url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2011/05/25/youtube-hits-3-billion-views-per-day-2-days-worth-of-video-uploaded-every-minute/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=The Next Web |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225051205/https://thenextweb.com/google/2011/05/25/youtube-hits-3-billion-views-per-day-2-days-worth-of-video-uploaded-every-minute/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="48-60">{{cite news |title=Exclusive: YouTube hits 4 billion daily video views |work=Reuters|last=Oreskovic |first=Alexei  |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube-idUSTRE80M0TS20120123|archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308105444/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube-idUSTRE80M0TS20120123 |url-status=live|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> However, most of these views came from a relatively small number of videos; according to a software engineer at that time, 30% of videos accounted for 99% of views on the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=Almost all YouTube views come from just 30% of films |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8464418/Almost-all-YouTube-views-come-from-just-30-of-films.html|last=Whitelaw |first=Ben  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8464418/Almost-all-YouTube-views-come-from-just-30-of-films.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> That year, the company again changed its interface and at the same time, introduced a new logo with a darker shade of red.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 2, 2011 |title=YouTube's website redesign puts the focus on channels |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16006524 |access-date=December 2, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416164337/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16006524 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cashmore |first1=Pete |title=YouTube Gets New Logo, Facelift and Trackbacks&nbsp;– Growing Fast! |website=[[Mashable]] |url=https://mashable.com/2006/10/26/youtube-gets-new-logo-facelift-and-trackbacks-growing-fast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403122830/https://mashable.com/2006/10/26/youtube-gets-new-logo-facelift-and-trackbacks-growing-fast/ |url-status=live |date=October 26, 2006 |archive-date=April 3, 2019|access-date=December 2, 2011 }}</ref> A subsequent interface change, designed to unify the experience across desktop, TV, and mobile, was rolled out in 2013.<ref name="tnw-one">{{Cite news|title=Google Rolls Out Redesigned YouTube 'One Channel' Layout to All|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/youtube-rolls-out-redesigned-one-channel-layout-to-all-users|work=The Next Web|last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=June 5, 2013|access-date=July 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523124430/https://thenextweb.com/news/youtube-rolls-out-redesigned-one-channel-layout-to-all-users |url-status=live }}</ref> By that point, more than 100 hours were being uploaded every minute, increasing to 300 hours by November 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |title=YouTube users now upload 100 hours of video every minute |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/19/4345514/youtube-users-upload-100-hours-video-every-minute |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308194957/https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/19/4345514/youtube-users-upload-100-hours-video-every-minute |url-status=live|date=May 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=E. Solsman |first=Joan |date=November 12, 2014 |title=YouTube's Music Key: Can paid streaming finally hook the masses? |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-music-key-googles-stab-at-taking-paid-streaming-songs-mainstream/ |access-date=March 25, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308080226/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-music-key-googles-stab-at-taking-paid-streaming-songs-mainstream/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Logo of YouTube (2015-2017).svg|thumb|upright=0.9|YouTube logo from 2015 until 2017]]

During this time, the company also went through some organizational changes. In October 2006, YouTube moved to a new office in [[San Bruno, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The revolution wasn't televised: The early days of YouTube |url=https://mashable.com/2015/02/14/youtube-history/|website=[[Mashable]]|last1=Wasserman|first1=Todd|archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213052612/https://mashable.com/2015/02/14/youtube-history/|url-status=live |date=February 15, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2018 }}</ref> Hurley announced that he would be stepping down as chief executive officer of YouTube to take an advisory role and that [[Salar Kamangar]] would take over as head of the company in October 2010.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 29, 2010 |title=Hurley stepping down as YouTube chief executive |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggtnJSISuXoPHgxu6HwPJJqVTT6g?docId=CNG.f7ff59e3829714d23524d35ed1afdd63.921 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226121025/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggtnJSISuXoPHgxu6HwPJJqVTT6g?docId=CNG.f7ff59e3829714d23524d35ed1afdd63.921 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 2009, YouTube partnered with [[Vevo]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 7, 2009 |title=Music Industry Companies Opening Video Site |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/media/08vevo.html |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |id={{ProQuest|1029889187}} |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820162901/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/media/08vevo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2010, Lady Gaga's "[[Bad Romance]]" became the [[List of most-viewed YouTube videos|most viewed video]], becoming the first video to reach 200 million views on May 9, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bad Romance By Lady Gaga Becomes First YouTube Video To Hit 200 Million Views|url=https://pulse2.com/bad-romance-by-lady-gaga-becomes-first-youtube-video-to-hit-200-million-views/|access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195642/https://pulse2.com/bad-romance-by-lady-gaga-becomes-first-youtube-video-to-hit-200-million-views/ |url-status=live|date=May 9, 2010 }}</ref>

[[Viacom International Inc. v. YouTube, Inc.|YouTube faced a major lawsuit]] by [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom International]] in 2011 that nearly resulted in the discontinuation of the website. The lawsuit was filed as a result of alleged [[copyright infringement]] of Viacom's material by YouTube. However, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] ruled that YouTube was not liable, and thus YouTube won the case in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McSherry |first=Corynne |date=2012-04-05 |title=Viacom v. Google: A Decision at Last, and It's Mostly Good (for the Internet and Innovation) |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/04/viacom-v-google-decision |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505223149/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/04/viacom-v-google-decision |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Susan Wojcicki and going mainstream (2014–2018) ===
[[File:YouTube Logo 2017.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|YouTube logo since 2017]]
[[Susan Wojcicki]] was appointed [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of YouTube in February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Google taps longtime executive Wojcicki to head YouTube|work=Reuters |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube/google-taps-longtime-executive-wojcicki-to-head-youtube-idINBREA141Y420140205|last=Oreskovic|first=Alexei|access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916183049/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-google-youtube/google-taps-longtime-executive-wojcicki-to-head-youtube-idINBREA141Y420140205|url-status=live|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> In January 2016, YouTube expanded its headquarters in San Bruno by purchasing an office park for $215&nbsp;million. The complex has 51,468 square metres (554,000 square feet) of space and can house up to 2,800 employees.<ref name="office_park">{{cite news |last=Avalos |first=George |date=January 20, 2016 |title=YouTube expansion in San Bruno signals big push by video site |work=Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29405413/youtube-expansion-san-bruno-signals-big-push-by |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122103350/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29405413/youtube-expansion-san-bruno-signals-big-push-by |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube officially launched the "polymer" redesign of its user interfaces based on [[Material Design]] language as its default, as well a redesigned logo that is built around the service's play button emblem in August 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube has a new look and, for the first time, a new logo |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/29/16216868/new-youtube-logo-redesign-font-color-app-design|last=Popper |first=Ben  |access-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106091346/https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/29/16216868/new-youtube-logo-redesign-font-color-app-design |url-status=live|date=August 29, 2017 }}</ref>

Through this period, YouTube tried several new ways to generate revenue beyond advertisements. In 2013, YouTube launched a pilot program for content providers to offer premium, subscription-based channels.<ref name="subscription">{{cite news|title=YouTube launches pay-to-watch subscription channels|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22474715|work=[[BBC News]] |date=May 9, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410082148/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22474715 |url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23184159/youtube-providers-could-begin-charging-fees-this-week |title=YouTube providers could begin charging fees this week |last=Nakaso |first=Dan |work=[[San Jose Mercury News|Mercury News]] |date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2013 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312084711/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23184159/youtube-providers-could-begin-charging-fees-this-week |url-status=live }}</ref> This effort was discontinued in January 2018 and relaunched in June, with US$4.99 channel subscriptions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paid content discontinued January 1, 2018 – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7515570?hl=en |access-date=April 19, 2021 |publisher=Google Inc. |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419185440/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7515570?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=June 22, 2018 |title=YouTube introduces paid subscriptions and merchandise selling in bid to help creators monetize the platform |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/22/youtube-introduces-paid-channel-subscriptions-and-merchandise-selling.html  |publisher=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214316/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/22/youtube-introduces-paid-channel-subscriptions-and-merchandise-selling.html |url-status=live|access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> These channel subscriptions complemented the existing Super Chat ability, launched in 2017, which allows viewers to donate between $1 and $500 to have their comment highlighted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Laura |date=April 12, 2017 |title=A Chat With a Live Streamer Is Yours, for a Price |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/technology/personaltech/paying-for-live-stream-chat.html|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011619/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/technology/personaltech/paying-for-live-stream-chat.html |url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2014, YouTube announced a subscription service known as "Music Key", which bundled ad-free streaming of music content on YouTube with the existing [[Google Play Music]] service.<ref>{{cite news |last=Newton |first=Casey |date=November 12, 2014 |title=YouTube announces plans for a subscription music service |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/12/7201969/youtube-music-key-new-subscription-service|archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308192132/https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/12/7201969/youtube-music-key-new-subscription-service |url-status=live|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> The service continued to evolve in 2015 when YouTube announced [[YouTube Red]], a new premium service that would offer ad-free access to all content on the platform (succeeding the Music Key service released the previous year), premium original series, and films produced by YouTube personalities, as well as background playback of content on mobile devices. YouTube also released [[YouTube Music]], a third app oriented towards streaming and discovering the music content hosted on the YouTube platform.<ref name="Youtubered">{{cite web|title=Google wants you to pay $9.99 per month for ad-free YouTube |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/21/google-wants-you-to-pay-9-99-per-month-for-ad-free-youtube/|last1=Reader|first1=Ruth  |website=Venturebeat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308075506/https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/21/google-wants-you-to-pay-9-99-per-month-for-ad-free-youtube/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 8, 2021|date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=October 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 21, 2015 |title=Exclusive: An inside look at the new ad-free YouTube Red |language=en-US |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9566973/youtube-red-ad-free-offline-paid-subscription-service|last=Popper |first=Ben|archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404133500/https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9566973/youtube-red-ad-free-offline-paid-subscription-service |url-status=live|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Engadget-ytmusic">{{cite web|title=YouTube Music isn't perfect, but it's still heaven for music nerds|url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/11/12/youtube-music-app-hands-on/|website=Engadget.com |date=November 12, 2015|last=Ingraham |first=Nathan|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022054/https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-12-youtube-music-app-hands-on.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The company also attempted to create products appealing to specific viewers. YouTube released a mobile app known as [[YouTube Kids]] in 2015, designed to provide an experience optimized for children. It features a simplified user interface, curated selections of channels featuring age-appropriate content, and parental control features.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hands on With "YouTube Kids," Google's Newly Launched, Child-Friendly YouTube App |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/23/hands-on-with-youtube-kids-googles-newly-launched-child-friendly-youtube-app/|first=Sarah |last=Perez|website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]]|date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626223616/https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/23/hands-on-with-youtube-kids-googles-newly-launched-child-friendly-youtube-app/ |url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Also in 2015, YouTube launched YouTube Gaming—a [[video gaming]]-oriented vertical and app for videos and live streaming, intended to compete with the [[Amazon.com]]-owned [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google launches YouTube Gaming to challenge Amazon-owned Twitch |work=The Guardian |first=Stuart |last=Dredge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/26/youtube-gaming-live-website-apps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906044745/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/26/youtube-gaming-live-website-apps |url-status=live|archive-date=September 6, 2015|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref>

The company was attacked on April 3, 2018, when [[2018 YouTube headquarters shooting|a shooting]] occurred at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California, which wounded four and resulted in the death of the shooter.<ref name="shooting">{{cite news |date=April 4, 2018 |title=YouTube shooting: Suspect visited shooting range before attack |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43645812 |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308085103/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43645812 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Recent history (2019–present) ===

By February 2017, one billion hours of YouTube videos were being watched every day, and 400 hours worth of videos were uploaded every minute.<ref name="1 billion hours" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Lumb |first=David |date=February 27, 2017 |title=One billion hours of YouTube are watched every day |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525081426/https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, the uploads had risen to more than 500 hours per minute.<ref name="500 hours per minute" /> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], when most of the world was under [[stay-at-home order]]s, usage of services like YouTube significantly increased. One data firm{{which|date=October 2022}} estimated that YouTube was accounting for 15% of all [[internet traffic]], twice its pre-pandemic level.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbit Hole, episode Eight: 'We Go All' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html|last=Rouse |first=Kevin |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060158/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html |url-status=live|date=June 4, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref> In response to EU officials requesting that such services reduce bandwidth as to make sure medical entities had sufficient bandwidth to share information, YouTube and [[Netflix]] stated they would reduce streaming quality for at least thirty days as to cut bandwidth use of their services by 25% to comply with the EU's request.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Netflix and YouTube are slowing down in Europe to keep the internet from breaking |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html |access-date=March 20, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128181816/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube later announced that they would continue with this move worldwide: "We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation."<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube is reducing the quality of videos for the next month — and it's because increased traffic amid the coronavirus outbreak is straining internet bandwidth |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3 |access-date=March 24, 2020 |work=Business Insider |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615151942/https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following a 2018 complaint alleging violations of the [[Children's Online Privacy Protection Act]] (COPPA),<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube Illegally Tracks Data on Kids, Groups Claim in FTC Complaint |language=en-US |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/|last=Spangler|first=Todd|archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608030638/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/|url-status=live|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref> the company was fined $170&nbsp;million by the FTC for collecting personal information from minors under the age of 13.<ref>{{cite web |title=FTC's Latest Fine Of YouTube Over COPPA Violations Shows That COPPA And Section 230 Are On A Collision Course |last=Mike |first=Masnick |url=https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |website=Techdirt. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906200850/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2019|date=September 6, 2019 |access-date=September 7, 2019 }}</ref> YouTube was also ordered to create systems to increase children's privacy.<ref name="verge-coppafine">{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Google will pay $170 million for YouTube's child privacy violations |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214341/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fung |first=Brian |title=Google and FTC reach $170 million settlement over alleged YouTube violations of kids' privacy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=[[CNN Business]] |date=September 4, 2019 |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111115824/https://cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following criticisms of its implementation of those systems, YouTube started treating all videos designated as "made for kids" as liable under COPPA on January 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=David |date=January 6, 2020 |title=YouTube rolls out new controls aimed at controlling children's content |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |access-date=January 9, 2020 |work=TechSpot |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095937/https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=December 11, 2019 |title=YouTube calls for 'more clarity' on the FTC's child privacy rules |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214402/https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |url-status=live }}</ref> Joining the [[YouTube Kids]] app, the company created a supervised mode, designed more for [[Preadolescent|tweens]], in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=February 24, 2021 |title=YouTube New 'Supervised' Mode Will Let Parents Restrict Older Kids' Video Viewing |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316045244/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, to compete with [[TikTok]], YouTube released [[YouTube Shorts]], a short-form video platform.

During this period, YouTube entered disputes with other tech companies. For over a year, in 2018 and 2019, no YouTube app was available for [[Amazon Fire TV|Amazon Fire]] products.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube is finally coming back to Amazon's Fire TV devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement|last=Welch |first=Chris|website=The Verge|archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418172012/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement |url-status=live|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> In 2020, [[Roku]] removed the YouTube TV app from its streaming store after the two companies were unable to reach an agreement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Solsman |first=Joan E. |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Roku: YouTube TV app removed from channel store as deal with Google ends |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/ |access-date=May 5, 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503094719/https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After testing earlier in 2021, YouTube removed public display of dislike counts on videos in November 2021, claiming the reason for the removal was, based on its internal research, that users often used the dislike feature as a form of [[cyberbullying]] and [[vote brigading|brigading]].<ref name="BBC YouTube dislikes">{{cite web|title=YouTube removing dislike 'discourages trolls' but 'unhelpful for users'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070 |access-date=November 30, 2021 |website=BBC News |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070 |url-status=live|date=November 12, 2021 }}</ref> While some users praised the move as a way to discourage [[Internet troll|trolls]], others felt that hiding dislikes would make it harder for viewers to recognize [[clickbait]] or unhelpful videos and that other features already existed for creators to limit bullying. YouTube co-founder [[Jawed Karim]] referred to the update as "a stupid idea", and that the real reason behind the change was "not a good one, and not one that will be publicly disclosed." He felt that users' ability on a social platform to identify harmful content was essential, saying, "The process works, and there's a name for it: the [[wisdom of the crowd]]s. The process breaks when the platform interferes with it. Then, the platform invariably declines."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vincent |first1=James |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube co-founder predicts 'decline' of the platform following removal of dislikes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |website=The Verge |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117142742/https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Binder |first1=Matt |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube cofounder protests decision to remove 'dislikes' with an edit to first-ever YouTube upload |url=https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes|website=Mashable |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118000227/https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes |url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kan |first1=Michael |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube Co-Founder Says Removing Dislike Counts Is a 'Stupid Idea' |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |access-date=November 30, 2021 |website=PC Magazine |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529055917/https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, software developer Dmitry Selivanov created Return YouTube Dislike, an [[Open source|open-source]], third-party [[browser extension]] for [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] and [[Firefox]] that allows users to see a video's number of dislikes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Browser Extension Brings Back Dislike Count to YouTube Videos |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130230749/https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |work=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref> In a letter published on January 25, 2022, by then YouTube CEO [[Susan Wojcicki]], acknowledged that removing public dislike counts was a controversial decision, but reiterated that she stands by this decision, claiming that "it reduced dislike attacks."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojcicki |first1=Susan |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Letter from Susan: Our 2022 Priorities |url=https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=YouTube Official Blog |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006154605/https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, YouTube launched an experiment where the company would show users who watched longer videos on TVs a long chain of short un-skippable adverts, intending to consolidate all ads into the beginning of a video. Following public outrage over the unprecedented amount of un-skippable ads, YouTube "ended" the experiment on September 19 of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Livemint |date=September 19, 2022 |title=YouTube ends experiment that forced users to watch large unskippable ads |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |access-date=September 21, 2022 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921060005/https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In October, YouTube announced that they would be rolling out customizable user handles (e.g. @[[MrBeast|MrBeast6000]]) in addition to channel names, which would also become channel URLs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krasnoff |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Krasnoff |date=October 15, 2022 |title=How to choose your YouTube handle |url=https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214230354/https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2022}}</ref>

On February 16, 2023, Wojcicki announced that she would step down as CEO, with [[Neal Mohan]] named as her successor. Wojcicki will take on an advisory role for Google and parent company [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]].<ref name="Wojcicki steps down">{{cite web|title=YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down after nine years at the helm |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |last2=Roth |first2=Emma |date=January 16, 2023 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216185547/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref>

In late October 2023, YouTube began cracking down on the use of [[ad blocker]]s on the platform. Users of ad blockers may be given a pop-up warning saying "Video player will be blocked after 3 videos". Users of ad blockers are shown a message asking them to allow ads or inviting them to subscribe to the ad-free [[YouTube Premium]] subscription plan. YouTube says that the use of ad blockers violates its terms of service.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allow ads on videos that you watch - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en |website=[[Google News]]|archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en|url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dave |first=Paresh |title=YouTube's Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls of Ad Blockers |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |access-date=November 9, 2023 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2024, YouTube announced it would be "strengthening our enforcement on third-party apps that violate YouTube's Terms of Service, specifically ad-blocking apps". The change affects apps such as NewPipe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=2024-04-16 |title=YouTube puts third-party clients on notice: Show ads or get blocked |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/youtube-will-start-blocking-third-party-clients-that-dont-show-ads/|website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417140857/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/youtube-will-start-blocking-third-party-clients-that-dont-show-ads/ |url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>

== Senior leadership ==
YouTube has been led by a CEO since its founding in 2005, beginning with [[Chad Hurley]], who led the company until 2010. After Google's acquisition of YouTube, the CEO role was retained. [[Salar Kamangar]] took over Hurley's position and held the job until 2014. He was replaced by [[Susan Wojcicki]], who later resigned in 2023.<ref name="Wojcicki steps down" /> The current CEO is [[Neal Mohan]], who was appointed on February 16, 2023.<ref name="Wojcicki steps down" />

== Features ==
=== Video technology ===

YouTube primarily uses the [[VP9]] and [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] video codecs, and the [[Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP]] protocol.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barman |first1=Nabajeet |last2=Martini |first2=Maria G. |title=2017 Ninth International Conference on Quality of Multimedia Experience (QoMEX) |chapter=H.264/MPEG-AVC, H.265/MPEG-HEVC and VP9 codec comparison for live gaming video streaming |date=May 2017 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.1109/QoMEX.2017.7965686 |isbn=978-1-5386-4024-1 |s2cid=28395957}}</ref> [[MPEG-4 Part 2]] streams contained within [[3GP and 3G2|3GP]] containers are also provided for low bandwidth connections.<ref name="codec list">{{cite web |year=2018 |title=Youtube video/audio codec list |url=https://gist.github.com/sidneys/7095afe4da4ae58694d128b1034e01e2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911001956/https://gist.github.com/sidneys/7095afe4da4ae58694d128b1034e01e2 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |website=[[GitHub]] }} [https://etched.page/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgist.github.com%2Fsidneys%2F7095afe4da4ae58694d128b1034e01e2 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911015234/https://etched.page/?url=https://gist.github.com/sidneys/7095afe4da4ae58694d128b1034e01e2 |date=September 11, 2021 }}</ref> By January 2019, YouTube had begun rolling out videos in [[AV1]] format.<ref>{{cite web|title=AV1 Beta Launch Playlist |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqf6gJt7KuHBmeVzZteZUlNUQAVLwrZS |via=YouTube |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216145744/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqf6gJt7KuHBmeVzZteZUlNUQAVLwrZS |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021 it was reported that the company was considering requiring AV1 in streaming hardware in order to decrease bandwidth and increase quality.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube may require AV1 support in the future |url=https://9to5google.com/2021/01/27/youtube-av1-netflix-requirement/|last=Schoon |first=Ben |website=[[9to5Google]] |language=en-US |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414062701/https://9to5google.com/2021/01/27/youtube-av1-netflix-requirement/ |url-status=live|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> Video is usually streamed alongside the [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]] and [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] audio codecs.<ref name="codec list" />

At launch in 2005, viewing YouTube videos on a personal computer required the [[Adobe Flash Player]] plug-in to be installed in the browser.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flash moves on to smart phones |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8287239.stm |access-date=November 30, 2009 |date=October 5, 2009 |first=Jonathan |last=Fildes |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008233844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8287239.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2010, YouTube launched an experimental version of the site that used the built-in multimedia capabilities of Web browsers supporting [[HTML video]].<ref name="ditches Flash">{{cite web|date=January 27, 2015 |title=YouTube ditches Flash for HTML5 video by default |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/01/27/youtube-ditches-flash-for-html5-video-by-default/|last=Protalinski |first=Emil|website=VentureBeat |language=en-US |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505173316/https://venturebeat.com/2015/01/27/youtube-ditches-flash-for-html5-video-by-default/ |url-status=live|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> This allowed videos to be viewed without requiring Adobe Flash Player or any other plug-in to be installed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/html5-youtube-viewer-close-but-not-quite-there/ |title=HTML5 YouTube viewer: close, but not quite there |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110003012/https://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/html5-youtube-viewer-close-but-not-quite-there/ |archive-date=November 10, 2009 |access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> On January 27, 2015, YouTube announced that HTML video would be the default playback method on [[HTML video#Browser support|supported browsers]].<ref name="ditches Flash" /> HTML video streams use [[Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP]] (MPEG-DASH), an HTTP-based adaptive bit-rate streaming solution optimizes the bitrate and quality for the available network.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rajeev |last=Tiwari |url=https://streamingcodecs.blogspot.hu/2013/01/mpeg-dash-support-in-youtube.html |title=Streaming Media and RTOS: MPEG-DASH Support in Youtube |publisher=Streamingcodecs.blogspot.hu |date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303041133/http://streamingcodecs.blogspot.hu/2013/01/mpeg-dash-support-in-youtube.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The platform can serve videos at optionally lower resolution levels starting at 144p for smoother playback in areas and countries with limited [[Internet speed]]s, improving compatibility, as well as for the preservation of limited cellular [[data plan]]s. The resolution can be adjusted automatically based on detected connection speed or set manually.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en |title=Change the quality of your video – YouTube Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410115130/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Katie |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Make YouTube videos sharper or load faster |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/change-the-quality-of-youtube-videos-on-your-phone-tv-and-laptop/ |publisher=CNET |language=en |access-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410115130/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/change-the-quality-of-youtube-videos-on-your-phone-tv-and-laptop/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2008 to 2017, users could add "annotations" to their videos, such as pop-up text messages and hyperlinks, which allowed for [[interactive video]]s. By 2019, all annotations had been removed from videos, breaking some videos that depended on the feature. YouTube introduced standardized [[Widget (GUI)|widgets]] intended to replace annotations in a cross-platform manner, including "end screens" (a customizable array of thumbnails for specified videos displayed near the end of the video).<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube launches mobile-friendly "End Screens" feature to keep viewers watching more video |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/26/youtube-launches-mobile-friendly-end-screens-feature-to-keep-viewers-watching-more-video/ |access-date=January 14, 2019 |website=TechCrunch |date=October 26, 2016 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316035117/https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/26/youtube-launches-mobile-friendly-end-screens-feature-to-keep-viewers-watching-more-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=November 27, 2018 |title=YouTube annotations will disappear for good in January |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/27/18114581/youtube-annotations-discontinued-january-2019 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316035117/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/27/18114581/youtube-annotations-discontinued-january-2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=March 16, 2017 |title=YouTube to discontinue video annotations because they never worked on mobile |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/16/14953756/youtube-annotations-feature-discontinue-cards-end-screens |access-date=January 14, 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316035125/https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/16/14953756/youtube-annotations-feature-discontinue-cards-end-screens |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, YouTube became an [[International Standard Name Identifier]] (ISNI) registry, and announced its intention to begin creating ISNI identifiers to uniquely identify the musicians whose videos it features.<ref name="ISNIYouTube1">{{cite web |title=YouTube Adopts ISNI ID for Artists & Songwriters |url=https://www.isni.org/content/youtube-adopts-isni-id-artists-songwriters |access-date=June 1, 2018 |publisher=ISNI |archive-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601234147/http://www.isni.org/content/youtube-adopts-isni-id-artists-songwriters |url-status=live }}</ref>

Users can verify their account, normally through a mobile phone, to gain the ability to upload videos up to 12 hours in length, as well as produce live streams.<ref name="videolength">[https://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=71673 "Upload videos longer than 15 minutes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102025406/http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=71673 |date=November 2, 2011 }} YouTube Help. Retrieved July 15, 2017.</ref><ref name="intro to live">[https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026? "Introduction to live streaming"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010094743/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026 |date=October 10, 2017 }} YouTube Help. Retrieved September 22, 2017.</ref> Users who have built sufficient channel history and have a good track record of complying with the site's Community Guidelines will also gain access to these aforementioned features as well.<ref>[https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9891124#channelhistory "Unlock access to intermediate and advanced features"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519090608/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9891124#channelhistory |date=May 19, 2023 }} YouTube Help. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref> When YouTube was launched in 2005, it was possible to upload longer videos, but a 10-minute limit was introduced in March 2006 after YouTube found that the majority of videos exceeding this length were unauthorized uploads of television shows and films.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ken |last=Fisher |title=YouTube caps video lengths to reduce infringement |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/03/6481-2/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=March 29, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226200136/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/03/6481-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 10-minute limit was increased to 15 minutes in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube bumps video limit to 15 minutes |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-bumps-video-limit-to-15-minutes/|first=Josh |last=Lowensohn|publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308013646/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-bumps-video-limit-to-15-minutes/ |url-status=live|date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Videos can be at most 256 [[gigabyte|GB]] in size or 12 hours, whichever is less.<ref name="videolength" /> {{Anchor|closed captioning}}{{As of|2021}}, automatic [[Closed captioning|closed captions]] using [[speech recognition]] technology when a video is uploaded are available in 13 languages, and can be [[machine translation|machine-translated]] during playback.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.androidheadlines.com/2021/05/youtube-automatic-translation-feature.html |title=YouTube Automatic Translation Feature Rolls Out For Some Users |date=May 6, 2021 |website=Android Headlines |first=Vinay |last=Patel |access-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407034654/https://www.androidheadlines.com/2021/05/youtube-automatic-translation-feature.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

YouTube also offers manual closed captioning as part of its creator studio.<ref name="captioning">{{cite web |title=Adding Captions to YouTube Videos |publisher=[[University of Washington]] |url=https://www.washington.edu/accessibility/videos/youtube/ |access-date=September 4, 2016 |author-link=University of Washington |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911154901/http://www.washington.edu/accessibility/videos/youtube/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> YouTube formerly offered a 'Community Captions' feature, where viewers could write and submit captions for public display upon approval by the video uploader, but this was deprecated in September 2020.<ref name="community captions">{{cite web |title=Saying Goodbye to YouTube's Community Contributions feature after September 28, 2020 |publisher=Google Inc. |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/61967856?hl=en |access-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422085739/https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/61967856?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

YouTube accepts the most common [[Digital container format|container formats]], including [[MP4 file format|MP4]], [[Matroska]], [[Flash Video|FLV]], [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]], [[WebM]], [[3GP and 3G2|3GP]], [[MPEG program stream|MPEG-PS]], and the [[QuickTime File Format]]. Some intermediate video formats (i.e., primarily used for professional video editing, not for final delivery or storage) are also accepted, such as [[Apple ProRes|ProRes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Supported YouTube file formats – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/troubleshooter/2888402?hl=en |access-date=November 24, 2020 |publisher=Google Inc. |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314162748/https://support.google.com/youtube/troubleshooter/2888402?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube provides recommended encoding settings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recommended upload encoding settings – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171 |publisher=Google Inc.|archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202163705/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171|url-status=live|access-date=29 May 2024}}</ref>

Each video is identified by an eleven-character [[case-sensitive]] alphanumerical [[Base64#URL applications|Base64]] string in the [[Uniform Resource Locator]] (URL) which can contain letters, digits, an underscore (<code>_</code>), and a dash (<code>-</code>).<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's Why YouTube Will Practically Never Run Out of Unique Video IDs |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/77598/heres-why-youtube-will-never-run-out-unique-video-ids |website=mentalfloss.com |access-date=December 27, 2021 |language=en |date=March 23, 2016 |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227003053/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/77598/heres-why-youtube-will-never-run-out-unique-video-ids |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, YouTube added a feature called ''Premiere'' which displays a notification to the user mentioning when the video will be available for the first time, like for a live stream but with a prerecorded video. When the scheduled time arrives, the video is aired as a live broadcast with a two-minute countdown. Optionally, a premiere can be initiated immediately.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/367588/what-are-youtube-premiers-and-how-do-you-use-them/ |title=What are YouTube Premieres, and How Do You Use Them? |date=October 26, 2018 |access-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624013022/https://www.howtogeek.com/367588/what-are-youtube-premiers-and-how-do-you-use-them/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Quality and formats ====

YouTube originally offered videos at only one quality level, displayed at a resolution of 320×240 [[pixel]]s using the [[Sorenson codec|Sorenson Spark]] codec (a variant of [[H.263]]),<ref name="incomplete-h263">{{cite web |url=https://www.kaourantin.net/2005/08/quest-for-new-video-codec-in-flash-8.html |title=The quest for a new video codec in Flash 8 |first=Tinic |last=Uro |quote=We went this route before with Sorenson Spark which is an incomplete implementation of H.263 and it bit us badly when trying to implement certain solutions. |date=August 13, 2005 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206142709/https://kaourantin.net/2005/08/quest-for-new-video-codec-in-flash-8.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref><ref name="flash-video">{{cite web |url=https://download.macromedia.com/f4v/video_file_format_spec_v10_1.pdf |title=Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification Version 10.1 |publisher=Adobe Systems Incorporated |page=72 |quote=Sorenson H.263 |year=2010 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219144646/http://download.macromedia.com/f4v/video_file_format_spec_v10_1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> with mono MP3 audio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sorensonmedia.com/news/?n=379 |title=Market Demand for Sorenson Media's Sorenson Spark Video Decoder Expands Sharply |publisher=Sorenson Media |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=July 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827160021/https://www.sorensonmedia.com/news/?n=379 |archive-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2007, YouTube added an option to watch videos in [[3GP and 3G2|3GP]] format on mobile phones.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/06/17/youtube-mobile-goes-live/ |title=YouTube Mobile goes live |date=June 17, 2007 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620083032/https://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/06/17/youtube-mobile-goes-live/ |archive-date=June 20, 2007}}</ref> In March 2008, a high-quality mode was added, which increased the resolution to 480×360 pixels.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Videos in High Quality |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2008/03/youtube-videos-in-high-quality.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111220719/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2008/03/youtube-videos-in-high-quality.html |url-status=live |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> In December 2008, [[720p]] [[high-definition video|HD]] support was added. At the time of the 720p launch, the YouTube player was changed from a [[4:3]] [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] to a [[widescreen]] [[16:9 aspect ratio|16:9]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Lowensohn |title=YouTube videos go HD with a simple hack |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-videos-go-hd-with-a-simple-hack/ |publisher=[[CNET]] |date=November 20, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106152302/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-videos-go-hd-with-a-simple-hack/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With this new feature, YouTube began a switchover to [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] as its default video compression format. In November 2009, [[1080p]] HD support was added. In July 2010, YouTube announced that it had launched a range of videos in [[4K resolution|4K]] format, which allows a resolution of up to 4096×3072 pixels.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ramesh |last=Sarukkai |title=What's bigger than 1080p? 4K video comes to YouTube |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/07/whats-bigger-than-1080p-4k-video-comes.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041523/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/07/whats-bigger-than-1080p-4k-video-comes.html|url-status=live|date=July 9, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube now supports 4K-resolution videos |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-now-supports-4k-resolution-videos/ |publisher=[[CNET]] |date=July 9, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811145936/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-now-supports-4k-resolution-videos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2010, support for [[2160p]] UHD was added, with the videos playing at 3840 × 2160 pixels.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Announces Partner Grants Program, Support For 4K Video Resolution |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/07/09/youtube-partner-program-4k/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=December 27, 2021 |date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227010116/https://techcrunch.com/2010/07/09/youtube-partner-program-4k/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2014, YouTube began to deploy support for [[high frame rate]] videos up to 60 [[frames per second]] (as opposed to 30 before), becoming available for user uploads in October. YouTube stated that this would enhance "motion-intensive" videos, such as [[video game]] footage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brunner |first=Grant |date=June 27, 2014 |title=Will 60fps YouTube videos force game developers to prioritize frame rate? |url=https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/185454-will-60fps-youtube-videos-force-game-developers-to-prioritize-frame-rate |access-date=November 14, 2019 |website=ExtremeTech |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308090441/https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/185454-will-60fps-youtube-videos-force-game-developers-to-prioritize-frame-rate |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/29/7121143/youtube-adds-support-for-60fps-video-playback |title=YouTube now supports 60fps playback, and video games look amazing |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=October 29, 2014 |website=The Verge |language=en |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308101734/https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/29/7121143/youtube-adds-support-for-60fps-video-playback |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/27/battlefield-hardline-youtube-trailers-games |title=Battlefield Hardline ushers in era of smooth YouTube trailers |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 27, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014 |first=Keith |last=Stuart |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308103930/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/27/battlefield-hardline-youtube-trailers-games |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Kumparak |title=YouTube Can Now Play Videos at a Buttery 60 Frames Per Second |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/29/60-fps-youtube/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 29, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224160242/https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/29/60-fps-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2015, support for [[8K resolution]] was added, with the videos playing at 7680×4320 pixels.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://mashable.com/2015/06/10/youtube-8k-video/ |title=You can watch an 8K video on YouTube – in theory |publisher=MashableUK |date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2015 |first=Stan |last=Schroeder |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703043235/http://mashable.com/2015/06/10/youtube-8k-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2016, support for [[High-dynamic-range video|HDR video]] was added which can be encoded with [[hybrid log–gamma]] (HLG) or [[perceptual quantizer]] (<span class="ltr">PQ</span>).<ref>{{cite web |first1=Steven |last1=Robertson |first2=Sanjeev |last2=Verma |title=True colors: adding support for HDR videos on YouTube |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2016/11/true-colors-adding-support-for-hdr.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614154512/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2016/11/true-colors-adding-support-for-hdr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> HDR video can be encoded with the [[Rec. 2020]] color space.<ref>{{cite web |title=Upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7126552 |website=YouTube Help |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203175756/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7126552 |url-status=live }}</ref>

YouTube videos are available in a range of quality levels. Viewers only indirectly influence the video quality. In the mobile apps, users choose between "Auto", which adjusts resolution based on the internet connection, "High Picture Quality" which will prioritize playing high-quality video, "Data saver" which will sacrifice video quality in favor of low data usage and "Advanced" which lets the user choose a stream resolution.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to adjust adjust video quality on YouTube |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/youtube-new-video-quality-settings-explained-7287426/ |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=The Indian Express|archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215246/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/youtube-new-video-quality-settings-explained-7287426/ |url-status=live|date=April 25, 2021}}</ref> On desktop, users choose between "Auto" and a specific resolution.<ref>{{cite web |title=Change the quality of your video – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en&ref_topic=9257411 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |publisher=Google Inc. |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229191924/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en&ref_topic=9257411 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is not possible for the viewer to directly choose a higher [[bitrate]] (quality) for any selected resolution.

Since 2009, viewers have had the ability to watch 3D videos.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 21, 2009 |title=YouTube in 3D |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ANcspdYh_U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/5ANcspdYh_U |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 3, 2009 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2015, YouTube began natively supporting [[360-degree video]]. Since April 2016, it allowed live streaming 360° video, and both normal and 360° video at up to 1440p, and since November 2016 both at up to 4K (2160p) resolution.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bonnington |first=Christina |date=March 13, 2015 |title=You Can Now Watch and Upload 360-Degree Videos on YouTube |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/03/youtube-360-degree-video/ |access-date=May 10, 2021 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=July 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709080447/http://www.wired.com/2015/03/youtube-360-degree-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Verge 2016" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtube-eng.googleblog.com/2016/04/new-youtube-live-features-live-360.html |title=New YouTube live features: live 360, 1440p, embedded captions, and VP9 ingestion |website=googleblog.com |publisher=YouTube Engineering and Developers Blog |access-date=December 26, 2021 |language=en |date=April 19, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201205447/https://youtube-eng.googleblog.com/2016/04/new-youtube-live-features-live-360.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Citing the limited number of users who watched more than 90-degrees, it began supporting an alternative stereoscopic video format known as VR180 which it said was easier to produce,<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube's "VR180" format cuts down on VR video's prohibitive requirements |language=en-us |work=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/youtubes-vr180-format-makes-vr-video-more-accessible/ |access-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316035205/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/youtubes-vr180-format-makes-vr-video-more-accessible/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which allows users to watch any video using virtual reality headsets.<ref>{{cite web |last=Broida |first=Rick |title=Watch any YouTube video in VR mode |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/watch-any-youtube-video-in-vr-mode/ |access-date=May 10, 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511133658/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/watch-any-youtube-video-in-vr-mode/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In response to increased viewership during the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube temporarily downgraded the quality of its videos.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube, Amazon and Netflix cut picture quality in Europe |url=https://www.ft.com/content/70333747-f180-4887-8a26-27ab6b230299 |access-date=March 20, 2020 |work=Financial Times |date=March 20, 2020 |last1=Espinoza |first1=Javier |last2=Fildes |first2=Nic |last3=Murphy |first3=Hannah |last4=Bradshaw |first4=Tim |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308010939/https://www.ft.com/content/70333747-f180-4887-8a26-27ab6b230299 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=March 24, 2020 |title=YouTube is reducing its default video quality to standard definition for the next month |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/24/21192384/youtube-video-quality-reduced-hd-broadband-europe-streaming |access-date=October 20, 2020 |website=The Verge |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201043737/https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/24/21192384/youtube-video-quality-reduced-hd-broadband-europe-streaming |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube developed its own chip, called "Argos", to help with encoding higher resolution videos in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shankland |first=Stephen |title=Google supercharges YouTube with a custom video chip |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/google-supercharges-youtube-with-a-custom-video-chip/ |access-date=May 5, 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505173316/https://www.cnet.com/news/google-supercharges-youtube-with-a-custom-video-chip/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2023, YouTube began offering some videos in an enhanced bitrate "[[1080p]] Premium" option for YouTube Premium subscribers on iOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=April 10, 2023 |title=YouTube is giving Premium subscribers higher-quality video than everyone else |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/10/23677141/youtube-premium-subscribers-higher-quality-video-1080p |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210124330/https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/10/23677141/youtube-premium-subscribers-higher-quality-video-1080p |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023, the feature became available to subscribers on desktop platforms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=YouTube's 'enhanced' 1080p for Premium subscribers is now available on desktop web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/4/23820482/youtube-enhanced-bitrate-1080p-premium-desktop-web-living-room |website=The Verge |date=August 4, 2023 |access-date=December 23, 2023 |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207200835/https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/4/23820482/youtube-enhanced-bitrate-1080p-premium-desktop-web-living-room |url-status=live }}</ref>

In certain cases, YouTube allows the uploader to upgrade the quality of videos uploaded a long time ago in poor quality. One such partnership with [[Universal Music Group]] included remasters of 1,000 music videos.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |title=YouTube partners with Universal to upgrade nearly 1,000 classic music videos to HD |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/19/youtube-partners-with-universal-to-upgrade-nearly-1000-classic-music-videos-to-hd/ |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=TechCrunch |language=en |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309091746/https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/19/youtube-partners-with-universal-to-upgrade-nearly-1000-classic-music-videos-to-hd/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Live streaming ====
YouTube carried out early experiments with [[live streaming]], including its [[YouTube Live]] event in 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/11/jordan-queen-ra.html|title=JORDAN: Queen Rania receives YouTube award|date=November 15, 2008|access-date=September 10, 2016|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506101452/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/11/jordan-queen-ra.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a concert by [[U2]] in 2009, and a question-and-answer session with US President [[Barack Obama]] in February 2010.<ref name="CNN 2010">{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/09/13/youtube.livestreaming/index.html?hpt=C2 |title=YouTube testing live streaming |last=Gross |first=Doug |date=September 13, 2010 |publisher=CNN |access-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923002722/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/09/13/youtube.livestreaming/index.html?hpt=C2 |url-status=live }}</ref> These tests had relied on technology from 3rd-party partners, but in September 2010, YouTube began testing its own live streaming infrastructure.<ref name="BBC 2010">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-11282240 |title=YouTube in two-day live video-streaming test |date=September 13, 2010 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110052422/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-11282240 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2011, YouTube announced the rollout of ''YouTube Live''. The creation of live streams was initially limited to select partners.<ref name="YT Blog 2011">{{cite web |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2011/04/youtube-is-going-live.html |title=YouTube is going LIVE |date=April 8, 2011 |website=YouTube Official Blog |access-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923002634/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2011/04/youtube-is-going-live.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was used for real-time broadcasting of events such as the 2012 Olympics in London.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/youtube-sleeping-giant-livestreaming/ |title=YouTube Is the Sleeping Giant of Livestreaming |last=Pierce |first=David |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |access-date=September 22, 2017 |date=August 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108112508/https://www.wired.com/2015/08/youtube-sleeping-giant-livestreaming/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2012, more than 8&nbsp;million people watched [[Felix Baumgartner]]'s [[Red Bull Stratos|jump from the edge of space]] as a live stream on YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/felix-baumgartner-s-jump-from-space-s-edge-watched-by-millions-1.4115479 |title=Felix Baumgartner's jump from space's edge watched by millions |agency=Associated Press |date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=October 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018071353/https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/felix-baumgartner-s-jump-from-space-s-edge-watched-by-millions-1.4115479 |archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref>

In May 2013, creation of live streams was opened to verified users with at least 1,000 subscribers; in August of the same year the number was reduced to 100 subscribers,<ref name="Verge 2013">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/3/4586624/youtube-live-streaming-now-available-to-channels-with-100-subscribers |title=YouTube opens up live streaming to anyone with 100 or more subscribers |last=Blagdon |first=Jeff |date=August 3, 2013 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025730/http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/3/4586624/youtube-live-streaming-now-available-to-channels-with-100-subscribers |url-status=live }}</ref> and in December the limit was removed.<ref name="MacNN 2013">{{cite web |url=https://www.macnn.com/articles/13/12/13/youtube.abandons.100.subscriber.limit.for.live.streaming/ |title=YouTube opens live streaming for all verified accounts |date=December 13, 2013 |website=MacNN |access-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923003125/http://www.macnn.com/articles/13/12/13/youtube.abandons.100.subscriber.limit.for.live.streaming/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2017, live streaming was introduced to the official YouTube mobile app. Live streaming via mobile was initially restricted to users with at least 10,000 subscribers,<ref name="Ars Technica 2017-02-08">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/02/youtube-now-lets-creators-with-10000-subscribers-live-stream-video-on-mobile/ |title=YouTube now lets creators with 10,000 subscribers live-stream video on mobile |last=Palladino |first=Valentina |date=February 8, 2017 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031216/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/02/youtube-now-lets-creators-with-10000-subscribers-live-stream-video-on-mobile/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but as of mid-2017 it has been reduced to 100 subscribers.<ref name="create live">[https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853700 "Create a live stream"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010095216/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853700 |date=October 10, 2017 }} YouTube Help. Retrieved September 22, 2017.</ref> Live streams support HDR, can be up to 4K resolution at 60 fps, and also support 360° video.<ref name="Verge 2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/30/13783272/youtube-update-4k-live-streaming-support-360-video |title=YouTube now supports 4K live-streaming for both 360-degree and standard video |last=Garun |first=Natt |date=November 30, 2016 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209043847/https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/30/13783272/youtube-update-4k-live-streaming-support-360-video |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=December 8, 2020 |title=YouTube live streams now support HDR |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/8/22162889/youtube-live-stream-hdr-support |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510172849/https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/8/22162889/youtube-live-stream-hdr-support |url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref>

=== User features ===
==== Comment system {{anchor|User comments}} ====
{{See also|Criticism of Google#YouTube user comments}}

Most videos enable users to leave [[Comments section|comments]], which have attracted attention for the negative aspects of their form and content.{{Specify|date=March 2023}} In 2006, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' praised [[Web 2.0]] for enabling "community and collaboration on a scale never seen before", and added that YouTube "harnesses the stupidity of crowds as well as its wisdom. Some of the comments on YouTube make you weep for the future of humanity just for the spelling alone, never mind the obscenity and the naked hatred".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grossman |first=Lev |date=December 25, 2006 |title=You – Yes, You – Are TIME's Person of the Year |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570810,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304050538/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570810,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2009 described users' comments on YouTube as:<ref>{{cite news |last=Owen |first=Paul |date=November 3, 2009 |title=Our top 10 funniest YouTube comments – what are yours? |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/nov/03/youtube-funniest-comments |access-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311005500/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/nov/03/youtube-funniest-comments |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{blockquote|Juvenile, aggressive, misspelt, [[sexist]], [[homophobic]], swinging from raging at the contents of a video to providing a pointlessly detailed description followed by a [[LOL]], YouTube comments are a hotbed of infantile debate and unashamed ignorance—with the occasional burst of wit shining through.}}

''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' commented in September 2008, that YouTube was "notorious" for "some of the most confrontational and ill-formed comment exchanges on the internet", and reported on YouTube Comment Snob, "a new piece of software that blocks rude and illiterate posts".<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Matthew |date=September 2, 2008 |title=YouTube's worst comments blocked by filter |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2668997/YouTubes-worst-comments-blocked-by-filter.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2668997/YouTubes-worst-comments-blocked-by-filter.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' noted in April 2012 that finding comments on YouTube that appear "[[offensive content|offensive]], stupid and crass" to the "vast majority" of the people is hardly difficult.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rundle |first=Michael |date=April 7, 2012 |title=Policing Racism Online: Liam Stacey, YouTube And The Law Of Big Numbers |newspaper=[[HuffPost]] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/06/policing-racism-online-liam-stacey-fabrice-muamba-abuse-twitter-youtube-facebook_n_1407795.html |access-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-date=May 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528093341/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/06/policing-racism-online-liam-stacey-fabrice-muamba-abuse-twitter-youtube-facebook_n_1407795.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Google subsequently implemented a comment system oriented on Google+ on November 6, 2013, that required all YouTube users to use a [[Google+]] account to comment on videos. The stated motivation for the change was giving creators more power to moderate and block comments, thereby addressing frequent criticisms of their quality and tone.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/07/youtube-comments-trolls-moderation-google "YouTube aims to tame the trolls with changes to its comments section"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209163014/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/07/youtube-comments-trolls-moderation-google |date=February 9, 2017 }}, Stuart Dredge, ''The Guardian'', November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> The new system restored the ability to include [[URL]]s in comments, which had previously been removed due to problems with abuse.<ref>{{cite web |year=2009 |title=No more links in comments? |url=https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/OdxWjrLvzYw |access-date=August 28, 2013 |work=Google product forums |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203081016/https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/OdxWjrLvzYw |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=View and post comments |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171666?hl=en-GB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117041605/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171666 |archive-date=November 17, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |work=Google Support}}</ref> In response, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim posted the question "why the fuck do I need a google+ account to comment on a video?" on his YouTube channel to express his negative opinion of the change.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=November 8, 2013 |title=YouTube co-founder hurls abuse at Google over new YouTube comments |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/youtube-cofounder-why-the-fuck-do-i-need-a-google-account-to-comment |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112023951/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/youtube-cofounder-why-the-fuck-do-i-need-a-google-account-to-comment |url-status=live }}</ref> The official YouTube announcement<ref>{{YouTube|bVGp8Z8Yb28|"Meet the new YouTube comments"|link=no}}, November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> received 20,097 "thumbs down" votes and generated more than 32,000 comments in two days.<ref>[https://www.ibtimes.com/youtube-founder-blasts-new-youtube-comments-jawed-karim-outraged-google-plus-requirement-1462814 "YouTube Founder Blasts New YouTube Comments: Jawed Karim Outraged At Google Plus Requirement"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005165356/https://www.ibtimes.com/youtube-founder-blasts-new-youtube-comments-jawed-karim-outraged-google-plus-requirement-1462814 |date=October 5, 2022 }}, Ryan W. Neal, ''International Business Times'', November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> Writing in the ''Newsday'' blog Silicon Island, Chase Melvin noted that "Google+ is nowhere near as popular a social media network like [[Facebook]], but it's essentially being forced upon millions of YouTube users who don't want to lose their ability to comment on videos" and added that "Discussion forums across the Internet are already bursting with the outcry against the new comment system". In the same article Melvin goes on to say:<ref>{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Melvin |date=November 20, 2013 |title=YouTube comments require Google+ account, Google faces uproar |newspaper=Newsday |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112195648/http://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}} [https://www.amny.com/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 Alternate link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000813/https://www.amny.com/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |date=December 3, 2013 }}.</ref>

{{blockquote|Perhaps user complaints are justified, but the idea of revamping the old system isn't so bad.

Think of the crude, [[misogynistic]] and racially-charged mudslinging that has transpired over the last eight years on YouTube without any discernible moderation. Isn't any attempt to curb unidentified libelers worth a shot? The system is far from perfect, but Google should be lauded for trying to alleviate some of the damage caused by irate YouTubers hiding behind animosity and anonymity.}}

Later, on July 27, 2015, Google announced in a blog post that it would be removing the requirement to sign up to a Google+ account to post comments to YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 28, 2015 |title=Google unlinking Google+ from YouTube |work=BBC News |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33687110 |access-date=July 29, 2015 |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728115333/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33687110 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 3, 2016, YouTube announced a trial scheme which allows the creators of videos to decide whether to approve, hide or report the comments posted on videos based on an [[algorithm]] that detects potentially offensive comments.<ref>{{cite web |last=E. Solsman |first=Joan |date=November 3, 2016 |title=YouTube helps creators blast trolls from comments |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-comments-new-tools-algorithmic-pinned-hearts-usernames/ |access-date=March 25, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212192412/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-comments-new-tools-algorithmic-pinned-hearts-usernames/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Creators may also choose to keep or delete comments with links or hashtags in order to combat spam. They can also allow other users to moderate their comments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jotham |first1=Immanuel |date=July 24, 2017 |title=New YouTube feature allows creators to automatically block spam |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-youtube-feature-allows-creators-automatically-block-spam-1631665 |access-date=September 17, 2017 |website=International Business Times UK |language=en |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917123752/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-youtube-feature-allows-creators-automatically-block-spam-1631665 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2020, it was reported that YouTube would launch a new feature that will warn users who post a comment that "may be offensive to others."<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=December 3, 2020 |title=YouTube will ask commenters to rethink posting if their message seems offensive |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/22150197/youtube-comments-posting-hurtful-hate-videos-discrimination-monetization-search |access-date=December 9, 2020 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208170536/https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/22150197/youtube-comments-posting-hurtful-hate-videos-discrimination-monetization-search |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube introduces new feature to address toxic comments |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/03/youtube-introduces-new-features-to-address-toxic-comments/ |last=Perez |first=Sarah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205083858/https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/03/youtube-introduces-new-features-to-address-toxic-comments/ <!--stable--> |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=December 3, 2020 |language=en-US }}</ref>

==== Community ====
On September 13, 2016, YouTube launched a [[public beta]] of Community, a [[social media]]-based feature that allows users to post text, images (including [[GIF]]s), live videos and others in a separate "Community" tab on their channel.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=YouTube gets its own social network with the launch of YouTube Community |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/youtube-gets-its-own-social-network-with-the-launch-of-youtube-community/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305062851/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/youtube-gets-its-own-social-network-with-the-launch-of-youtube-community/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the release, several creators had been consulted to suggest tools Community could incorporate that they would find useful; these [[YouTuber]]s included [[Vlogbrothers]], [[AsapScience]], [[Lilly Singh]], [[MatPat|The Game Theorists]], [[Karmin]], [[The Key of Awesome]], The Kloons, [[Peter Hollens]], [[Rosianna Halse Rojas]], [[Sam Tsui]], [[Threadbanger]] and [[Jake Roper|Vsauce3]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Kiley |last=McEvoy |title=YouTube Community goes beyond video |url=https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2016/09/youtube-community-goes-beyond-video.html |website=YouTube Creators Blog |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614232155/https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2016/09/youtube-community-goes-beyond-video.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

After the feature has been officially released, the ''community post'' feature gets activated automatically for every channel that passes a specific threshold of subscriber counts or already has more subscribers. This threshold was lowered over time,{{when|date=September 2019}} from 10,000 subscribers <!-- was it the first threshold? --> to 1500 subscribers, to 1000 subscribers,<ref name="community-activate">{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124474?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en |title=Create a Community post – Computer – YouTube Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301043946/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124474?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}} to 500 subscribers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |title=YouTube halves the number of subscribers you need to unlock Community posting |website=The Verge |date=September 9, 2021 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22664973/youtube-community-posts-subscribers-halves |access-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117143836/https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22664973/youtube-community-posts-subscribers-halves |url-status=live }}</ref>

Channels that the community tab becomes enabled for, get their channel discussions (previously known as channel comments) permanently erased, instead of co-existing or migrating.<ref name="community-help">{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124175?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop |title=Engage with creators on Community posts – Computer – YouTube Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224202448/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124175?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

==== TestTube ====
Experimental features of YouTube could be accessed in an area of the site formerly named ''TestTube''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hidden features of Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube and more |url=https://www.gadgetsnow.com/slideshows/hidden-features-of-facebook-whatsapp-youtube-and-more/youtube-testtube/photolist/57616832.cms |website=Gadgets Now |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413154208/https://www.gadgetsnow.com/slideshows/hidden-features-of-facebook-whatsapp-youtube-and-more/youtube-testtube/photolist/57616832.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube's Test Tube: What Is It? |url=https://goldengridsystem.com/youtubes-test-tube-what-is-it/ |website=Golden Grid System |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205142110/https://goldengridsystem.com/youtubes-test-tube-what-is-it/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
For example, in October 2009, a ''comment search'' feature accessible under <code>/comment_search</code> was implemented as part of this program. The feature was removed later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Testing Comment Search On YouTube |url=https://searchengineland.com/google-testing-youtube-comment-search-27900 |website=Search Engine Land |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209151338/https://searchengineland.com/google-testing-youtube-comment-search-27900 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later the same year, ''YouTube Feather'' was introduced as a "lightweight" alternative website for countries with limited internet speeds.<ref>{{cite web|title=Slow YouTube? Try Feather, Made for India |url=https://www.gtricks.com/youtube/slow-youtube-feather-india/ |website=Gtricks|archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213032953/https://www.gtricks.com/youtube/slow-youtube-feather-india/ |url-status=live|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> Following the transition to the Polymer layout, TestTube was disabled, and the URL redirects to video playback settings. TestTube was replaced by a new system that requires users to be premium members to enable or disable experiments.

=== Content accessibility ===
YouTube offers users the ability to view its videos on web pages outside their website. Each YouTube video is accompanied by a piece of [[HTML]] that can be used to embed it on any page on the Web.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube embedded video guide |url=https://www.athenswalk.net/_/Blog/Entries/2013/7/30_YouTube_embed_code_guide.html|archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010095422/http://www.athenswalk.net/_/Blog/Entries/2013/7/30_YouTube_embed_code_guide.html |url-status=dead|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> This functionality is often used to embed YouTube videos in social networking pages and blogs. Users wishing to post a video discussing, inspired by, or related to another user's video can make a "video response". The eleven character YouTube video identifier (64 possible characters used in each position), allows for a theoretical maximum of 64<sup>11</sup> or around 73.8 quintillion (73.8 billion billion) unique ids.

YouTube announced that it would remove video responses for being an underused feature on August 27, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=So long, video responses ... Next up: better ways to connect |url=https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2013/08/so-long-video-responsesnext-up-better.html |website=YouTube Creators Blog |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626231358/https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2013/08/so-long-video-responsesnext-up-better.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Embedding, rating, commenting and response posting can be disabled by the video owner.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/58123 |title=Control comments and video responses |work=Google Support |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420184841/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9483359?visit_id=637545413213052699-3384595804&rd=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube does not usually offer a download link for its videos, and intends for them to be viewed through its website interface.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/t/terms |title=Terms of Use, 5.B |via=YouTube |access-date=August 25, 2010 |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317013246/https://www.youtube.com/t/terms |url-status=live }}</ref> A small number of videos can be downloaded as [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]] files.<ref>{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Lowensohn |title=(Some) YouTube videos get download option |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/some-youtube-videos-get-download-option/ |publisher=[[CNET]] |date=January 16, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308092222/https://www.cnet.com/news/some-youtube-videos-get-download-option/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Numerous third-party web sites, applications and browser [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] allow users to download YouTube videos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/02/---mark-milian.html?cid=149000259 |title=YouTube looks out for content owners, disables video ripping |last1=Milian |first1=Mark |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=February 21, 2009 |archive-date=July 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701134139/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/02/---mark-milian.html?cid=149000259 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2009, YouTube announced a test service, allowing some partners to offer video downloads for free or for a fee paid through [[Google Checkout]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Leena |last=Rao |title=YouTube Hopes To Boost Revenue With Video Downloads |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203239.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 12, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107151957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203239.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2012, Google sent [[cease and desist]] letters threatening legal action against several websites offering online download and conversion of YouTube videos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://torrentfreak.com/google-threatens-to-sue-huge-youtube-mp3-conversion-site-120619/ |title=Google Threatens To Sue Huge YouTube MP3 Conversion Site |work=Torrentfreak |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901222315/http://torrentfreak.com/google-threatens-to-sue-huge-youtube-mp3-conversion-site-120619/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In response, [[Zamzar]] removed the ability to download YouTube videos from its site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.zamzar.com/2012/06/12/downloading-youtube-videos-no-longer-supported/ |title=Downloading YouTube videos – no longer supported |work=Zamzar |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905192607/http://blog.zamzar.com/2012/06/12/downloading-youtube-videos-no-longer-supported/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Users retain copyright of their own work under the default Standard YouTube License,<ref>{{cite web |first=Jane |last=Park |title=YouTube launches support for CC BY and a CC library featuring 10,000 videos |url=https://creativecommons.org/2011/06/02/youtube-launches-support-for-cc-by-and-a-cc-library-featuring-10000-videos/ |work=Creative Commons |date=June 2, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226162909/https://creativecommons.org/2011/06/02/youtube-launches-support-for-cc-by-and-a-cc-library-featuring-10000-videos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but have the option to grant certain usage rights under any [[public copyright license]] they choose.

Since July 2012, it has been possible to select a [[Creative Commons]] attribution license as the default, allowing other users to reuse and remix the material.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Cathy |last1=Casserly |title=Here's your invite to reuse and remix the 4 million Creative Commons-licensed videos on YouTube |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2012/07/heres-your-invite-to-reuse-and-remix-4.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614215808/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2012/07/heres-your-invite-to-reuse-and-remix-4.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Platforms ====
Most modern [[smartphone]]s are capable of accessing YouTube videos, either within an application or through an optimized website. YouTube Mobile was launched in June 2007, using [[Real-Time Streaming Protocol|RTSP]] streaming for the video.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/ |title=YouTube |via=YouTube |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101095632/https://www.youtube.com/ |url-status=live|access-date=January 2, 2012}}</ref> Not all of YouTube's videos are available on the mobile version of the site.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Alex |last1=Chitu |title=Mobile YouTube |url=https://googlesystem.blogspot.no/2007/06/mobile-youtube.html |website=Unofficial Google Blog |date=June 15, 2007 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225828/http://googlesystem.blogspot.no/2007/06/mobile-youtube.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since June 2007, YouTube's videos have been available for viewing on a range of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] products. This required YouTube's content to be transcoded into Apple's preferred video standard, [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|H.264]], a process that took several months. YouTube videos can be viewed on devices including [[Apple TV]], [[iPod Touch]] and the [[iPhone]].<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube Live on Apple TV Today; Coming to iPhone on June 29|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/06/20youtube.html|publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |date=June 20, 2007 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228063433/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/06/20youtube.html |archive-date=December 28, 2008}}</ref>

The mobile version of the site was relaunched based on [[HTML video]] in July 2010, avoiding the need to use Adobe Flash Player and optimized for use with touch screen controls.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/goodbye-flash-youtube-mobile-goes-html5-on-iphone-and-android-2010079/ |title=Goodbye Flash: YouTube mobile goes HTML5 on iPhone and Android |last1=Zibreg |first1=Christian |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-date=April 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427221423/https://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/goodbye-flash-youtube-mobile-goes-html5-on-iphone-and-android-2010079 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The mobile version is also available as an app for the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platform.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Kincaid |title=YouTube Mobile Goes HTML5, Video Quality Beats Native Apps Hands Down |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/07/07/youtube-iphone-mobile-html5/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106163605/https://techcrunch.com/2010/07/07/youtube-iphone-mobile-html5/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/youtube-21-app-now-available-on-android.html |title=YouTube 2.1 App Now Available on Android Market |date=December 8, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123070836/http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/youtube-21-app-now-available-on-android.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2012, YouTube launched its first app for the iPhone, following the decision to drop YouTube as one of the preloaded apps in the [[iPhone 5]] and [[iOS 6]] operating system.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2012/sep/11/youtube-iphone-app |title=New YouTube iPhone app preempts iOS6 demotion |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=September 11, 2012 |access-date=September 11, 2012 |first=Stuart |last=Dredge |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308102341/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2012/sep/11/youtube-iphone-app |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[GlobalWebIndex]], YouTube was used by 35% of smartphone users between April and June 2013, making it the third-most used app.<ref>{{cite web |first=Cooper |last=Smith |title=Google+ Is The Fourth Most-Used Smartphone App |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/google-smartphone-app-popularity-2013-9#infographic |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620041343/http://www.businessinsider.com/google-smartphone-app-popularity-2013-9#infographic |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[TiVo]] service update in July 2008 allowed the system to search and play YouTube videos.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/5026092/tivo-getting-youtube-streaming-today |title=TiVo Getting YouTube Streaming Today |website=[[Gizmodo]] |date=July 17, 2007 |access-date=February 17, 2009 |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916053726/https://gizmodo.com/5026092/tivo-getting-youtube-streaming-today |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2009, YouTube launched "YouTube for TV", a version of the website tailored for set-top boxes and other TV-based media devices with web browsers, initially allowing its videos to be viewed on the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Wii]] [[video game console]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/01/youtube-wii-ps3.html |title=YouTube video comes to Wii and PlayStation 3 game consoles |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |archive-date=January 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118131150/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/01/youtube-wii-ps3.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coming Up Next ... YouTube on Your TV |url=https://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=sDFlZe7FwJI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622121857/https://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=sDFlZe7FwJI |archive-date=June 22, 2009 |publisher=YouTube Blog |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=May 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the month of June that same year, YouTube XL was introduced, which has a simplified interface designed for viewing on a standard television screen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Experience YouTube XL on the Big Screen |url=https://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=ByKmsHdhra8 |work=YouTube Blog |via=YouTube |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=June 20, 2009 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109092540/https://blog.youtube/?entry=ByKmsHdhra8 |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube is also available as an app on [[Xbox Live]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Xbox Live Getting Live TV, YouTube & Bing Voice Search |url=https://mashable.com/2011/06/06/youtube-bing-tv-xbox-live/ |work=Mashable |date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=December 22, 2011}}</ref>

On November 15, 2012, Google launched an official app for the Wii, allowing users to watch YouTube videos from the Wii channel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/youtube-app-wanders-onto-nintendo-wii-days-before-wii-u-launch-1112972 |title=YouTube app wanders onto Nintendo Wii days before Wii U launch |publisher=Techradar.com |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |archive-date=November 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119040115/http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/youtube-app-wanders-onto-nintendo-wii-days-before-wii-u-launch-1112972 |url-status=live }}</ref> An app was available for [[Wii U]] and [[Nintendo 3DS]], but was discontinued in August 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/47010/~/youtube-app-for-nintendo-3ds-discontinuation |title=YouTube App for Nintendo 3DS Discontinuation |work=Nintendo America |access-date=February 4, 2020 |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221001615/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/47010/~/youtube-app-for-nintendo-3ds-discontinuation |url-status=live }}</ref> Videos can also be viewed on the [[Internet Browser (Wii U)|Wii U Internet Browser]] using HTML video.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Ali |title=Just for U: YouTube arrives on Wii U |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2012/11/just-for-u-youtube-arrives-on-wii-u.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |date=November 22, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614215940/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2012/11/just-for-u-youtube-arrives-on-wii-u.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}} Google made YouTube available on the [[Roku]] player on December 17, 2013,<ref>{{cite web |first=Todd |last=Spangler |title=YouTube Channel Now Playing on Roku |url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-channel-now-playing-on-roku-1200969005/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 17, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308063701/https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-channel-now-playing-on-roku-1200969005/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and, in October 2014, the Sony [[PlayStation 4]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Richard |last=O'Grady |title=Pwn, share, repeat with YouTube on PlayStation 4 |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2014/10/pwn-share-repeat-with-youtube-on.html |website=Official YouTube Blog |date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210093857/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2014/10/pwn-share-repeat-with-youtube-on.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

YouTube launched as a downloadable app for the [[Nintendo Switch]] in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube for Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/youtube-switch |website=Nintendo Game Details |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=December 5, 2018 |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311113505/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/youtube-switch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== International and localization ===

In early years of operation, Google faced some criticism for 'encouraging the dominance of US values', by prioritising English over other languages. On June 19, 2007, at a conference in Paris, Google CEO [[Eric Schmidt]] launched YouTube [[Internationalization and localization|localization]], with stated aims including customizing the YouTube experience by country, including country-specific comments, metrics, and video rankings. From 2007, YouTube's localization was rolled out.<ref name="local" /><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube aux couleurs de la France |url=https://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/youtube-aux-couleurs-de-la-france-39370424.htm |language=fr |trans-title=YouTube in the colours of France |date=June 19, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210073019/https://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/youtube-aux-couleurs-de-la-france-39370424.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

A 2015 report on YouTube's localization showed it to be continuing, and expanding.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube: A Localization Strategy and What Comes Next |url=https://www.doz.com/media/youtube-global-local-strategy |date=March 11, 2015 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924002357/https://www.doz.com/media/youtube-global-local-strategy |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2023, YouTube made it possible to upload a single video in multiple languages. Prior to 2023, the only option for YouTubers to broaden their content's reach to audiences speaking different languages was to launch an entirely separate secondary channel for each language and upload dubbed versions of their videos across all those channels. MrBeast called multi-language dub tracks a “giant win” for creators. With the introduction of the dubbing localization option, many creators switched from uploading to separate channels to uploading to their main channel with dubbed versions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Creators can build big international audiences by dubbing their content in other languages. But what's the best way to dub?|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/08/01/youtube-content-language-localization-air-media-tech/|trans-title=YouTube in the colours of France|date=August 1, 2023|access-date=December 20, 2023|archive-date=August 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817215038/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/08/01/youtube-content-language-localization-air-media-tech/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== YouTube localization by country ====

As of 2024, the interface of YouTube is available with localized versions in 104 countries, one territory ([[Hong Kong]]) and a worldwide version<ref>See the YouTube localization list at the bottom of the YouTube website.</ref> and continues to extend the availability of its localized version to additional countries and regions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch videos offline on mobile in select countries & regions |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=YouTube |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311120528/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |url-status=live }}</ref>

If YouTube is unable to identify a specific country or region according to the IP address, the default location is the United States. However, YouTube offers language and content preferences for all accessible countries, regions, and languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Change language or location settings |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/87604 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=YouTube |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311120528/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/87604 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{collapse top |bg=#dfd |title=Click at right to show/hide list of countries with YouTube launch dates }}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ Countries with YouTube localization
|-
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Language(<span class="ltr">s</span>)
! scope="col" | Launch date
! scope="col" | {{Reference heading}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[United States]] (and worldwide launch)
| [[American English|English]], [[Spanish language in the United States|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 14, 2005
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Brazil]]
| [[Brazilian Portuguese|Portuguese]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[France]]
| [[French language|French]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Basque language|Basque]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local">{{cite news |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=June 19, 2007 |title=Google launches YouTube France News |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/article/725160/google-launches-youtube-france.html |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |website=[[PC Advisor]] |access-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101225353/https://www.techadvisor.com/article/725160/google-launches-youtube-france.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| [[Hiberno-English|English]], [[Irish language|Irish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Italy]]
| [[Italian language|Italian]], [[German language|German]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Japan]]
| [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Netherlands]]
| [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Poland]]
| [[Polish language|Polish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Spain]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Galician language|Galician]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Basque language|Basque]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[United Kingdom]]
| [[British English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2007
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Mexico]]
| [[Mexican Spanish|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 11, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulos/43235.html |title=Presentan hoy YouTube México |newspaper=[[El Universal (Mexico City)|El Universal]] |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=September 9, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=YouTube México launched today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063924/https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulos/43235.html |archive-date=May 16, 2009}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Hong Kong]]
| [[Traditional Chinese characters|Chinese]], [[Hong Kong English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 17, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://stanley5.blogspot.com/2007/10/youtube.html |title=中文上線&nbsp;– YouTube 香港中文版登場！ |publisher=Stanley5 |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=January 2, 2012 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011221455/https://stanley5.blogspot.com/2007/10/youtube.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Taiwan]]
| [[Traditional Chinese characters|Chinese]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 18, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube繁體中文版上線 |url=https://www.ithome.com.tw/node/45813 |work=IThome |date=October 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518040112/https://www.ithome.com.tw/node/45813 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Australia]]
| [[Australian English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" |October 22, 2007
| <ref name="AUS-NZ">{{cite news |first=Kristen |last=Nicole |url=https://mashable.com/2007/10/22/youtube-australia-new-zealand/ |title=YouTube Launches in Australia & New Zealand |publisher=[[Mashable]] |date=October 22, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403142649/https://mashable.com/2007/10/22/youtube-australia-new-zealand/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[New Zealand]]
| [[New Zealand English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" |October 22, 2007
| <ref name="AUS-NZ" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Canada]]
| [[Canadian English|English]], [[Canadian French|French]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 6, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Kristen |last=Nicole |url=https://mashable.com/2007/11/06/youtube-canada/ |title=YouTube Canada Now Live |date=November 6, 2007 |publisher=[[Mashable]] |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403183030/https://mashable.com/2007/11/06/youtube-canada/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Germany]]
| [[German language|German]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 8, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Ostrow |url=https://mashable.com/2007/11/08/youtube-germany/ |title=YouTube Germany Launches |publisher=[[Mashable]] |date=November 8, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403120958/https://mashable.com/2007/11/08/youtube-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Russia]]
| [[Russian language|Russian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 13, 2007
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/824940/ |title=YouTube перевелся на русский |language=ru |publisher=Kommersant Moscow |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230948/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/824940/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[South Korea]]
| [[Korean language|Korean]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 23, 2008
| <ref>{{cite magazine |first=Martyn |last=Williams |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/141684/youtube_launches_korean_site.html |magazine=[[PC World]] |date=January 23, 2008 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |title=YouTube Launches Korean Site |archive-date=April 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428184917/http://www.pcworld.com/article/141684/youtube_launches_korean_site.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[India]]
| [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Indian English|English]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Urdu]]
| style="text-align: right;" | May 7, 2008
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Sandeep |last=Joshi |url=https://www.hindu.com/2008/05/08/stories/2008050857242200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510222042/https://www.hindu.com/2008/05/08/stories/2008050857242200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 10, 2008 |title=YouTube now has an Indian incarnation |date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Israel]]
| [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language in Israel|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | September 16, 2008
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Czech Republic]]
| [[Czech language|Czech]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 9, 2008
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Petr |last=Bokuvka |url=https://czechdaily.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/czech-version-of-youtube-launched-and-its-crap-it-sucks/ |title=Czech version of YouTube launched. And it's crap. It sucks |work=The Czech Daily Word |publisher=Wordpress.com |date=October 12, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403074947/https://czechdaily.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/czech-version-of-youtube-launched-and-its-crap-it-sucks/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Sweden]]
| [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 22, 2008
| <ref>[https://www.kullin.net/2008/10/launch-video-unavailable-when-youtube-opens-up-in-sweden/ Launch video unavailable when YouTube opens up in Sweden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910233912/http://www.kullin.net/2008/10/launch-video-unavailable-when-youtube-opens-up-in-sweden/ |date=September 10, 2018 }} October 23, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[South Africa]]
| [[South African English|English]], [[Afrikaans]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]]
| style="text-align: right;" | May 17, 2010
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Argentina]]
| [[Rioplatense Spanish|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | September 8, 2010
| <ref name="countries">{{cite web |url=https://www.typeboard.com/2010/09/youtube-launches-in-argentina/ |title=YouTube launches in Argentina |date=September 9, 2010 |access-date=September 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912172902/https://www.typeboard.com/2010/09/youtube-launches-in-argentina/ |archive-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Algeria]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]], [[French language|French]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1">{{cite web |url=https://arabcrunch.com/2011/03/youtube-launches-local-version-for-algeria-egypt-jordan-morocco-saudi-arabia-tunisia-and-yemen.html |title=YouTube Launches Local Version For Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen |publisher=ArabCrunch |access-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314234447/https://arabcrunch.com/2011/03/youtube-launches-local-version-for-algeria-egypt-jordan-morocco-saudi-arabia-tunisia-and-yemen.html |archive-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Egypt]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Jordan]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Morocco]]
| [[French language|French]], [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Saudi Arabia]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Tunisia]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]], [[French language|French]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Yemen]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 9, 2011
| <ref name="arabcrunch1" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Kenya]]
| [[English language|English]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]]
| style="text-align: right;" | September 1, 2011
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Nmachi |last=Jidenma |url=https://thenextweb.com/africa/2011/10/05/google-launches-youtube-in-kenya/ |title=Google launches YouTube in Kenya |publisher=The Next Web |date=September 1, 2011 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331150238/https://thenextweb.com/africa/2011/10/05/google-launches-youtube-in-kenya/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Philippines]]
| [[Filipino language|Filipino]], [[Philippine English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 13, 2011
| <ref name="philippines">{{cite news |first=Tam |last=Noda |url=https://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=737018&publicationSubCategoryId=200 |title=YouTube launches 'The Philippines' |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2011}}{{dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Singapore]]
| [[Singapore English|English]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Simplified Chinese characters|Chinese]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 20, 2011
| <ref name="singapore">{{cite news |title=YouTube Launches Singapore Site |url=https://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111020-0000359/YouTube-launches-Singapore-site |access-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021221603/https://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111020-0000359/YouTube-launches-Singapore-site |archive-date=October 21, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Belgium]]
| [[Belgian French|French]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[German language|German]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 16, 2011
| <ref name="local" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Colombia]]
| [[Colombian Spanish|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 30, 2011
| <ref>[https://thenextweb.com/la/2011/12/01/youtube-launches-localized-website-for-columbia/ YouTube launches localized website for Colombia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910234415/https://thenextweb.com/la/2011/12/01/youtube-launches-localized-website-for-columbia/ |date=September 10, 2018 }} December 1, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Uganda]]
| [[Ugandan English|English]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]]
| style="text-align: right;" | December 2, 2011
| <ref>[https://pctechmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1069:google-launches-youtube-uganda&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=162 Google Launches YouTube Uganda] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104043549/https://pctechmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1069%3Agoogle-launches-youtube-uganda&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=162 |date=January 4, 2012 }} December 2, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Nigeria]]
| [[Nigerian Standard English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | December 7, 2011
| <ref>[https://www.techmtaa.com/2011/12/07/google-to-launch-youtube-nigeria-today/ Google to Launch YouTube Nigeria Today] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108001623/https://www.techmtaa.com/2011/12/07/google-to-launch-youtube-nigeria-today |date=January 8, 2012 }} December 7, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Chile]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 20, 2012
| <ref>[https://nextvlatam.com/index.php/5-otts/google-launches-youtube-chile/ Google launches YouTube Chile] March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325080121/https://nextvlatam.com/index.php/5-otts/google-launches-youtube-chile/ |date=March 25, 2012 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Hungary]]
| [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 29, 2012
| <ref>[https://kultura.hu/main.php?folderID=1094&articleID=323455&ctag=&iid=11 Google Launches Hungarian YouTube] March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060628/https://kultura.hu/main.php?folderID=1094&articleID=323455&ctag=&iid=11 |date=January 17, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Malaysia]]
| [[Malaysian language|Malay]], [[Malaysian English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 22, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.webpronews.com/youtube-launches-local-domain-for-malaysia-2012-03 YouTube Launches Local Domain For Malaysia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010094750/https://www.webpronews.com/youtube-launches-local-domain-for-malaysia-2012-03/ |date=October 10, 2017 }} March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Peru]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 25, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.webpronews.com/youtube-peru-launched-expansion-continues-2012-03 YouTube Peru Launched, Expansion continues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010095458/https://www.webpronews.com/youtube-peru-launched-expansion-continues-2012-03/ |date=October 10, 2017 }} March 27, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[United Arab Emirates]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]], [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | April 1, 2012
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emirates247.com/business/technology/uae-version-of-youtube-launched-2012-04-02-1.451741 |title=UAE version of YouTube launched |publisher=Emirates 247 |date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |author=Bindu Suresh Rai |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225032636/http://www.emirates247.com/business/technology/uae-version-of-youtube-launched-2012-04-02-1.451741 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Greece]]
| [[Greek language|Greek]]
| style="text-align: right;" | May 1, 2012
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Indonesia]]
| [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | May 17, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/youtube-launches-indonesian-version/524443 "YouTube Launches Indonesian Version"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060608/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/youtube-launches-indonesian-version/524443 |date=January 17, 2013 }}, June 15, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Ghana]]
| [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 5, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.humanipo.com/blog/713/Google-launches-YouTube-in-Ghana "Google launches YouTube in Ghana"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624232254/https://www.humanipo.com/blog/713/Google-launches-YouTube-in-Ghana |date=June 24, 2012 }}, June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Senegal]]
| [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | July 4, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.telecompaper.com/news/youtube-launches-local-portal-in-senegal "YouTube launches local portal in Senegal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217112619/https://www.telecompaper.com/news/youtube-launches-local-portal-in-senegal |date=February 17, 2022 }}, <br />
{{note|media_type_table_note_3}}[<span class="ltr">3</span>] itag 120 is for live streaming and has metadata referring to "Elemental Technologies Live". July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Turkey]]
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 1, 2012
| <ref>[https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/86446--g "YouTube's Turkish version goes into service"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905100141/http://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/86446--g |date=September 5, 2015 }}, October 1, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Ukraine]]
| [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | December 13, 2012
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Maryna |last=Tarasova |url=https://google-ukraine-blog.blogspot.com/2012/12/youtube.html |publisher=Google Ukraine Blog |title=YouTube приходить в Україну! (YouTube comes in Ukraine!) |date=December 13, 2012 |location=Ukraine |language=uk |access-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804014222/http://google-ukraine-blog.blogspot.com/2012/12/youtube.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Denmark]]
| [[Danish language|Danish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 1, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.iprospect.dk/youtube-lanceres-i-danmark |publisher=iProspect |title=YouTube lanceres i Danmark |access-date=April 17, 2013 |location=Denmark |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507094859/https://www.iprospect.dk/youtube-lanceres-i-danmark |archive-date=May 7, 2013}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Finland]]
| [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 1, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Vilja |last=Sormunen |url=https://www.klok.fi/blog/youtube-launches-in-the-nordics/ |publisher=KLOK |title=YouTube Launches in the Nordics |date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |location=Nordic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728163345/https://www.klok.fi/blog/youtube-launches-in-the-nordics/ |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Norway]]
| [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 1, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tono.no/YouTube+lansert+i+Norge.12888.cms |publisher=[[TONO]] |title=YouTube Launched in Norway |access-date=April 17, 2013 |location=Norway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420134320/https://www.tono.no/YouTube+lansert+i+Norge.12888.cms |archive-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Switzerland]]
| [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 29, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/YouTube_goes_Swiss.html?cid=35450210 |publisher=[[swissinfo]] |title=YouTube goes Swiss |access-date=April 17, 2013 |location=Swiss |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203070051/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/YouTube_goes_Swiss.html?cid=35450210 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Austria]]
| [[German language|German]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 29, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wienerzeitung.at/themen_channel/wz_digital/digital_news/538498_YouTube.at-seit-Donnerstag-online.html |work=[[Wiener Zeitung]] |title=YouTube.at since Thursday online |access-date=April 17, 2013 |location=Austria |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502151534/http://www.wienerzeitung.at/themen_channel/wz_digital/digital_news/538498_YouTube.at-seit-Donnerstag-online.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Romania]]
| [[Romanian language|Romanian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | April 18, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.zf.ro/zf-24/youtube-romania-se-lanseaza-intr-o-saptamana-10764820 |publisher=ZF.ro |title=Youtube România se lansează într-o săptămână |access-date=May 14, 2013 |location=Romania |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233402/http://www.zf.ro/zf-24/youtube-romania-se-lanseaza-intr-o-saptamana-10764820 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Portugal]]
| [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| style="text-align: right;" | April 25, 2013
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lusonoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27764:google-lanca-versao-lusa-do-youtube&catid=343&Itemid=159 |publisher=Luso Noticias |title=Google lança versão lusa do YouTube |access-date=May 14, 2013 |location=Portugal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003223/https://www.lusonoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27764:google-lanca-versao-lusa-do-youtube&catid=343&Itemid=159 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Slovakia]]
| [[Slovak language|Slovak]]
| style="text-align: right;" | April 25, 2013
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://vat.pravda.sk/obraz-a-zvuk/clanok/281254-slovaci-uz-mozu-oficialne-zarabat-na-tvorbe-videi-pre-youtube/ |title=Slováci už môžu oficiálne zarábať na tvorbe videí pre YouTube |publisher=Vat Pravda |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |author=tš |language=sk |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403192145/https://vat.pravda.sk/obraz-a-zvuk/clanok/281254-slovaci-uz-mozu-oficialne-zarabat-na-tvorbe-videi-pre-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bahrain]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 16, 2013
| <ref name="gcc">{{cite web |url=https://www.tbreak.ae/news/youtube-expands-monetization-partnership-gcc |title=YouTube expands monetization and partnership in GCC |publisher=tbreak Media |date=September 16, 2013 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |last1=Rego |first1=Nick |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140213233858/http://www.tbreak.ae/news/youtube-expands-monetization-partnership-gcc |archive-date=February 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Kuwait]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 16, 2013
| <ref name="gcc" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Oman]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 16, 2013
| <ref name="gcc" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Qatar]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 16, 2013
| <ref name="gcc" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bulgaria]]
| [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://newtrend.bg/digital-company/youtube/youtube-reklama-bulgaria |title=YouTube рекламата става достъпна и за България |publisher=New Trend |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |author=Ивелина Атанасова |language=bg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082809/https://newtrend.bg/digital-company/youtube/youtube-reklama-bulgaria |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Croatia]]
| [[Croatian language|Croatian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://liderpress.hr/poslovna-znanja/oglasavanje-na-video-platformi-youtube-od-sad-dostupno-i-u-hrvatskoj/ |title=Oglašavanje na video platformi YouTube od sad dostupno i u Hrvatskoj |publisher=Lider |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |language=hr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111014509/https://liderpress.hr/poslovna-znanja/oglasavanje-na-video-platformi-youtube-od-sad-dostupno-i-u-hrvatskoj/ |archive-date=January 11, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Estonia]]
| [[Estonian language|Estonian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meedium.ee/blog/youtube-reklaamid-eestis |title=Youtube reklaamid – uued võimalused nüüd ka Eestis! |publisher=Meedium |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |first=Siiri |last=Oden |language=et |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407094928/https://www.meedium.ee/blog/youtube-reklaamid-eestis |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Latvia]]
| [[Latvian language|Latvian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://marketing.lv/tagad-reklamas-iespejas-youtube-kanala-iespejams-izmantot-ari-latvija/ |title=Tagad reklāmas iespējas Youtube kanālā iespējams izmantot arī Latvijā |publisher=Marketing |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |author=Marta |language=lv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321170116/https://marketing.lv/tagad-reklamas-iespejas-youtube-kanala-iespejams-izmantot-ari-latvija/ |archive-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Lithuania]]
| [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[North Macedonia]]
| [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Montenegro]]
| [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Serbia]]
| [[Serbian language|Serbian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Slovenia]]
| [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 17, 2014
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnevnik.si/magazin/znanost-in-tehnologija/na-youtube-prihajajo-tudi-slovenski-video-oglasi |title=Na Youtube prihajajo tudi slovenski video oglasi |work=[[Dnevnik (Slovenia)|Dnevnik]] |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |author=STA |language=sl |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075431/http://www.dnevnik.si/magazin/znanost-in-tehnologija/na-youtube-prihajajo-tudi-slovenski-video-oglasi |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Thailand]]
| [[Thai language|Thai]]
| style="text-align: right;" | April 1, 2014
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/YouTube-introduces-homepage-especially-30230795.html |title=YouTube introduces homepage especially |newspaper=[[The Nation (Thailand)|The Nation]] |date=April 3, 2014 |access-date=April 4, 2014 |first=Asina |last=Pornwasin |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725161948/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/YouTube-introduces-homepage-especially-30230795.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Lebanon]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | May 1, 2014
| <ref name="gcc" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Puerto Rico]]
| [[Puerto Rican Spanish|Spanish]], [[American English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 23, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Iceland]]
| [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Luxembourg]]
| [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Vietnam]]
| [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 1, 2014
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Libya]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 1, 2015
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Tanzania]]
| [[English language|English]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 2, 2015
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Zimbabwe]]
| [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 2, 2015
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Azerbaijan]]
| [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 12, 2015
| <ref name="adriatics baltics">{{cite web |url=https://9to5google.com/2015/10/12/youtube-global-7-new-countries/ |title=YouTube continues global expansion w/ versions of its site in 7 new locales |first=Stephen |last=Hall |publisher=9to5 Google |date=October 12, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403120846/https://9to5google.com/2015/10/12/youtube-global-7-new-countries/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Belarus]]
| [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]], [[Russian language|Russian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 12, 2015
| <ref name="adriatics baltics" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| [[Georgian language|Georgian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 12, 2015
| <ref name="adriatics baltics" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Kazakhstan]]
| [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]], [[Russian language|Russian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | October 12, 2015
| <ref name="adriatics baltics" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Iraq]]
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| style="text-align: right;" | November 9, 2015
| {{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Nepal]]
| [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 12, 2016
| <ref name="himalayan">{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/youtube-launches-specific-homepages-for-nepal-pakistan-sri-lanka/ |title=YouTube launches Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka-specific homepages |newspaper=[[The Himalayan Times]] |date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2016 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131306/https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/youtube-launches-specific-homepages-for-nepal-pakistan-sri-lanka/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Pakistan]]
| [[Urdu]], [[Pakistani English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 12, 2016
| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1026164/youtube-launches-country-specific-homepages-for-pakistan/ |title=YouTube launches country-specific homepage for Pakistan |newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]] |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128170842/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1026164/youtube-launches-country-specific-homepages-for-pakistan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Sri Lanka]]
| [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Sri Lankan English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 12, 2016
| <ref name="himalayan" />
|-
! scope="row" | [[Jamaica]]
| [[Jamaican English|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 4, 2016
| {{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Malta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | June 19, 2018
| <ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Launches Local Domain For Malta |url=https://www.maltachamber.org.mt/en/youtube-launches-local-domain-for-malta |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=maltachamber.org.mt |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214942/https://www.maltachamber.org.mt/en/youtube-launches-local-domain-for-malta |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bolivia]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Costa Rica]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Ecuador]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[El Salvador]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Guatemala]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Honduras]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Nicaragua]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Panama]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Uruguay]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | January 30, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Paraguay]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Guarani language|Guarani]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 21, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Dominican Republic]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | February 21, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Cyprus]]
| [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 13, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Liechtenstein]]
| [[German language|German]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 13, 2019
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Venezuela]]
|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 10, 2020
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Papua New Guinea]]
| [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 2020
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bangladesh]]
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[English language|English]]
| style="text-align: right;" | September 2, 2020
| {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Cambodia]]
| [[Khmer language|Khmer]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 25, 2022
| {{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Laos]]
|[[Lao language|Lao]]
| style="text-align: right;" | August 25, 2022
| {{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Moldova]]
|[[Romanian language|Romanian]]
| style="text-align: right;" | March 28, 2024
| {{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
|}
{{collapse bottom}}

[[File:YouTube Localisation.svg|600px|thumb|center|Locations where YouTube is localized]]

The YouTube interface suggests which local version should be chosen based on the IP address of the user. In some cases, the message "This video is not available in your country" may appear because of copyright restrictions or inappropriate content.<ref>{{cite web |title=Learn More: Video not available in my country |url=https://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en-uk&answer=92571 |access-date=August 4, 2009 |archive-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203001609/http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en-uk&answer=92571 |url-status=live }}</ref> The interface of the YouTube website is available in 76 language versions, including Amharic, Albanian, Armenian, Burmese, Haitian Creole, Kyrgyz, Malagasy, Mongolian, Persian, Samoan, Somali and Uzbek, which do not have local channel versions. Access to YouTube was blocked in [[Turkey]] between 2008 and 2010, following controversy over the posting of videos deemed insulting to [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] and some material offensive to Muslims.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey lifts two-year ban on YouTube |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11659816 |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2012 |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408224644/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11659816 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Turks censor YouTube censorship |last1=Danforth |first1=Nick |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/30/ED68191LKM.DTL |date=July 31, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2009 |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304121851/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/30/ED68191LKM.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2012, a local version of YouTube was launched in Turkey, with the domain <code>youtube.com.tr</code>. The local version is subject to the content regulations found in Turkish law.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dara |last=Kerr |title=YouTube cedes to Turkey and uses local Web domain |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-cedes-to-turkey-and-uses-local-web-domain/ |publisher=[[CNET]] |date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312054330/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57524907-93/youtube-cedes-to-turkey-and-uses-local-web-domain/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2009, a dispute between YouTube and the British royalty collection agency [[PRS for Music]] led to premium music videos being blocked for YouTube users in the United Kingdom. The removal of videos posted by the major record companies occurred after failure to reach an agreement on a licensing deal. The dispute was resolved in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news |first=Emma |last=Barnett |title=Music videos back on YouTube in multi-million pound PRS deal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6127624/Music-videos-back-on-YouTube-in-multi-million-pound-PRS-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6127624/Music-videos-back-on-YouTube-in-multi-million-pound-PRS-deal.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In April 2009, a similar dispute led to the removal of premium music videos for users in Germany.<ref>{{cite news |title=Now YouTube stops the music in Germany |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2009/apr/01/youtube-digital-music-and-audio |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2009 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331144358/https://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2009/apr/01/youtube-digital-music-and-audio |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Videos ==
In January 2012, it was estimated that visitors to YouTube spent an average of 15 minutes a day on the site, in contrast to the four or five hours a day spent by a typical US citizen watching television.<ref name="seabrook20120116">{{cite news |last1=Seabrook |first1=John |date=January 16, 2012 |title=Streaming Dreams |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=all |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702013528/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=all |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, viewers on average watched YouTube on mobile devices for more than an hour every day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Updates from VidCon: more users, more products, more shows and much more |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2017/06/updates-from-vidcon-more-users-more.html |access-date=September 16, 2017 |website=Official YouTube Blog |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917033123/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2017/06/updates-from-vidcon-more-users-more.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2012, two billion views were removed from the view counts of Universal and [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]] music videos on YouTube, prompting a claim by ''[[The Daily Dot]]'' that the views had been deleted due to a violation of the site's terms of service, which ban the use of automated processes to inflate view counts. This was disputed by ''Billboard'', which said that the two billion views had been moved to Vevo, since the videos were no longer active on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoffberger |first=Chase |date=December 21, 2012 |title=YouTube strips Universal and Sony of 2&nbsp;billion fake views |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/youtube-universal-sony-fake-views-black-hat/ |access-date=January 10, 2014 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |publisher=[[Complex Media, Inc.]] |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111182922/http://www.dailydot.com/news/youtube-universal-sony-fake-views-black-hat/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Sabbagh |date=December 28, 2012 |title=Two billion YouTube music video views disappear ... or just migrate? |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/28/youtube-video-views-disappear-migrate |access-date=January 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215001/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/28/youtube-video-views-disappear-migrate |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 5, 2015, YouTube patched the formerly notorious behavior which caused a video's view count to freeze at "301" (later "301+") until the actual count was verified to prevent [[Click fraud|view count fraud]].<ref name="numberphile">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkhgagvrjI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oIkhgagvrjI |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Why do YouTube views freeze at 301? |date=June 22, 2012 |last=Haran |first=Brady |author-link=Brady Haran |access-date=August 30, 2018 |work=[[Numberphile]] |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> YouTube view counts once again updated in real time.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Snyder |first=Benjamin |date=August 6, 2015 |title=YouTube Finally Fixed This Annoying Feature |url=https://time.com/3987570/youtube-301-views/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212192853/http://time.com/3987570/youtube-301-views/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since September 2019, subscriber counts are abbreviated. Only three leading digits of channels' subscriber counts are indicated publicly, compromising the function of third-party real-time indicators such as that of [[Social Blade]]. Exact counts remain available to channel operators inside YouTube Studio.<ref>{{cite web |year=2019 |title=Abbreviated public-facing subscriber counts |url=https://youtube-eng.googleblog.com/2019/08/abbreviated-public-facing-subscriber.html |website=YouTube Engineering and Developers Blog |language=en |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413152915/https://youtube-eng.googleblog.com/2019/08/abbreviated-public-facing-subscriber.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 11, 2021, after testing out this change in March of the same year, YouTube announced it would start hiding dislike counts on videos, making them invisible to viewers. The company stated the decision was in response to experiments which confirmed that smaller YouTube creators were more likely to be targeted in dislike [[Vote brigading|brigading]] and harassment. Creators will still be able to see the number of likes and dislikes in the YouTube Studio dashboard tool, according to YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=March 30, 2021 |title=YouTube Launches Test to Hide Video 'Dislike' Counts |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-test-hide-dislike-counts-1234940845/ |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330172918/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-test-hide-dislike-counts-1234940845/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube tests hiding dislike counts on videos |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/30/youtube-tests-hiding-dislike-counts-on-videos/ |last=Perez |first=Sarah |access-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330192637/https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/30/youtube-tests-hiding-dislike-counts-on-videos/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 30, 2021 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=March 30, 2021 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2021 |title=YouTube to hide dislike counts for all videos on the platform: Here's all you need to know |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/youtube-to-hide-dislike-counts-for-all-videos-on-the-platform-heres-all-you-need-to-know/ar-AAQAxJc |access-date=November 11, 2021 |publisher=MSN |language=en-US |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111152412/https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/youtube-to-hide-dislike-counts-for-all-videos-on-the-platform-heres-all-you-need-to-know/ar-AAQAxJc |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Copyright issues ===
{{Main|YouTube copyright issues}}

{{further|#Revenue to copyright holders}}

YouTube has faced numerous challenges and criticisms in its attempts to deal with copyright, including the site's first viral video, [[Lazy Sunday (The Lonely Island song)|Lazy Sunday]], which had to be taken down, due to copyright concerns.<ref name="First Launched" /> At the time of uploading a video, YouTube users are shown a message asking them not to violate copyright laws.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marsden |first=Rhodri |date=August 12, 2009 |title=Why did my YouTube account get closed down? |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/rhodri-marsden-why-did-my-youtube-account-get-closed-down-1770618.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/rhodri-marsden-why-did-my-youtube-account-get-closed-down-1770618.html |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite this advice, many unauthorized clips of copyrighted material remain on YouTube. YouTube does not view videos before they are posted online, and it is left to copyright holders to issue a [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]] [[takedown notice]] pursuant to the terms of the [[Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act]]. Any successful complaint about copyright infringement results in a [[YouTube copyright strike]]. Three successful complaints for [[copyright infringement]] against a user account will result in the account and all of its uploaded videos being deleted.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/t/copyright_strike Why do I have a sanction on my account?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120143234/http://www.youtube.com/t/copyright_strike |date=January 20, 2013 }} YouTube. Retrieved February 5, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 21, 2010 |title=Is YouTube's three-strike rule fair to users? |work=BBC News |location=London |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/8696716.stm |access-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-date=July 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704094039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/8696716.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2007 to 2009 organizations including [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], [[Mediaset]], and the English [[Premier League]] have filed lawsuits against YouTube, claiming that it has done too little to prevent the uploading of copyrighted material.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 13, 2007 |title=Viacom will sue YouTube for $1bn|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6446193.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|archive-date=January 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115123246/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6446193.stm |url-status=live|access-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 2008 |title=Mediaset Files EUR500 Million Suit Vs Google's YouTube |publisher=[[CNNMoney.com]] |url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807301025DOWJONESDJONLINE000654_FORTUNE5.htm |access-date=August 19, 2009 |archive-date=September 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908122120/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807301025DOWJONESDJONLINE000654_FORTUNE5.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 5, 2007 |title=Premier League to take action against YouTube |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312532/Premier-League-to-take-action-against-YouTube.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312532/Premier-League-to-take-action-against-YouTube.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In August 2008, a US court ruled in ''[[Lenz v. Universal Music Corp.]]'' that copyright holders cannot order the removal of an online file without first determining whether the posting reflected [[fair use]] of the material.<ref>{{cite news |last=Egelko |first=Bob |date=August 20, 2008 |title=Woman can sue over YouTube clip de-posting |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/20/MNU412FKRL.DTL |access-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825003638/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/20/MNU412FKRL.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube's owner Google announced in November 2015 that they would help cover the legal cost in select cases where they believe fair use defenses apply.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Finley |first=Klint |date=November 19, 2015 |title=Google Pledges to Help Fight Bogus YouTube Copyright Claims—for a Few |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/11/google-pledges-to-help-fight-bogus-youtube-copyright-claims-for-a-few/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320144102/https://www.wired.com/2015/11/google-pledges-to-help-fight-bogus-youtube-copyright-claims-for-a-few/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2011 case of ''[[Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC]]'', professional singer Matt Smith sued Summit Entertainment for the wrongful use of copyright takedown notices on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Ohio Northern District Court |date=July 18, 2013 |url=https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/Ohio_Northern_District_Court/3--11-cv-00348/Smith__v_Summit_Entertainment_LLC/#q= |access-date=October 21, 2014 |title=Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC |website=Docket Alarm, Inc. |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619012909/https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/Ohio_Northern_District_Court/3--11-cv-00348/Smith__v._Summit_Entertainment_LLC/#q= |url-status=live }}</ref> He asserted seven [[causes of action]], and four were ruled in Smith's favor.<ref>{{cite web |author=District Judge James G. Carr |date=June 6, 2011 |title=Order |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4653165041580834913 |access-date=November 7, 2011 |work=Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC |publisher=United States District Court, N.D. Ohio, Western Division |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130083207/http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4653165041580834913 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2012, a court in Hamburg ruled that YouTube could be held responsible for copyrighted material posted by its users.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 20, 2012 |title=YouTube loses court battle over music clips |work=[[BBC News]] |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17785613 |access-date=April 20, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016014454/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17785613 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 1, 2016, the dispute with GEMA was resolved, with Google content ID being used to allow advertisements to be added to videos with content protected by GEMA.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 1, 2016 |title=YouTube's seven-year stand-off ends |work=[[BBC News]] |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37839038 |access-date=November 2, 2016 |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103103021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37839038 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2013, it was reported that [[Universal Music Group]] and YouTube have a contractual agreement that prevents content blocked on YouTube by a request from UMG from being restored, even if the uploader of the video files a DMCA counter-notice.<ref>{{cite web  |title=YouTube's Deal With Universal Blocks DMCA Counter Notices |url=https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-deal-with-universal-blocks-dmca-counter-notices-130405/|publisher=TorrentFreak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407164748/http://torrentfreak.com/youtube-deal-with-universal-blocks-dmca-counter-notices-130405/ |url-status=live|archive-date=April 7, 2013|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Videos removed or blocked due to YouTube's contractual obligations |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3045545 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514115738/http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3045545 |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of YouTube Music, Universal and YouTube signed an agreement in 2017, which was followed by separate agreements other major labels, which gave the company the right to advertising revenue when its music was played on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |date=December 19, 2017 |title=YouTube Strikes New Deals With Universal and Sony Music |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/universal-music-group-and-youtube-reach-new-global-multi-year-agreement-1202644815/ |access-date=April 22, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152635/https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/universal-music-group-and-youtube-reach-new-global-multi-year-agreement-1202644815/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2019, creators were having videos taken down or demonetized when Content ID identified even short segments of copyrighted music within a much longer video, with different levels of enforcement depending on the record label.<ref name="fighting">{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=May 24, 2019 |title=YouTubers and record labels are fighting, and record labels keep winning |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18635904/copyright-youtube-creators-dmca-takedown-fair-use-music-cover |access-date=April 22, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152639/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18635904/copyright-youtube-creators-dmca-takedown-fair-use-music-cover |url-status=live}}</ref> Experts noted that some of these clips said qualified for fair use.<ref name="fighting" />

==== Content ID ====
{{Main|Content ID}}

In June 2007, YouTube began trials of a system for automatic detection of uploaded videos that infringe copyright. Google CEO Eric Schmidt regarded this system as necessary for resolving lawsuits such as the one from [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], which alleged that YouTube profited from content that it did not have the right to distribute.<ref>{{cite news |last=Delaney |first=Kevin J. |date=June 12, 2007 |title=YouTube to Test Software To Ease Licensing Fights |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB118161295626932114.html |access-date=December 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220085307/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118161295626932114.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The system, which was initially called "Video Identification"<ref>{{Citation|last=YouTube Advertisers|title=Video Identification|date=February 4, 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWizsV5Le7s|access-date=August 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=David |date=December 2, 2010 |title=Content ID turns three |language=en-US |work=Official YouTube Blog |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/12/content-id-turns-three.html |access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref> and later became known as Content ID,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 28, 2010 |title=YouTube Content ID |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g2U12SsRns |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9g2U12SsRns |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> creates an ID File for copyrighted audio and video material, and stores it in a database. When a video is uploaded, it is checked against the database, and flags the video as a copyright violation if a match is found.<ref name="youtube">[https://www.youtube.com/t/contentid_more More about Content ID] YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2011.</ref> When this occurs, the content owner has the choice of blocking the video to make it unviewable, tracking the viewing statistics of the video, or adding advertisements to the video.

An independent test in 2009 uploaded multiple versions of the same song to YouTube and concluded that while the system was "surprisingly resilient" in finding copyright violations in the audio tracks of videos, it was not infallible.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Von Lohmann |first1=Fred |date=April 23, 2009 |title=Testing YouTube's Audio Content ID System |newspaper=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/testing-youtubes-aud |access-date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> The use of Content ID to remove material automatically has led to [[YouTube copyright issues|controversy]] in some cases, as the videos have not been checked by a human for fair use.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Von Lohmann |first1=Fred |date=February 3, 2009 |title=YouTube's January Fair Use Massacre |newspaper=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/01/youtubes-january-fair-use-massacre |access-date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> If a YouTube user disagrees with a decision by Content ID, it is possible to fill in a form disputing the decision.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/t/contentid_dispute Content ID disputes] YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2011.</ref>

Before 2016, videos were not monetized until the dispute was resolved. Since April 2016, videos continue to be monetized while the dispute is in progress, and the money goes to whoever won the dispute.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Patricia |title=YouTube's Content ID System Gets One Much-Needed Fix |url=https://kotaku.com/youtubes-content-id-system-gets-one-much-needed-fix-1773643254 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |website=Kotaku |date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> Should the uploader want to monetize the video again, they may remove the disputed audio in the "Video Manager".<ref>{{cite web |title=Remove Content ID claimed songs from my videos – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2902117?hl=en |access-date=September 17, 2017 |publisher=Google Inc. |language=en}}</ref> YouTube has cited the effectiveness of Content ID as one of the reasons why the site's rules were modified in December 2010 to allow some users to upload videos of unlimited length.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Joshua |last2=Mayle |first2=Doug |date=December 9, 2010 |title=Up, Up and Away – Long videos for more users |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/12/up-up-and-away-long-videos-for-more.html |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=Official YouTube Blog}}</ref>

=== Moderation and offensive content ===
{{See also|Criticism of Google#YouTube|Censorship by Google#YouTube}}
{{Excessive examples|section|date=January 2024}}
{{overly detailed|section|date=January 2024}}
YouTube has a set of community guidelines aimed to reduce abuse of the site's features. The uploading of videos containing defamation, pornography, and material encouraging criminal conduct is forbidden by YouTube's "Community Guidelines".<ref name="guidelines">{{cite web |title=YouTube Community Guidelines |url=https://www.youtube.com/t/community_guidelines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304150155/https://www.youtube.com/yt/policyandsafety/communityguidelines.html |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2008 |via=YouTube}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}} Generally prohibited material includes sexually explicit content, videos of animal abuse, [[shock site|shock videos]], content uploaded without the copyright holder's consent, hate speech, spam, and predatory behavior.<ref name="guidelines" /> YouTube relies on its users to flag the content of videos as inappropriate, and a YouTube employee will view a flagged video to determine whether it violates the site's guidelines.<ref name="guidelines" /> Despite the guidelines, YouTube has faced criticism over aspects of its operations,<ref name="demonetization">{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=May 10, 2018 |title=The Yellow $: a comprehensive history of demonetization and YouTube's war with creators |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/10/17268102/youtube-demonetization-pewdiepie-logan-paul-casey-neistat-philip-defranco |access-date=November 3, 2019 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> its [[recommender system|recommendation algorithms]] perpetuating [[#Promotion of conspiracy theories and fringe discourse|videos that promote conspiracy theories]] and falsehoods,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |last2=Levin |first2=Sam |date=January 25, 2019 |title=YouTube vows to recommend fewer conspiracy theory videos |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/25/youtube-conspiracy-theory-videos-recommendations |access-date=November 3, 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> hosting videos ostensibly targeting children but containing [[Elsagate|violent or sexually suggestive content involving popular characters]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Orphanides |first=K. G. |date=March 23, 2018 |title=Children's YouTube is still churning out blood, suicide and cannibalism |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/youtube-for-kids-videos-problems-algorithm-recommend |access-date=November 3, 2019 |issn=1357-0978}}</ref> videos of minors attracting [[Pedophilia|pedophilic]] activities in their comment sections,<ref>{{cite news |last=Orphanides |first=K. G. |date=February 20, 2019 |title=On YouTube, a network of paedophiles is hiding in plain sight |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/youtube-pedophile-videos-advertising |access-date=November 3, 2019 |issn=1357-0978}}</ref> and fluctuating policies on the types of content that is eligible to be monetized with advertising.<ref name="demonetization" />

YouTube contracts companies to hire content moderators, who view content flagged as potentially violating YouTube's content policies and determines if they should be removed. In September 2020, a class-action suit was filed by a former content moderator who reported developing [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD) after an 18-month period on the job. The former content moderator said that she was regularly made to exceed YouTube's stated limit of four hours per day of viewing graphic content. The lawsuit alleges that YouTube's contractors gave little to no training or support for its moderators' mental health, made prospective employees sign NDAs before showing them any examples of content they would see while reviewing, and censored all mention of trauma from its internal forums. It also purports that requests for extremely graphic content to be blurred, reduced in size or made monochrome, per recommendations from the [[National Center for Missing and Exploited Children]], were rejected by YouTube as not a high priority for the company.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kimball |first=Whitney |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Content Moderator Exposed to Child Assault and Animal Torture Sues YouTube |url=https://gizmodo.com/youtube-moderator-sues-over-ptsd-symptoms-lack-of-work-1845143110 |access-date=October 11, 2020 |work=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Vincent |first=James |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Former YouTube content moderator sues the company after developing symptoms of PTSD |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/22/21450477/youtube-content-moderator-sues-lawsuit-ptsd-graphic-content-exposure |access-date=October 11, 2020 |work=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Elias |first=Jennifer |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Former YouTube content moderator describes horrors of the job in new lawsuit |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/22/former-youtube-content-moderator-describes-horrors-of-the-job-in-lawsuit.html |access-date=October 11, 2020 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref>

To limit the spread of misinformation and fake news via YouTube, it has rolled out a comprehensive policy regarding how it plans to deal with technically manipulated videos.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alba |first=Davey |author-link=Davey Alba |date=February 3, 2020 |title=YouTube Says It Will Ban Misleading Election-Related Content |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/technology/youtube-misinformation-election.html |access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref>

Controversial content has included material relating to [[Holocaust denial]] and the [[Hillsborough disaster]], in which 96 football fans from Liverpool were crushed to death in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube criticized in Germany over anti-Semitic Nazi videos |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/898004.html |access-date=May 28, 2008 |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517001126/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/898004.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fury as YouTube carries sick Hillsboro video insult |url=https://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=fury-as-youtube-carries-sick-hillsboro-video-insult%26method=full%26objectid=18729523%26page=1%26siteid=50061-name_page.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320021147/https://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline%3Dfury-as-youtube-carries-sick-hillsboro-video-insult%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18729523%26page%3D1%26siteid%3D50061-name_page.html |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=November 29, 2015 |publisher=icLiverpool}}</ref> In July 2008, the Culture and Media Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom stated that it was "unimpressed" with YouTube's system for policing its videos, and argued that "proactive review of content should be standard practice for sites hosting user-generated content". YouTube responded by stating:

{{blockquote|We have strict rules on what's allowed, and a system that enables anyone who sees inappropriate content to report it to our 24/7 review team and have it dealt with promptly. We educate our community on the rules and include a direct link from every YouTube page to make this process as easy as possible for our users. Given the volume of content uploaded on our site, we think this is by far the most effective way to make sure that the tiny minority of videos that break the rules come down quickly.<ref>{{cite news |first1=James |last1=Kirkup |first2=Nicole |last2=Martin |title=YouTube attacked by MPs over sex and violence footage |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358061/YouTube-attacked-by-MPs-over-sex-and-violence-footage.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358061/YouTube-attacked-by-MPs-over-sex-and-violence-footage.html |archive-date=2022-01-10 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 31, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (July 2008)}}

In October 2010, U.S. Congressman [[Anthony Weiner]] urged YouTube to remove from its website videos of imam [[Anwar al-Awlaki]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 25, 2010 |title=Al-Awlaki's YouTube Videos Targeted by Rep. Weiner |publisher=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/25/rep-weiner-calls-youtube-al-awlakis-videos/ |access-date=November 13, 2010}}</ref> YouTube pulled some of the videos in November 2010, stating they violated the site's guidelines.<ref>{{cite news |last1=F. Burns |first1=John |last2=Helft |first2=Miguel |date=November 4, 2010 |title=YouTube Withdraws Cleric's Videos |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/05britain.html |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|1458411069}}}}</ref> In December 2010, YouTube added the ability to flag videos for containing terrorism content.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Brian |date=December 12, 2010 |title=YouTube is letting users decide on terrorism-related videos |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-youtube-terror-20101213,0,3375845.story |access-date=November 29, 2015}}</ref>

In 2018, YouTube introduced a system that would automatically add information boxes to videos that its algorithms determined may present conspiracy theories and other [[fake news]], filling the infobox with content from [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] and [[Wikipedia]] as a means to inform users to minimize misinformation propagation without impacting freedom of speech.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newton |first=Casey |date=March 13, 2018 |title=YouTube will add information from Wikipedia to videos about conspiracies |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/13/17117344/youtube-information-cues-conspiracy-theories-susan-wojcicki-sxsw |access-date=April 15, 2019 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=March 14, 2018 |title=YouTube uses Wikipedia to fight fake news |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/youtube-fights-fake-news-with-wikipedia-frkpc8nm2 |url-status=live |access-date=July 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210927105159/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/youtube-fights-fake-news-with-wikipedia-frkpc8nm2 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In the wake of the [[Notre-Dame fire]] on April 15, 2019, several user-uploaded videos of the landmark fire were flagged by YouTube' system automatically with an Encyclopædia Britannica article on the false conspiracy theories around the [[September 11 attacks]]. Several users complained to YouTube about this inappropriate connection. YouTube officials apologized for this, stating that their algorithms had misidentified the fire videos and added the information block automatically, and were taking steps to remedy this.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergen |first=Mark |date=April 15, 2019 |title=YouTube Flags Notre-Dame Fire as 9/11 Conspiracy, Says System Made 'Wrong Call' |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-15/youtube-flags-notre-dame-fire-as-9-11-conspiracy-in-wrong-call?srnd=technology-vp |access-date=April 15, 2019 |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]}}</ref>

On April 18, 2023, YouTube revealed its changes in handling content associated with [[eating disorder]]s. This social media platform's Community Guidelines now prohibit content that could encourage emulation from at-risk users. This content includes behavior that shows severe calorie tracking and [[Purging disorder|purging]] after eating. However, videos featuring positive behavior such as in the context of recovery will be permitted on the platform under two conditions—the user must have a registered (logged-in) account and must be older than 18.
This policy was created in collaboration with nonprofit organizations as well as the National Eating Disorder Association. Garth Graham, YouTube's Global Head of Healthcare revealed in an interview with CNN that this policy change was geared at ensuring that this video-sharing platform provides an avenue for "community recovery and resources" while ensuring continued viewer protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/18/tech/youtube-eating-disorder-policies/index.html |title=YouTube rolls out new policies for eating disorder content |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

==== Homophobia and transphobia ====
Five leading content creators whose channels were based on [[LGBTQ+]] materials filed a federal lawsuit against YouTube in August 2019, alleging that YouTube's algorithms divert discovery away from their channels, impacting their revenue. The plaintiffs claimed that the algorithms discourage content with words like "lesbian" or "gay", which would be predominant in their channels' content, and because of YouTube's near-monopolization of online video services, they are abusing that position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bensinger |first1=Greg |last2=Albergotti |first2=Reed |date=August 14, 2019 |title=YouTube discriminates against LGBT content by unfairly culling it, suit alleges |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/08/14/youtube-discriminates-against-lgbt-content-by-unfairly-culling-it-suit-alleges/ |access-date=August 14, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

In June 2022, [[Media Matters]], a media watchdog group, reported that [[homophobic]] and [[transphobic]] content calling LGBT people [[LGBT grooming conspiracy theory|"predators" and "groomers"]] was becoming more common on YouTube.<ref name="lawton_20220623">{{cite web |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/google/right-wing-clickbait-pushing-anti-lgbtq-groomer-smears-are-increasingly-popular-youtube |title=Right-wing clickbait pushing anti-LGBTQ 'groomer' smears are increasingly popular on YouTube |website=Media Matters |last1=Lawton |first1=Sophie |date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref> The report also referred to common accusations in YouTube videos that LGBT people are [[mental illness|mentally ill]].<ref name="lawton_20220623" /> The report stated the content appeared to be in violation of YouTube's hate speech policy.<ref name="lawton_20220623" />

==== Animal torture ====

From 2020 on, the issue of videos featuring animal cruelty on YouTube has started to attract increasing attention in the media. In late 2020, animal welfare charity ''Lady Freethinker'' identified 2,053 videos on YouTube in which they stated animals were "deliberately harmed for entertainment or were shown to be under severe psychological distress, physical pain or dead."<ref>{{cite news|title=
 YouTube must remove videos of animal cruelty, says charity|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/19/youtube-must-remove-videos-of-animal-cruelty-says-charity |work=The GuardianTimes |access-date=December 5, 2023|date=December 19, 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, ''Lady Freethinker'' filed a lawsuit accusing YouTube of a breach of contract in allowing a large number of videos on its site showing animal abuse and failing to remove them when notified. YouTube responded by stating that they had "expanded its policy on animal abuse videos" in 2021, and since the introduction of the new policy "removed hundreds of thousands of videos and terminated thousands of channels for violations."<ref>{{cite news|title=Monkeys killed in blenders by sadistic torture ring that films abuse to sell online |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/technology/youtube-sued-animal-abuse.html |access-date=December 4, 2023 |work=The New York Times|date=October 19, 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, Google defeated the ''Lady Freethinker'' lawsuit, with a judge ruling that YouTube was protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, that shields internet platforms from lawsuits based on content posted by their users.<ref>{{cite news|title=Google Defeats Lawsuit Decrying Animal Abuse Videos on YouTube|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-04/google-defeats-lawsuit-decrying-animal-abuse-videos-on-youtube |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=The New York Times|date=August 4, 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, YouTube stated that animal abuse "has no place on their platforms, and they are working to remove content (of that nature)".<ref name="telegraph/monkey-torture-women-arrested">{{cite news |last1=Newey |first1=Sarah |title=Monkeys killed in blenders by sadistic torture ring that films abuse to sell online |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/20/monkey-torture-ring-three-women-arrested-britain-bbc/ |access-date=June 23, 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=June 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620211907/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/20/monkey-torture-ring-three-women-arrested-britain-bbc/ |archive-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><ref name="bbc/Iot1dIWVS5">{{cite web |title=Hunting the monkey torturers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/Iot1dIWVS5/hunting-the-monkey-torturers |website=BBC News |access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="express.co.uk/1503840">{{cite news |last1=Pritchard-Jones |first1=Oliver |title=YouTube hosts HUNDREDS of 'disgusting' animal cruelty videos |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1503840/youtube-news-baby-monkey-torture-animal-cruelty |access-date=June 23, 2023 |work=Daily Express |date=October 10, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk/m001n32l">{{cite web |title=The Monkey Haters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n32l |website=BBC Three |publisher=BBC |access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk/w3ct5j1p">{{cite web |title=The monkey haters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5j1p |website=The Documentary |publisher=BBC World Service |access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="vice/custom-baby-monkey-torture-videos">{{cite web |last1=Geiger |first1=Gabriel |title=People Buy Custom Baby Monkey Torture Videos on World's Worst Forum |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kvqgx/people-buy-custom-baby-monkey-torture-videos-on-worlds-worst-forum |website=Vice |access-date=June 23, 2023 |language=en |date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

==== YouTube as a tool to promote conspiracy theories and far-right content{{anchor|Promotion_of_conspiracy_theories_and_fringe_discourse|Conspiracy_theories_and_fringe_discourse}} ====
YouTube has been criticized for using an algorithm that gives great prominence to videos that promote conspiracy theories, falsehoods and incendiary fringe discourse.<ref name="Darkest">{{cite news |last=Nicas |first=Jack |date=February 7, 2018 |title=How YouTube Drives People to the Internet's Darkest Corners |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-youtube-drives-viewers-to-the-internets-darkest-corners-1518020478 |access-date=June 16, 2018 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=As Germans Seek News, YouTube Delivers Far-Right Tirades |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 7, 2018 |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/world/europe/youtube-far-right-extremism.html |access-date=September 8, 2018 |last1=Fisher |first1=Max |last2=Bennhold |first2=Katrin}}</ref><ref name="secret life">{{cite news |last1=Ingram |first1=Matthew |title=YouTube's secret life as an engine for right-wing radicalization |language=en |work=Columbia Journalism Review |issue=September 19, 2018 |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/youtube-conspiracy-radicalization.php |access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> According to an investigation by ''The Wall Street Journal'', "YouTube's recommendations often lead users to channels that feature conspiracy theories, partisan viewpoints and misleading videos, even when those users haven't shown interest in such content. When users show a political bias in what they choose to view, YouTube typically recommends videos that echo those biases, often with more-extreme viewpoints."<ref name="Darkest" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Rebecca |date=September 2018 |title=Alternative Influence: Broadcasting the Reactionary Right on YouTube |url=https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DS_Alternative_Influence.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2019 |website=datasociety.net |publisher=Data and Society}}</ref> When users search for political or scientific terms, YouTube's search algorithms often give prominence to hoaxes and conspiracy theories.<ref name="secret life" /><ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube wants the news audience, but not the responsibility |language=en |work=Columbia Journalism Review |url=https://www.cjr.org/innovations/youtube-wants-the-news-audience-but-not-the-responsibility.php |access-date=September 23, 2018}}</ref> After YouTube drew controversy for giving top billing to videos promoting falsehoods and conspiracy when people made breaking-news queries during the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]], YouTube changed its algorithm to give greater prominence to mainstream media sources.<ref name="Darkest" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Nicas |first=Jack |date=October 6, 2017 |title=YouTube Tweaks Search Results as Las Vegas Conspiracy Theories Rise to Top |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/youtube-tweaks-its-search-results-after-rise-of-las-vegas-conspiracy-theories-1507219180 |access-date=June 16, 2018 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Here's How YouTube Is Spreading Conspiracy Theories About The Vegas Shooting |language=en |work=BuzzFeed |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/heres-how-youtube-is-spreading-conspiracy-theories-about |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Big Tech Platforms Still Suck During Breaking News |language=en |work=BuzzFeed |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/the-big-tech-platforms-are-still-botching-breaking-news |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, it was reported that YouTube was again promoting fringe content about breaking news, giving great prominence to conspiracy videos about [[Anthony Bourdain]]'s death.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alba |first=Davey |date=June 16, 2018 |title=YouTube Is Spreading Conspiracy Theories about Anthony Bourdain's Death |language=en |work=[[BuzzFeed News]] |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/daveyalba/conspiracy-theories-about-anthony-bourdains-death-are |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, it was revealed that advertisements were being placed on extremist videos, including videos by rape apologists, anti-Semites, and hate preachers who received ad payouts.<ref name="apologises">{{cite news |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Google apologises as M&S pulls ads |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39325916 |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> After firms started to stop advertising on YouTube in the wake of this reporting, YouTube apologized and said that it would give firms greater control over where ads got placed.<ref name="apologises" />

[[Alex Jones]], known for far-right conspiracy theories, had built a massive audience on YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |date=February 2, 2018 |title='Fiction is outperforming reality': how YouTube's algorithm distorts truth |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/02/how-youtubes-algorithm-distorts-truth |access-date=June 16, 2018 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> YouTube drew criticism in 2018 when it removed a video from [[Media Matters]] compiling offensive statements made by Jones, stating that it violated its policies on "harassment and bullying".<ref>{{cite news |last=Levin |first=Sam |date=April 23, 2018 |title=YouTube under fire for censoring video exposing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/23/youtube-alex-jones-sandy-hook-media-matters-video |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> On August 6, 2018, however, YouTube removed Alex Jones' YouTube page following a content violation.<ref>Salinas, Sara (August 6, 2018). [https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/06/youtube-removes-alex-jones-account-following-earlier-bans.html "YouTube removes Alex Jones' page, following bans from Apple and Facebook."] [[CNBC]]. Retrieved October 15, 2018.</ref>

University of North Carolina professor [[Zeynep Tufekci]] has referred to YouTube as "The Great Radicalizer", saying "YouTube may be one of the most powerful radicalizing instruments of the 21st century."<ref>{{cite news |title=Opinion {{!}} YouTube, the Great Radicalizer |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 10, 2018 |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/opinion/sunday/youtube-politics-radical.html |access-date=June 16, 2018 |last1=Tufekci |first1=Zeynep |id={{ProQuest|2610860590}}}}</ref> Jonathan Albright of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University described YouTube as a "conspiracy ecosystem".<ref name="secret life" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Parkland shooting 'crisis actor' videos lead users to a 'conspiracy ecosystem' on YouTube, new research shows |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/02/25/parkland-shooting-crisis-actor-videos-lead-users-to-a-conspiracy-ecosystem-on-youtube-new-research-shows/ |access-date=September 23, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2019, YouTube said that it had introduced a new policy starting in the United States intended to stop recommending videos containing "content that could misinform users in harmful ways." YouTube gave [[Modern flat Earth societies|flat earth theories]], miracle cures, and [[9/11 Truth movement|9/11 truther-isms]] as examples.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weill |first=Kelly |date=January 25, 2019 |title=YouTube Tweaks Algorithm to Fight 9/11 Truthers, Flat Earthers, Miracle Cures |language=en |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/youtube-tweaks-algorithm-to-fight-911-truthers-flat-earthers-miracle-cures |access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> Efforts within YouTube engineering to stop recommending borderline extremist videos falling just short of forbidden hate speech, and track their popularity were originally rejected because they could interfere with viewer engagement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergen |first1=Mark |date=April 2, 2019 |title=YouTube Executives Ignored Warnings, Letting Toxic Videos Run Rampant |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-04-02/youtube-executives-ignored-warnings-letting-toxic-videos-run-rampant |access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>

In January 2019, the site announced it would be implementing measures directed towards "raising authoritative content and reducing borderline content and harmful misinformation."<ref name="neo-Nazi">{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=June 5, 2019 |title=YouTube bans neo-Nazi and Holocaust-denial videos in push against hate speech |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/06/youtube-bans-neo-nazi-and-holocaust-denial-videos-in-push-against-hate-speech/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> That June, YouTube announced it would be banning [[Holocaust denial]] and [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] content.<ref name="neo-Nazi" /> YouTube has blocked the neo-Nazi propaganda film ''[[Europa: The Last Battle]]'' from being uploaded.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Antisemitism in the Digital Age: Online Antisemitic Hate, Holocaust Denial, Conspiracy Ideologies and Terrorism in Europe |url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/google-report-2021-10-v3.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116055750/https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/google-report-2021-10-v3.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |access-date=September 23, 2023 |website=Hope not Hate |page=34}}</ref>

Multiple research studies have investigated cases of misinformation in YouTube. In a July 2019 study based on ten YouTube searches using the [[Tor Browser]] related to climate and climate change, the majority of videos were videos that communicated views contrary to the [[scientific consensus on climate change]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Allgaier |first=Joachim |date=July 25, 2019 |title=Science and Environmental Communication on YouTube: Strategically Distorted Communications in Online Videos on Climate Change and Climate Engineering |journal=Frontiers in Communication |volume=4 |doi=10.3389/fcomm.2019.00036 |issn=2297-900X |doi-access=free}}</ref> A May 2023 study found that YouTube was monetizing and profiting from videos that included misinformation about climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Google profiting from climate misinformation on YouTube, report finds |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/google-youtube-climate-disinformation-ads-b2331573.html |access-date=August 27, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> A 2019 BBC investigation of YouTube searches in ten different languages found that YouTube's algorithm promoted health misinformation, including fake cancer cures.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carmichael |first1=Flora |last2=Gragani |first2=Juliana |others=Beyond Fake News & B.B.C. Monitoring |title=How YouTube makes money from fake cancer cure videos |work=BBC News |date=September 12, 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-49483681 |access-date=September 27, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In Brazil, YouTube has been linked to pushing pseudoscientific misinformation on health matters, as well as elevated far-right fringe discourse and conspiracy theories.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Max |last2=Taub |first2=Amanda |date=August 11, 2019 |title=How YouTube Radicalized Brazil |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/11/world/americas/youtube-brazil.html |access-date=August 12, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In the Philippines, numerous channels disseminated misinformation related to the [[2022 Philippine general election|2022 Philippine elections]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Tuquero |first=Loreben |title=Red flag for 2022: Political lies go unchecked on YouTube showbiz channels |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/political-lies-unchecked-youtube-showbiz-channels-red-flag-candidates-2022 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=[[Rappler]] |publisher=Rappler Inc. |date=September 22, 2021 |location=[[Manila]], Philippines}}</ref> Additionally, research on the dissemination of [[Modern flat Earth beliefs|Flat Earth]] beliefs in social media, has shown that networks of YouTube channels form an echo chamber that polarizes audiences by appearing to confirm preexisting beliefs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Diaz Ruiz |first1=Carlos |last2=Nilsson |first2=Tomas |date=August 8, 2022 |title=Disinformation and Echo Chambers: How Disinformation Circulates on Social Media Through Identity-Driven Controversies |journal=Journal of Public Policy & Marketing |volume=42 |language=en |pages=18–35 |doi=10.1177/07439156221103852 |s2cid=248934562 |issn=0743-9156 |doi-access=}}</ref>

==== Use among white supremacists ====
Before 2019, YouTube took steps to remove specific videos or channels related to [[Supremacism|supremacist]] content that had violated its acceptable use policies but otherwise did not have site-wide policies against [[hate speech]].<ref name="youtubeblog june2019">{{cite web |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Our ongoing work to tackle hate |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2019/06/our-ongoing-work-to-tackle-hate.html |access-date=April 9, 2020 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In the wake of the March 2019 [[Christchurch mosque attacks]], YouTube and other sites like Facebook and Twitter that allowed user-submitted content drew criticism for doing little to moderate and control the spread of hate speech, which was considered to be a factor in the rationale for the attacks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=March 15, 2019 |title=Questions about policing online hate are much bigger than Facebook and YouTube |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/15/18267638/new-zealand-christchurch-mass-shooting-online-hate-facebook-youtube |access-date=April 9, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Timberg |first1=Craig |last2=Harwell |first2=Drew |last3=Shaban |first3=Hamza |last4=Ba Tran |first4=Andrew |last5=Fung |first5=Brian |date=March 15, 2020 |title=The New Zealand shooting shows how YouTube and Facebook spread hate and violent images – yet again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/03/15/facebook-youtube-twitter-amplified-video-christchurch-mosque-shooting/ |access-date=April 9, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> These platforms were pressured to remove such content, but in an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', YouTube's chief product officer Neal Mohan said that unlike content such as [[ISIS]] videos which take a particular format and thus easy to detect through computer-aided algorithms, general hate speech was more difficult to recognize and handle, and thus could not readily take action to remove without human interaction.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=March 29, 2019 |title=YouTube's Product Chief on Online Radicalization and Algorithmic Rabbit Holes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/technology/youtube-online-extremism.html |access-date=April 9, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In May 2019, YouTube joined an initiative led by France and New Zealand with other countries and tech companies to develop tools to be used to block [[online hate speech]] and to develop regulations, to be implemented at the national level, to be levied against technology firms that failed to take steps to remove such speech, though the United States declined to participate.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=May 15, 2019 |title=New Zealand and France unveil plans to tackle online extremism without the US on board |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/15/new-zealand-france-unveil-plans-to-tackle-online-extremism-without-us.html |access-date=April 9, 2020 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Willsher |first=Kim |date=May 15, 2019 |title=Leaders and tech firms pledge to tackle extremist violence online |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/15/jacinda-ardern-emmanuel-macron-christchurch-call-summit-extremist-violence-online |access-date=April 9, 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Subsequently, on June 5, 2019, YouTube announced a major change to its terms of service, "specifically prohibiting videos alleging that a group is superior in order to justify discrimination, segregation or exclusion based on qualities like age, gender, race, caste, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status." YouTube identified specific examples of such videos as those that "promote or glorify Nazi ideology, which is inherently discriminatory". YouTube further stated it would "remove content denying that well-documented violent events, like the Holocaust or [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting|the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary]], took place."<ref name="youtubeblog june2019" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Newton |first=Casey |date=June 5, 2019 |title=YouTube just banned supremacist content, and thousands of channels are about to be removed |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/5/18652576/youtube-supremacist-content-ban-borderline-extremist-terms-of-service |access-date=April 9, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

In August 2019, the channel of the white nationalist website [[VDARE]] was banned. The ban was later reversed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Jared |date=2019-08-30 |title=YouTube Reverses Course, Apologizes to Far-Right Channels & Unbans Them |url=https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/youtube-reverses-course-apologizes-to-far-right-channels-unbans-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322154216/https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/youtube-reverses-course-apologizes-to-far-right-channels-unbans-them/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=[[Right Wing Watch]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The channel was permanently banned in August 2020 for violating YouTube's policies against [[hate speech]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Jared |date=2020-08-10 |title=White Nationalist VDARE Suspended From YouTube. This Time It’s Permanent |url=https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/vdare-suspended-from-youtube-and-this-time-its-permanent/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428233756/https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/vdare-suspended-from-youtube-and-this-time-its-permanent/ |archive-date=April 28, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Right Wing Watch |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2019, YouTube banned the main channel of [[Red Ice]], a white supremacist multimedia company, for hate speech violations. The channel had about 330,000 subscribers. [[Lana Lokteff]] and Red Ice promoted a backup channel in an attempt to circumvent the ban.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramirez |first1=Nikki McCann |date=October 18, 2019 |title=White nationalist Red Ice TV is promoting a backup channel to skirt its YouTube ban |language=en |work=[[Media Matters for America]] |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/white-nationalism/how-white-nationalist-red-ice-tv-working-around-its-youtube-ban |url-status=live |access-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020215745/https://www.mediamatters.org/white-nationalism/how-white-nationalist-red-ice-tv-working-around-its-youtube-ban |archive-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gais |first1=Hannah |date=October 21, 2019 |title=YouTube Takes Down Red Ice's Main Channel |language=en |work=HateWatch |publisher=[[Southern Poverty Law Center]] |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/10/21/youtube-takes-down-red-ices-main-channel |url-status=live |access-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022081513/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/10/21/youtube-takes-down-red-ices-main-channel |archive-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> A week later, the backup channel was also removed by YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gais |first1=Hannah |date=October 23, 2019 |title=YouTube Yanks Second Red Ice Channel |language=en |work=HateWatch |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/10/23/youtube-yanks-second-red-ice-channel |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025010112/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/10/23/youtube-yanks-second-red-ice-channel |archive-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="DailyDot">{{cite news |last1=Katzowitz |first1=Josh |title=Red Ice, a popular white supremacist YouTube channel, has been shut down|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/red-ice-youtube-ban/ |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028205415/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/red-ice-youtube-ban/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2020, YouTube was criticized for allowing white supremacist content on its platform for years after it announced it would be pledging $1 million to fight racial injustice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Isobel Asher |title=YouTube has pledged $1 million in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters, but critics note the site has allowed white supremacist videos for years |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-pledges-1-million-to-fight-racial-injustice-draws-criticism-2020-6 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that month, it banned several channels associated with white supremacy, including those of [[Stefan Molyneux]], [[David Duke]], and [[Richard B. Spencer]], asserting these channels violated their policies on hate speech. The ban occurred the same day that [[Reddit]] announced the ban on several hate speech sub-forums including [[r/The Donald]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=June 29, 2020 |title=YouTube bans Stefan Molyneux, David Duke, Richard Spencer, and more for hate speech |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/29/21307303/youtube-bans-molyneux-duke-richard-spencer-conduct-hate-speech |access-date=June 29, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

==== Handling of COVID-19 pandemic and other misinformation ====
Following the dissemination via YouTube of [[misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic]] that [[5G]] communications technology was responsible for the spread of [[coronavirus disease 2019]] which led to multiple 5G towers in the United Kingdom being attacked by arsonists, YouTube removed all such videos linking 5G and the coronavirus in this manner.<ref name="guardian-youtube-to-suppress-content-spreading-coronavirus-5g-conspiracy-theory">{{cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=April 5, 2020 |title=YouTube moves to limit spread of false coronavirus 5G theory |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/youtube-to-suppress-content-spreading-coronavirus-5g-conspiracy-theory |access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref>

In September 2021, YouTube extended this policy to cover videos disseminating misinformation related to any vaccine, including those long approved against measles or Hepatitis B, that had received approval from local health authorities or the [[World Health Organization]].<ref name="WaPo20210929">{{cite news |last=Pannett |first=Rachel |date=January 29, 2021 |title=Russia threatens to block YouTube after German channels are deleted over coronavirus misinformation |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/29/russia-ban-youtube-german-coronavirus/ |access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NYT20210929">{{cite news |last=Alba |first=Davey |author-link=Davey Alba |date=September 29, 2021 |title=YouTube bans all anti-vaccine misinformation |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/technology/youtube-anti-vaxx-ban.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/technology/youtube-anti-vaxx-ban.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=September 30, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The platform proceeded to remove the accounts of anti-vaccine campaigners such as [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]] and [[Joseph Mercola]].<ref name="NYT20210929" />

YouTube had extended this moderation to non-medical areas. In the weeks following the [[2020 United States presidential election]], the site added policies to remove or label videos promoting election fraud claims;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-election-misinformation-removal-74ca3738e2774c9a4cf8fbd1e977710f |title=Weeks after election, YouTube cracks down on misinformation |first=Barbara |last=Ortutay |date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |work=[[Associated Press News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy B. |date=December 9, 2020 |title=YouTube bans videos claiming Trump won |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/12/youtube-bans-videos-claiming-trump-won/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> however, it reversed this policy in June 2023, citing that the removal was necessary to "openly debate political ideas, even those that are controversial or based on disproven assumptions".<ref>{{cite news |date=June 1, 2023 |title=YouTube changes policy to allow false claims about past US presidential elections |url=https://apnews.com/article/youtube-election-misinformation-policy-42a6c1b7623c485dbc04eb76ad443247 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=June 2, 2023 |title=YouTube now allows videos that falsely claim Trump won 2020 election |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/06/youtube-now-allows-videos-that-falsely-claim-trump-won-2020-election/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

Google and YouTube implemented policies in October 2021 to deny monetization or revenue to advertisers or content creators that promoted [[climate change denial]], which "includes content referring to climate change as a hoax or a scam, claims denying that long-term trends show the global climate is warming, and claims denying that greenhouse gas emissions or human activity contribute to climate change."<ref>{{cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Google and YouTube will cut off ad money for climate change deniers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/7/22715102/google-youtube-climate-change-deniers-ads-monetization |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> In January 2024, the [[Center for Countering Digital Hate]] reported that climate change deniers were instead pushing other forms of climate change denial that have not yet been banned by YouTube, including false claims that global warming is "beneficial or harmless", and which undermined climate solutions and [[climate science]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belanger |first=Ashley  |title=Climate denialists find new ways to monetize disinformation on YouTube |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/01/youtube-profits-from-videos-claiming-global-warming-is-beneficial/ |website=Ars Technica|date=January 16, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2024 |title=YouTube making money off new breed of climate denial, monitoring group says |url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/youtube-making-money-off-new-breed-climate-denial-monitoring-group-says-2024-01-16/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

In July 2022, YouTube announced policies to combat misinformation surrounding [[abortion]], such as videos with instructions to perform abortion methods that are considered unsafe and videos that contain misinformation about the [[safety of abortion]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Elias |first=Jennifer |date=July 21, 2022 |title=YouTube says it will crack down on abortion misinformation and remove videos with false claims |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/youtube-says-it-will-crack-down-on-abortion-misinformation.html |access-date=July 21, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

==== Child safety and wellbeing ====
{{See also|FamilyOFive|Fantastic Adventures scandal|Elsagate}}
Leading into 2017, there was a significant increase in the number of videos related to children, coupled between the popularity of parents vlogging their family's activities, and previous content creators moving away from content that often was criticized or demonetized into family-friendly material. In 2017, YouTube reported that time watching family vloggers had increased by 90%.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Luscombe |first=Belinda |date=May 18, 2017 |title=The YouTube Parents Who are Turning Family Moments into Big Bucks |url=https://time.com/4783215/growing-up-in-public/ |access-date=June 21, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=June 21, 2019 |title=YouTube can't remove kid videos without tearing a hole in the entire creator ecosystem |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18651223/youtube-kids-harmful-content-predator-comments-family-vlogging |access-date=June 21, 2019 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> However, with the increase in videos featuring children, the site began to face several controversies related to [[Child protection|child safety]]. During Q2 2017, the owners of popular channel [[FamilyOFive]], which featured themselves playing "pranks" on their children, were accused of [[child abuse]]. Their videos were eventually deleted, and two of their children were removed from their custody.<ref name="Ohlheiser2017">{{cite news |last=Ohlheiser |first=Abby |date=April 26, 2017 |title=The saga of a YouTube family who pulled disturbing pranks on their own kids |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/25/the-saga-of-a-youtube-family-who-pulled-disturbing-pranks-on-their-own-kids/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name="Cresci2017">{{cite news |last=Cresci |first=Elena |date=May 7, 2017 |title=Mean stream: how YouTube prank channel DaddyOFive enraged the internet |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2017/may/07/when-youtube-pranks-go-horribly-wrong |access-date=June 7, 2017 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="Dunphy2017">{{cite web |last=Dunphy |first=Rachel |date=April 28, 2017 |title=The Abusive 'Pranks' of YouTube Family Vloggers |url=https://nymag.com/selectall/2017/04/daddyofive-youtube-abuse-controversy-explained.html |access-date=July 9, 2017 |work=[[New York Magazine]]}}</ref><ref name="Gajanan2017">{{cite magazine |last=Gajanan |first=Mahita |date=May 3, 2017 |title=YouTube Star DaddyOFive Loses Custody of 2 Children Shown in 'Prank' Videos |url=https://time.com/4763981/daddyofive-mike-martin-heather-martin-youtube-prank-custody/ |access-date=July 9, 2017 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> A similar case happened in 2019 when the owner of the channel [[Fantastic Adventures scandal|Fantastic Adventures]] was accused of abusing her adopted children. Her videos would later be deleted.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Eric |last1=Levenson |first2=Mel |last2=Alonso |title=A mom on a popular YouTube show is accused of pepper-spraying her kids when they flubbed their lines |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/20/us/youtube-fantastic-adventures-mom-arrest-trnd/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>

Later that year, YouTube came under criticism for showing inappropriate videos targeted at children and often featuring popular characters in violent, sexual or otherwise disturbing situations, many of which appeared on [[YouTube Kids]] and attracted millions of views. The term "[[Elsagate]]" was coined on the Internet and then used by various news outlets to refer to this controversy.<ref>Ben Popper, [https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes Adults dressed as superheroes is YouTube's new, strange, and massively popular genre], ''The Verge'', February 4, 2017</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(<span class="ltr">s</span>); no by-line.--> |date=March 31, 2017 |title=Report: Thousands of videos mimicking popular cartoons on YouTube Kids contain inappropriate content |url=https://news10.com/2017/03/31/report-thousands-of-videos-mimicking-popular-cartoons-on-youtube-kids-contain-inappropriate-content/ |access-date=April 30, 2017 |website=NEWS10 ABC}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{cite web |last=Maheshwari |first=Sapna |date=November 4, 2017 |title=Child Friendly? Startling Videos Slip Past Filters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/business/media/youtube-kids-paw-patrol.html |url-access=limited |website=The New York Times |id={{ProQuest|2463387110}}}}</ref><ref name="forbes">Dani Di Placido, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/28/youtubes-elsagate-illuminates-the-unintended-horrors-of-the-digital-age/ YouTube's "Elsagate" Illuminates The Unintended Horrors Of The Digital Age], ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'', November 28, 2017</ref> On November 11, 2017, YouTube announced it was strengthening site security to protect children from unsuitable content. Later that month, the company started to mass delete videos and channels that made improper use of family-friendly characters. As part of a broader concern regarding child safety on YouTube, the wave of deletions also targeted channels that showed children taking part in inappropriate or dangerous activities under the guidance of adults. Most notably, the company removed ''[[Toy Freaks]]'', a channel with over 8.5&nbsp;million subscribers, that featured a father and his two daughters in odd and upsetting situations.<ref name="auto">Todd Spangler, [https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/youtube-toy-freaks-channel-terminated-1202617834/ YouTube Terminates Toy Freaks Channel Amid Broader Crackdown on Disturbing Kids' Content], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', November 17, 2017</ref><ref name="verge">{{cite news |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=November 9, 2017 |title=YouTube says it will crack down on bizarre videos targeting children |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/9/16629788/youtube-kids-distrubing-inappropriate-flag-age-restrict |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116090955/https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/9/16629788/youtube-kids-distrubing-inappropriate-flag-age-restrict |archive-date=November 16, 2017 |quote=In August of this year, YouTube announced that it would no longer allow creators to monetize videos which "made inappropriate use of family-friendly characters." Today it's taking another step to try to police this genre.}}</ref><ref>Sarah Templeton, [https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2017/11/disturbing-elsagate-toy-freaks-videos-removed-from-youtube-after-abuse-allegations.html Disturbing 'ElsaGate', 'Toy Freaks' videos removed from YouTube after abuse allegations], ''[[Newshub]]'', November 22, 2017</ref><ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/youtube-crack-videos-showing-child-endangerment/story?id=51336368 YouTube to crack down on videos showing child endangerment], ''[[ABC News]]'', November 22, 2017</ref><ref>Charlie Warzel, [https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem YouTube Is Addressing Its Massive Child Exploitation Problem] [[BuzzFeed]], November 22, 2017</ref> According to analytics specialist SocialBlade, it earned up to $11.2&nbsp;million annually prior to its deletion in November 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bridge |first1=Mark |last2=Mostrous |first2=Alexi |date=November 18, 2017 |title=Child abuse on YouTube |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-abuse-on-youtube-q3x9zfkch |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref>

Even for content that appears to be aimed at children and appears to contain only child-friendly content, YouTube's system allows for anonymity of who uploads these videos. These questions have been raised in the past, as YouTube has had to remove channels with children's content which, after becoming popular, then suddenly include inappropriate content masked as children's content.<ref name="WSJ kids love">{{cite news |last1=Koh |first1=Yoree |last2=Morris |first2=Betsy |date=April 11, 2019 |title=Kids Love These YouTube Channels. Who Creates Them Is a Mystery. |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-love-these-youtube-channels-who-creates-them-is-a-mystery-11554975000 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814180500/https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-love-these-youtube-channels-who-creates-them-is-a-mystery-11554975000 |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref> Alternative, some of the most-watched children's programming on YouTube comes from channels that have no identifiable owners, raising concerns of intent and purpose. One channel that had been of concern was『[[Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes|Cocomelon]]』which provided numerous mass-produced animated videos aimed at children. Up through 2019, it had drawn up to {{USD|10 million}} a month in ad revenue and was one of the largest kid-friendly channels on YouTube before 2020. Ownership of Cocomelon was unclear outside of its ties to "Treasure Studio", itself an unknown entity, raising questions as to the channel's purpose,<ref name="WSJ kids love" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Martineau |first=Paris |title=YouTube Has Kid Troubles Because Kids Are a Core Audience |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-kid-troubles-kids-core-audience/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811205146/https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-kid-troubles-kids-core-audience/ |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Jefferson |date=June 22, 2019 |title=Why YouTube's kid issues are so serious |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/06/22/nursery-rhymes-i-toy-story-porn-youtube-thats-kid-problem/1529724001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814181002/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/06/22/nursery-rhymes-i-toy-story-porn-youtube-thats-kid-problem/1529724001/ |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019 |website=USA Today}}</ref> but ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' had been able to confirm and interview the small team of American owners in February 2020 regarding "Cocomelon", who stated their goal for the channel was to simply entertain children, wanting to keep to themselves to avoid attention from outside investors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergan |first1=Mark |last2=Shaw |first2=Lucas |date=February 10, 2020 |title=YouTube's Secretive Top Kids Channel Expands Into Merchandise |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-10/popular-youtube-kids-channel-cocomelon-gets-into-merch-and-toys |access-date=June 15, 2020 |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> The anonymity of such channel raise concerns because of the lack of knowledge of what purpose they are trying to serve.<ref name="vice kids content">{{cite web |last=Haskins |first=Caroline |date=March 19, 2019 |title=YouTubers Are Fighting Algorithms to Make Good Content for Kids |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbznpy/youtubers-are-fighting-algorithms-to-make-good-content-for-kids |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814182839/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbznpy/youtubers-are-fighting-algorithms-to-make-good-content-for-kids |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019 |website=[[Vice Media|Vice]]}}</ref> The difficulty to identify who operates these channels "adds to the lack of accountability", according to Josh Golin of the [[Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood]], and educational consultant Renée Chernow-O'Leary found the videos were designed to entertain with no intent to educate, all leading to critics and parents to be concerned for their children becoming too enraptured by the content from these channels.<ref name="WSJ kids love" /> Content creators that earnestly make child-friendly videos have found it difficult to compete with larger channels, unable to produce content at the same rate as them, and lacking the same means of being promoted through YouTube's recommendation algorithms that the larger animated channel networks have shared.<ref name="vice kids content" />

In January 2019, YouTube officially banned videos containing "challenges that encourage acts that have an inherent risk of severe physical harm" (such as the [[Consumption of Tide Pods|Tide Pod Challenge]]) and videos featuring pranks that "make victims believe they're in physical danger" or cause emotional distress in children.<ref>{{cite web |last=Palladino |first=Valentina |date=January 16, 2019 |title=YouTube updates policies to explicitly ban dangerous pranks, challenges |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/youtube-updates-policies-to-explicitly-ban-dangerous-pranks-challenges/ |access-date=January 16, 2019 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

==== Sexualization of children and pedophilia ====
{{See also|Elsagate}}

Also in November 2017, it was revealed in the media that many videos featuring children—often uploaded by the minors themselves, and showing innocent content such as the children playing with toys or performing gymnastics—were attracting comments from [[Pedophilia|pedophiles]]<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/15/16656706/youtube-videos-children-comments YouTube videos of children are plagued by sexual comments], ''[[The Verge]]'', November 15, 2017</ref><ref name="habits">{{cite news |last1=Mostrous |first1=Alexi |last2=Bridge |first2=Mark |last3=Gibbons |first3=Katie |date=November 24, 2017 |title=YouTube adverts fund paedophile habits |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/youtube-adverts-fund-paedophile-habits-fdzfmqlr5 |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> with predators finding the videos through private YouTube playlists or typing in certain keywords in Russian.<ref name="habits" /> Other child-centric videos originally uploaded to YouTube began propagating on the [[dark web]], and uploaded or embedded onto forums known to be used by pedophiles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tait |first=Amelia |date=April 24, 2016 |title=Why YouTube mums are taking their kids offline |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/observations/2016/04/why-youtube-mums-are-taking-their-kids-offline |access-date=June 21, 2019 |work=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref>

As a result of the controversy, which added to the concern about "Elsagate", several major advertisers whose ads had been running against such videos froze spending on YouTube.<ref name="forbes" /><ref>Todd Spangler, [https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/youtube-ad-boycott-pedophile-sexual-children-videos-1202622790/ YouTube Faces Advertiser Boycott Over Videos With Kids That Attracted Sexual Predators], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', November 25, 2017</ref> In December 2018, ''[[The Times]]'' found more than 100 grooming cases in which children were manipulated into sexually implicit behavior (such as taking off clothes, adopting overtly sexual poses and touching other children inappropriately) by strangers.<ref name="Paedophiles">{{cite news |author1=Harry Shukman |author2=Mark Bridge |date=December 10, 2018 |title=Paedophiles grooming children live on YouTube |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/paedophiles-grooming-children-live-on-youtube-3fv8gt730 |issn=0140-0460 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210055232/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/paedophiles-grooming-children-live-on-youtube-3fv8gt730 |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=February 3, 2024}}</ref> After a reporter flagged the videos in question, half of them were removed, and the rest were removed after ''The Times'' contacted YouTube's PR department.<ref name="Paedophiles" />

In February 2019, YouTube vlogger Matt Watson identified a "wormhole" that would cause the YouTube recommendation algorithm to draw users into this type of video content, and make all of that user's recommended content feature only these types of videos.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lieber |first1=Chavie |title=YouTube has a pedophilia problem, and its advertisers are jumping ship |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/27/18241961/youtube-pedophile-ring-child-safety-advertisers-pulling-ads |website=vox.com |date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> Most of these videos had comments from sexual predators commenting with timestamps of when the children were shown in compromising positions or otherwise making indecent remarks. In some cases, other users had re-uploaded the video in unlisted form but with incoming links from other videos, and then monetized these, propagating this network.<ref name="bloomberg mwatson">{{cite news |last1=Bergen |first1=Mark |last2=de Vynck |first2=Gerrit |last3=Palmeri |first3=Christopher |date=February 20, 2019 |title=Nestle, Disney Pull YouTube Ads, Joining Furor Over Child Videos |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-20/disney-pulls-youtube-ads-amid-concerns-over-child-video-voyeurs |access-date=February 20, 2019 |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> In the wake of the controversy, the service reported that they had deleted over 400 channels and tens of millions of comments, and reported the offending users to law enforcement and the [[National Center for Missing and Exploited Children]]. A spokesperson explained that "any content—including comments—that endangers minors is abhorrent and we have clear policies prohibiting this on YouTube. There's more to be done, and we continue to work to improve and catch abuse more quickly."<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=February 21, 2019 |title=YouTube terminates more than 400 channels following child exploitation controversy |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/21/18234494/youtube-child-exploitation-channel-termination-comments-philip-defranco-creators |access-date=February 21, 2019 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=February 21, 2019 |title=YouTube loses advertisers over 'wormhole into pedophilia ring' |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/02/youtube-loses-advertisers-over-wormhole-into-pedophilia-ring/ |access-date=February 22, 2019 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> Despite these measures, [[AT&<span class="ltr">T</span>]], [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], [[Dr. Oetker]], [[Epic Games]], and [[Nestlé]] all pulled their advertising from YouTube.<ref name="bloomberg mwatson" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Haselton |first1=Todd |last2=Salinas |first2=Sara |date=February 21, 2019 |title=As fallout over pedophilia content on YouTube continues, AT&T pulls all advertisements |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/21/att-pulls-all-ads-from-youtube-pedophilia-controversy.html |access-date=February 21, 2019 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

Subsequently, YouTube began to demonetize and block advertising on the types of videos that have drawn these predatory comments. The service explained that this was a temporary measure while they explore other methods to eliminate the problem.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=February 22, 2019 |title=YouTube is proactively blocking ads on videos prone to predatory comments |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/02/22/youtube-blocking-ads-on-videos-predatory-comments/ |access-date=February 22, 2019 |work=[[Engadget]]}}</ref> YouTube also began to flag channels that predominantly feature children, and preemptively disable their comments sections. "Trusted partners" can request that comments be re-enabled, but the channel will then become responsible for moderating comments. These actions mainly target videos of toddlers, but videos of older children and teenagers may be protected as well if they contain actions that can be interpreted as sexual, such as gymnastics. YouTube stated it was also working on a better system to remove comments on other channels that matched the style of child predators.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Chris |date=February 28, 2019 |title=YouTube bans comments on all videos of kids |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47408969 |access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=February 28, 2019 |title=YouTube is disabling comments on almost all videos featuring children |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/18244954/youtube-comments-minor-children-exploitation-monetization-creators |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

A related attempt to algorithmically flag videos containing references to the string "CP" (an abbreviation of [[child pornography]]) resulted in some prominent false positives involving unrelated topics using the same abbreviation, including videos related to the mobile video game ''[[Pokémon Go]]'' (which uses "CP" as an abbreviation of the statistic "Combat Power"), and ''[[Club Penguin]]''. YouTube apologized for the errors and reinstated the affected videos.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gerken |first=Tom |date=February 19, 2019 |title=YouTube backtracks after Pokemon 'child abuse' ban |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47278362 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Separately, online trolls have attempted to have videos flagged for takedown or removal by commenting with statements similar to what the child predators had said; this activity became an issue during the [[PewDiePie vs T-Series]] rivalry in early 2019. YouTube stated they do not take action on any video with these comments but those that they have flagged that are likely to draw child predator activity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=February 28, 2019 |title=Trolls are lying about child porn to try to get YouTube channels taken down |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/18241925/youtube-creator-comments-weaponized-trolling-child-exploitation-lies-controversy-lies |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

In June 2019, ''The New York Times'' cited researchers who found that users who watched erotic videos could be recommended seemingly innocuous videos of children.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Max |last2=Taub |first2=Amanda |date=June 3, 2019 |title=On YouTube's Digital Playground, an Open Gate for Pedophiles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/world/americas/youtube-pedophiles.html |access-date=June 6, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> As a result, Senator [[Josh Hawley]] stated plans to introduce federal legislation that would ban YouTube and other video sharing sites from including videos that predominantly feature minors as "recommended" videos, excluding those that were "professionally produced", such as videos of televised talent shows.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=June 6, 2019 |title=A Senator wants to stop YouTube from recommending videos featuring minors |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/06/06/senator-youtube-bill-stop-featuring-minors-in-recommendations/ |access-date=June 6, 2019 |work=[[Engadget]]}}</ref> YouTube has suggested potential plans to remove all videos featuring children from the main YouTube site and transferring them to the [[YouTube Kids]] site where they would have stronger controls over the recommendation system, as well as other major changes on the main YouTube site to the recommended feature and auto-play system.<ref>{{cite web |last=Copeland |first=Rob |date=June 19, 2019 |title=YouTube, Under Fire, Considers Major Changes to Kids' Content |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/youtube-under-fire-considers-major-changes-to-kids-content-11560953721 |access-date=June 19, 2019 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

==== Misogyny ====
An August 2022 report by the [[Center for Countering Digital Hate]], a British think tank, found that harassment against women was flourishing on YouTube. It noted that channels espousing a similar ideology to that of [[Men's rights movement|men's rights influencer]] [[Andrew Tate]] were using YouTube to grow their audience, despite Tate being banned from the platform.<ref name="misogyny">{{cite news |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Lorenz |date=September 18, 2022 |title=YouTube remains rife with misogyny and harassment, creators say |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/18/you-tube-mysogyny-women-hate/ |access-date=December 26, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In his 2022 book ''Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube's Chaotic Rise to World Domination'', [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] reporter Mark Bergen said that many female content creators were dealing with harassment, bullying, and stalking.<ref name="misogyny" />

=== Russia ===

In 2021, two accounts linked to [[RT Deutsch]], the German channel of the Russian [[RT (TV network)|RT]] network were removed as well for breaching YouTube's policies relating to COVID-19.<ref name="WaPo20210929" /> Russia threatened to ban YouTube after the platform deleted two German RT channels in September 2021.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 29, 2021 |title=Russia threatens YouTube ban for deleting RT channels |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58737433 |access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref>

Shortly after the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022, YouTube removed all channels funded by the Russian state.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 3, 2022 |title=YouTube blocks Russian state-funded media channels globally |language=en-US |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/youtube-blocks-russian-state-funded-media-channels-globally-2022-03-11/ |access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> YouTube expanded the removal of Russian content from its site to include channels described as 'pro-Russian'. In June 2022, the ''War Gonzo'' channel run by Russian military blogger and journalist [[Semyon Pegov]] was deleted.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Youtube deletes Wargonzo channel |url=https://news.am/eng/news/708387.html|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> In July 2023, YouTube removed the channel of British journalist [[Graham Phillips (journalist)|Graham Phillips]], active in covering the [[War in Donbas]] from 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=British Pro-Russian YouTuber vows his assets shouldn't be frozen for promoting invasion |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-pro-russian-youtuber-vows-31457188 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=[[Daily Mirror|The Mirror]] |date=November 16, 2023 }}</ref>

In August 2023, a Moscow court fined Google 3&nbsp;million rubles, around $35,000, for not deleting what it said was "fake news about the war in Ukraine".<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia fines Google for failing to delete 'false content' about Ukraine war |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-fine-google-ukraine-war/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=[[Politico]] |date=August 17, 2023 }}</ref>

=== April Fools gags ===
{{See also|List of Google April Fools' Day jokes}}
YouTube featured an [[April Fools' Day|April Fools]] prank on the site on April 1 of every year from 2008 to 2016. In 2008, all links to videos on the main page were redirected to [[Rick Astley]]'s music video "[[Never Gonna Give You Up]]", a prank known as "[[rickrolling]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Arrington |first=Michael |date=March 31, 2008 |title=YouTube RickRolls Users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/03/31/youtube-rickrolls-users/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Wortham |first=Jenna |date=April 1, 2008 |title=YouTube 'Rickrolls' Everyone |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/04/youtube-rickrol/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> The next year, when clicking on a video on the main page, the whole page turned upside down, which YouTube claimed was a "new layout".<ref>{{cite web |author=Bas van den Beld |date=April 1, 2009 |title=April fools: YouTube turns the world up-side-down |url=https://www.searchcowboys.com/news/453 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403054721/https://www.searchcowboys.com/news/453 |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2010 |publisher=searchcowboys.com}}</ref> In 2010, YouTube temporarily released a "TEXTp" mode which rendered video imagery into [[ASCII art]] letters "in order to reduce bandwidth costs by $1 per second."<ref>{{cite web |last=Pichette |first=Patrick |date=March 31, 2010 |title=TEXTp saves YouTube bandwidth, money |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/03/textp-saves-youtube-bandwidth-money.html |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=Official YouTube Blog}}</ref>

The next year, the site celebrated its "100th anniversary" with a range of sepia-toned silent, early 1900s-style films, including a parody of [[Keyboard Cat]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Richmond |first=Shane |date=April 1, 2011 |title=YouTube goes back to 1911 for April Fools' Day |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8421394/YouTube-goes-back-to-1911-for-April-Fools-Day.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8421394/YouTube-goes-back-to-1911-for-April-Fools-Day.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2012, clicking on the image of a DVD next to the site logo led to a video about a purported option to order every YouTube video for home delivery on DVD.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Carbone |first=Nick |date=April 1, 2012 |title=April Fools' Day 2012: The Best Pranks from Around the Web |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/01/april-fools-day-2012-the-best-pranks-from-around-the-web/ |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

In 2013, YouTube teamed up with satirical newspaper company ''[[The Onion]]'' to claim in an uploaded video that the video-sharing website was launched as a contest which had finally come to an end, and would shut down for ten years before being re-launched in 2023, featuring only the winning video. The video starred several [[Internet celebrity|YouTube celebrities]], including [[Antoine Dodson]]. A video of two presenters announcing the nominated videos streamed live for 12 hours.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Quan |first=Kristene |date=April 1, 2013 |title=WATCH: YouTube Announces It Will Shut Down |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/01/watch-youtube-announces-it-will-shut-down/ |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Samantha |date=March 31, 2013 |title=YouTube Says It's Shutting Down in April Fools' Day Prank |url=https://mashable.com/2013/03/31/youtube-april-fools-day/?europe=true |access-date=November 8, 2019 |publisher=[[Mashable]]}}</ref>

In 2014, YouTube announced that it was responsible for the creation of all viral video trends, and revealed previews of upcoming trends, such as "Clocking", "Kissing Dad", and "Glub Glub Water Dance".<ref>{{cite news |last=Kleinman |first=Alexis |date=April 1, 2014 |title=YouTube Reveals Its Viral Secrets in April Fools' Day Video |newspaper=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/01/youtube-april-fools_n_5068694.html |access-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref> The next year, YouTube added a music button to the video bar that played samples from "[[Sandstorm (instrumental)|Sandstorm]]" by [[Darude]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Alba |first=Alejandro |date=April 1, 2015 |title=17 April Fools' pranks from tech brands, tech giants today |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/17-april-fool-pranks-tech-brands-tech-giants-today-article-1.2169557 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |website=Daily News|location=New York}}</ref> In 2016, YouTube introduced an option to watch every video on the platform in 360-degree mode with [[Snoop Dogg]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sini |first=Rozina |date=April 1, 2016 |title=Snoopavision and other April Fools jokes going viral |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35941866 |access-date=April 1, 2016}}</ref>

== Services ==
=== YouTube Premium ===
{{Main|YouTube Premium}}[[File:YouTube Premium logo.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube Premium]]
YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) is YouTube's premium subscription service. It offers advertising-free streaming, access to [[YouTube Originals|original programming]], and background and offline video playback on mobile devices.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/premium |title=YouTube Premium |via=YouTube}}</ref> YouTube Premium was originally announced on November 12, 2014, as "Music Key", a [[Comparison of on-demand music streaming services|subscription music streaming]] service, and was intended to integrate with and replace the existing Google Play Music "All Access" service.<ref>{{cite web |first=James |last=Trew |title=YouTube unveils Music Key subscription service, here's what you need to know |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/11/12/youtube-launches-music-key/ |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Casey |last=Newton |title=YouTube announces plans for a subscription music service |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/12/7201969/youtube-music-key-new-subscription-service |website=[[The Verge]]  |date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Variety Music Key">{{cite web |first=Todd |last=Spangler |title=YouTube Launches 'Music Key' Subscription Service with More Than 30 Million Songs |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtube-launches-music-key-subscription-service-with-more-than-30-million-songs-1201354498/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> On October 28, 2015, the service was relaunched as YouTube Red, offering ad-free streaming of all videos and access to exclusive original content.<ref>{{cite web |first=Todd |last=Spangler |title=YouTube Red Unveiled: Ad-Free Streaming Service Priced Same as Netflix |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/youtube-red-launches-ad-free-svod-netflix-1201623219/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ron |last=Amadeo |title="YouTube Red" offers premium YouTube for $9.99 a month, $12.99 for iOS users |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/youtube-red-offers-premium-youtube-for-9-99-a-month-12-99-for-ios-users/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Popper |title=A first look at the ad-free YouTube Red subscription service |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9586656/youtube-red-subscription-service-hands-on-video-release-date |website=[[The Verge]]  |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2016|November}},<!-- YouTube doesn't provide newer subscriber counts --> the service has 1.5&nbsp;million subscribers, with a further million on a free-trial basis.<ref>{{cite web |first=Hannah |last=Roberts |title=YouTube's ad-free paid subscription service looks like it is struggling to take off |url=https://nordic.businessinsider.com/membership-of-youtubes-paid-subscription-service-is-low-2016-11 |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2017|June}}, the first season of [[List of YouTube Premium original programming|YouTube Originals]] had received 250&nbsp;million views in total.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Red originals have racked up nearly 250 million views |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/22/15855570/youtube-red-originals-250-million-views |website=The Verge |access-date=September 16, 2017 |date=June 22, 2017}}</ref>

=== YouTube Kids ===
{{Main|YouTube Kids}}

[[File:YouTube Kids logo.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube Kids]]
YouTube Kids is an American children's video app developed by YouTube, a subsidiary of [[Google]]. The app was developed in response to parental and government scrutiny on the content available to children. The app provides a version of the service-oriented towards children, with curated selections of content, parental control features, and filtering of videos deemed inappropriate viewing for children aged under 13, 8 or 5 depending on the age grouping chosen. First released on February 15, 2015, as an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] [[mobile app]], the app has since been released for [[LG Electronics|LG]], [[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]], and [[Sony]] [[smart TV]]s, as well as for [[Android TV]]. On May 27, 2020, it became available on [[Apple TV]]. As of September 2019, the app is available in 69 countries, including Hong Kong and Macau, and one province. YouTube launched a web-based version of YouTube Kids on August 30, 2019.

=== YouTube Music ===
{{Main|YouTube Music}}

[[File:YT_Music.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube Music]]
On September 28, 2016, YouTube named [[Lyor Cohen]], the co-founder of [[300 Entertainment]] and former [[Warner Music Group]] executive, the Global Head of Music.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7525695/lyor-cohen-named-youtube-global-head-of-music |title=Lyor Cohen Named YouTube's Global Head of Music |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>

In early 2018, Cohen began hinting at the possible launch of YouTube's new subscription music streaming service, a platform that would compete with other services such as [[Spotify]] and [[Apple Music]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2018/01/04/youtube-lyor-cohen/ |title=How YouTube Is Playing the Peacemaker With Musicians |work=Fortune |access-date=January 6, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> On May 22, 2018, the music streaming platform named "YouTube Music" was launched.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8457379/inside-youtube-new-subscription-music-streaming-service |title=Inside YouTube's New Subscription Music Streaming Service |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/17/youtube-music-new-streaming-service-launch |title=YouTube to launch new music streaming service |last1=Snapes |first1=Laura |last2=Sweney |first2=Mark |date=May 17, 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en |access-date=September 24, 2018}}</ref>

=== YouTube Movies & TV ===
YouTube Movies & TV is a [[video on demand]] service that offers movies and television shows for purchase or rental, depending on availability, along with a selection of movies (encompassing between 100 and 500 titles overall) that are free to stream, with interspersed ad breaks. YouTube began offering free-to-view movie titles to its users in November 2018; selections of new movies are added and others removed, unannounced each month.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 16, 2018 |title=YouTube is now showing ad-supported Hollywood movies |url=https://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-starts-showing-free-hollywood-movies-ad-breaks/315631 |access-date=June 9, 2021 |website=[[Advertising Age]]}}</ref>

In March 2021, Google announced plans to gradually [[deprecate]] the Google Play Movies & TV app, and eventually migrate all users to the YouTube app's Movies & TV store to view, rent and purchase movies and TV shows (first affecting Roku, Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TV users on July 15).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Changes to Google Play Movies & TV on certain smart TVS - Google Play Community |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/102498448?hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428230113/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/102498448?hl=en |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Mitchell |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Google is removing its Play Movies and TV app from every Roku and most smart TVs |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/12/22380593/google-play-movies-tv-app-smart-tvs-roku-samsung-lg-vizio-youtube-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119211122/https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/12/22380593/google-play-movies-tv-app-smart-tvs-roku-samsung-lg-vizio-youtube-support |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |access-date=April 13, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> Google Play Movies & TV formally shut down on January 17, 2024, with the web version of that platform migrated to YouTube as an expansion of the Movies & TV store to desktop users. (Other functions of Google Play Movies & TV were integrated into the [[Google TV (service)|Google TV]] service.)<ref>{{cite web|title=Google is finally saying goodbye to Google Play Movies & TV|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/11/23997066/google-play-movies-tv-app-removal|author=Jay Peters|website=[[The Verge]]|date=December 11, 2023}}</ref>

==== YouTube Primetime Channels ====
On November 1, 2022, YouTube launched Primetime Channels, a channel store platform offering third-party subscription streaming add-ons sold a la carte through the YouTube website and app, competing with similar subscription add-on stores operated by [[Apple TV app#Apple TV Channels|Apple]], [[Amazon Prime Video#Amazon Channels|Prime Video]] and [[The Roku Channel|Roku]]. The add-ons can be purchased through the YouTube Movies & TV hub or through the official YouTube channels of the available services; subscribers of YouTube TV add-ons that are sold through Primetime Channels can also access their content via the YouTube app and website. A total of 34 streaming services (including [[Paramount+]], [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]], [[Starz]], [[MGM+]], [[AMC+]] and [[Vix (streaming service)|ViX+]]) were initially available for purchase.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube Is Reselling Subscriptions to 34 Streaming Services, Including Paramount+ and Showtime|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/youtube-primetime-channels-subscriptions-paramount-plus-showtime-1235419502/|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=November 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=You can now buy some YouTube TV add-ons without the $65 base plan|url=https://www.engadget.com/youtube-tv-add-on-channel-subscriptions-172712214.html|first=Kris|last=Holt|website=[[Engadget]]|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=November 1, 2022}}</ref>

[[NFL Sunday Ticket]], as part of a broader residential distribution deal with Google signed in December 2022 that also made it available to YouTube TV subscribers, was added to Primetime Channels as a standalone add-on on [[2023 NFL season|August 16, 2023]].<ref name=nfl-sunday>{{cite web|title=Google's YouTube Grabs NFL Sunday Ticket in Seven-Year Deal|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/youtube-tv-nfl-sunday-ticket-2023-season-1235468074/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 22, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref><ref name=NFLNews>{{cite news|title=NFL, Google announce agreement to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, Primetime Channels|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-google-nfl-sunday-ticket-youtube-tv-youtube-primetime-channels|website=[[NFL.com]]|date=December 22, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> The ad-free tier of [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] was added to Primetime Channels on December 12, 2023, coinciding with YouTube TV converting its separate HBO (for base plan subscribers) and HBO Max (for all subscribers) linear/VOD add-ons into a single combined Max offering.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Max Now Available on YouTube Primetime Channels|url=https://wbd.com/max-now-available-on-youtube-primetime-channels/|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Discovery]]|date=December 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Max becomes a YouTube primetime channel inductee - ads not included|url=https://www.techradar.com/streaming/max-becomes-a-youtube-primetime-channel-inductee-ads-not-included|author=Rowan Davies|website=TechRadar|publisher=Future US, Inc.|date=December 13, 2023}}</ref>{{NoteTag|Max's Primetime Channels and YouTube TV add-ons both offer in-app access to the streaming service's full content library (as well as provider login access to the standalone Max app and website), and live feeds of [[HBO]]'s linear channels (limited to the primary [[Eastern Time Zone|East Coast]] feed on the Primetime Channels version) and the Max-exclusive CNN Max and [[Bleacher Report]] streaming channels.}}

=== YouTube TV ===
{{Main|YouTube TV}}
[[File:YouTube TV logo.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube TV]]
On February 28, 2017, in a press announcement held at YouTube Space Los Angeles, YouTube announced YouTube TV, an [[over-the-top media service|over-the-top]] [[multichannel video programming distributor|MVPD]]-style subscription service that would be available for United States customers at a price of US$65 per month. Initially launching in five major markets ([[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Chicago]], [[Philadelphia]] and [[San Francisco]]) on April 5, 2017,<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube TV launches today. It has some cool features and some big drawbacks |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-youtube-tv-20170405-story.html |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 5, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Is Officially in the Live TV Game Now |url=https://gizmodo.com/youtube-is-officially-in-the-live-tv-game-now-1794049030 |first=Christina |last=Warren |website=[[Gizmodo]] |publisher=Gizmodo Media Group |date=April 5, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref> the service offers live streams of programming from the five major broadcast networks ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[CBS]], [[The CW]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] and [[NBC]], along with selected [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliates and [[independent station]]s in certain markets), as well as approximately 60 cable channels owned by companies such as [[The Walt Disney Company]], [[Paramount Global]], [[Fox Corporation]], [[NBCUniversal]], [[Allen Media Group]] and [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (including among others [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]], [[USA Network]], [[Syfy]], [[Disney Channel]], [[CNN]], [[Cartoon Network]], [[E!]], [[Fox Sports 1]], [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]], [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] and [[ESPN]]).<ref name="bbc-yttv">{{cite news |title=YouTube takes on cable with new TV service |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39124092 |first=Dave |last=Lee |publisher=BBC |date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref><ref name="fortune-yttv">{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2017/02/28/youtube-tv-live-streaming-subscription/ |title=Meet YouTube TV: Google's Live TV Subscription Service |first=Tom Jr |last=Huddleston |work=Fortune |date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>

Subscribers can also receive premium cable channels (including [[HBO]] (via a combined [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] add-on that includes in-app and log-in access to the service), [[Cinemax]], [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]], [[Starz]] and [[MGM+]]) and other subscription services (such as [[NFL Sunday Ticket]], [[MLB.tv]], [[NBA League Pass]], [[Curiosity Stream]] and [[Fox Nation]]) as optional add-ons for an extra fee, and can access [[YouTube Premium]] original content.<ref name="bbc-yttv"/><ref name="fortune-yttv"/> In September  2022, YouTube TV began allowing customers to purchase most of its premium add-ons (excluding certain services such as NBA League Pass and [[AMC+]]) without an existing subscription to its base package.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube TV Launches New Option to Purchase Channel Add-Ons Without a Base Plan|url=https://thestreamable.com/news/youtube-tv-launches-new-option-to-purchase-add-ons-without-a-base-plan|author=Jason Gurwin|website=The Streamable|date=September 27, 2022}}</ref>

=== YouTube Go ===
[[File:YouTube Go.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube Go]]
In September 2016, ''YouTube Go'' was announced,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byford |first1=Sam |title=YouTube Go is a new app for offline viewing and sharing |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/27/13070804/youtube-go-announced-india-offline |access-date=February 10, 2018 |work=The Verge |date=September 27, 2016}}</ref> as an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] app created for making YouTube easier to access on mobile devices in [[emerging market]]s. It was distinct from the company's main Android app and allowed videos to be downloaded and shared with other users. It also allowed users to preview videos, share downloaded videos through [[Bluetooth]], and offered more options for mobile data control and [[Display resolution|video resolution]].<ref name="pd">{{cite news |last1=Dave |first1=Paresh |title=YouTube's emerging markets-focused app expands to 130 countries |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-youtube/youtubes-emerging-markets-focused-app-expands-to-130-countries-idUSKBN1FL5ZI |access-date=February 10, 2018 |work=Reuters |date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>

In February 2017, ''YouTube Go'' was launched in [[India]], and expanded in November 2017 to 14 other countries, including [[Nigeria]], [[Indonesia]], [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], [[Vietnam]], the [[Philippines]], [[Kenya]], and [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Manish |title=YouTube Go is finally here, kind of |url=https://mashable.com/2017/02/09/youtube-go-release-india/ |access-date=February 10, 2018 |work=Mashable |date=February 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="mashhhh">{{cite news |last1=Ho |first1=Victoria |title=Data-friendly YouTube Go beta launches in Southeast Asia, Africa |url=https://mashable.com/2017/11/30/youtube-go-southeast-asia-africa |access-date=February 10, 2018 |work=Mashable |date=November 30, 2017}}</ref> On February 1, 2018, it was rolled out in 130 countries worldwide, including [[Brazil]], [[Mexico]], [[Turkey]], and [[Iraq]]. Before it shut down, the app was available to around 60% of the world's population.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/01/googles-data-friendly-app-youtube-go-expands-to-over-130-countries-now-supports-higher-quality-videos/ |title=Google's data-friendly app YouTube Go expands to over 130 countries, now supports higher quality&nbsp;videos |last=Perez |first=Sarah |work=TechCrunch |access-date=February 2, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/01/googles-offline-first-youtube-go-app-launches-globally/ |title=Google's 'offline first' YouTube Go app launches in 130 new markets, but not the U.S. |website=VentureBeat |access-date=February 2, 2018 |date=February 2018}}</ref> In May 2022, Google announced that they would be shutting down ''YouTube Go'' in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Go is shutting down in August |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/05/youtube-go-shutting-down-august/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |last=Malik |first=Aisha |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=May 5, 2022 |language=en-US }}</ref>

=== YouTube Shorts ===
{{Main|YouTube Shorts}}
[[File:TikTok and YouTube Shorts example.webm|right|thumb|An example video that is suitable for YouTube Shorts, showing [[Crew Dragon Endeavour|Crew Dragon ''Endeavour'']] docking at the [[International Space Station]]]]

In September 2020, YouTube announced that it would be launching a beta version of a new platform of 15-second videos, similar to [[TikTok]], called [[YouTube Shorts]].<ref>{{cite news |date=September 15, 2020 |title=YouTube's TikTok rival to be tested in India |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54156997 |access-date=September 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |title=YouTube launches its TikTok rival, YouTube Shorts, initially in India |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/14/youtube-launches-its-tiktok-rival-youtube-shorts-initially-in-india/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=TechCrunch |date=September 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420184745/https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/14/youtube-launches-its-tiktok-rival-youtube-shorts-initially-in-india/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The platform was first tested in India but as of March 2021 has expanded to other countries including the United States with videos now able to be up to 1 minute long.<ref>{{cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=March 1, 2021 |title=YouTube's TikTok clone, "YouTube Shorts," is live in the US |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/youtubes-tiktok-clone-youtube-shorts-is-live-in-the-us/ |access-date=May 4, 2021 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> The platform is not a standalone app, but is integrated into the main YouTube app. Like TikTok, it gives users access to built-in creative tools, including the possibility of adding licensed music to their videos.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 15, 2020 |title=YouTube Shorts launches in India after Delhi TikTok ban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/sep/15/youtube-shorts-launches-in-india-after-delhi-tiktok-ban |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> The platform had its global beta launch in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 13, 2021 |title=YouTube's TikTok competitor YouTube Shorts is rolling out globally |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/13/22575063/youtube-shorts-global-roll-out-tiktok-short-form-video |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>

=== YouTube Stories ===
In 2018, YouTube started testing a new feature initially called "YouTube Reels".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://econsultancy.com/what-is-youtube-stories-will-it-catch-on/ |title=What is YouTube Stories and will it catch on? |website=EConsultancy |last1=Gilliland |first1=Nikki |date=December 5, 2018 |access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> The feature was nearly identical to [[Instagram Stories]] and [[Snapchat#Stories and Discover|Snapchat Stories]]. YouTube later renamed the feature "YouTube Stories". It was only available to creators who had more than 10,000 subscribers and could only be posted/seen in the YouTube mobile app.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/course/express-with-stories |title=Express yourself with Stories |website=Creator Academy |via=YouTube |date=November 25, 2019 |access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> On May 25, 2023, YouTube announced that they would be shutting down this feature on June 26, 2023.<ref name="Google Help">{{cite web |title=YouTube Stories are Going Away on 6/26/2023 – YouTube Community |website=Google Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/217640760 |access-date=May 26, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Amadeo 2023">{{cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |title=YouTube Stories, Google's clone of Snapchat, is dying on June 26 |website=Ars Technica |date=May 25, 2023 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/05/youtube-is-killing-off-youtube-stories-its-snapchat-clone/ |access-date=May 26, 2023}}</ref>

=== YouTube VR ===
{{Main|YouTube VR}}
In November 2016, YouTube released YouTube VR, a dedicated version with an interface for VR devices, for [[Google Daydream|Google's Daydream]] mobile VR platform on Android.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VR |first=Oculus |title=Press Play: 'YouTube VR' Available Now on Oculus Go {{!}} Meta Quest Blog |url=https://www.meta.com/blog/quest/press-play-youtube-vr-available-now-on-oculus-go-/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.meta.com |language=en}}</ref> In November 2018, YouTube VR was released on the [[Meta Horizon Store|Oculus Store]] for the [[Oculus Go]] headset.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VR |first=Oculus |title=Press Play: 'YouTube VR' Available Now on Oculus Go {{!}} Meta Quest Blog |url=https://www.meta.com/blog/quest/press-play-youtube-vr-available-now-on-oculus-go-/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.meta.com |language=en}}</ref> YouTube VR was updated since for compatibility with successive [[Meta Horizon OS|Quest]] devices, and was ported to [[Pico 4]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=Pico 4 Gets Official YouTube VR App |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-4-official-youtube-vr-app/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=UploadVR |language=en}}</ref> 

YouTube VR allows for access to all YouTube-hosted videos, but particularly supports headset access for 360° and 180°-degree video (both in 2D and stereoscopic 3D). Starting with the [[Oculus Quest]], the app was updated for compatibility with mixed-reality passthrough modes on VR headsets. In April 2024, YouTube VR was updated to support 8K SDR video on [[Meta Quest 3]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=8K Playback on Meta Quest 3 Available Now |url=https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/developer-post/1850578212124322/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.oculus.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Social impact ==
{{Main|Social impact of YouTube}}

Private individuals<ref name="Reuters20070225" /> and large production corporations<ref name="WiredUK20131127">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/27/youtube-community |title=The rise and fall of YouTube's celebrity pioneers |last=Tufnell |first=Nicholas |date=November 27, 2013 |magazine=Wired UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110202429/https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/27/youtube-community |url-status=live |archive-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> have used YouTube to grow their audiences. Indie creators have built grassroots followings numbering in the thousands at very little cost or effort, while mass retail and radio promotion proved problematic.<ref name="Reuters20070225">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-youtube-idUSN2518918320070226 |title=YouTube stars don't always welcome record deals |last=Bruno |first=Antony |date=February 25, 2007 |work=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106071553/https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/02/26/us-youtube-idUSN2518918320070226 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Concurrently, [[old media]] celebrities moved into the website at the invitation of a YouTube management that witnessed early content creators accruing substantial followings and perceived audience sizes potentially larger than that attainable by television.<ref name="WiredUK20131127" /> While YouTube's revenue-sharing "Partner Program" made it possible to earn a substantial living as a video producer—its top five hundred partners each earning more than $100,000 annually<ref name="NewYorker20120116">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=all |title=Streaming Dreams / YouTube turns pro |magazine=The New Yorker |last=Seabrook |first=John |date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108081333/https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=all |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and its ten highest-earning channels grossing from $2.5&nbsp;million to $12&nbsp;million<ref name="Forbes20151113">{{cite magazine |last1=Berg |first1=Madeline |title=The World's Top-Earning YouTube Stars 2015 |url=http://www3.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/ |magazine=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407012054/https://www3.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/ |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |url-status=live |date=November 2015}} • {{cite magazine |last1=Berg |first1=Madeline |title=The World's Top-Earning YouTube Stars 2015 / 1. PewDiePie: $12 million |url=http://www2.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/11/ |magazine=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120132944/https://www3.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/11/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |url-status=live |date=November 2015}}</ref>—in 2012 [[Complete Music Update|CMU]] business editor characterized YouTube as "a free-to-use ... promotional platform for the music labels."<ref name="BBC20121221">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20812870 |title=Gangnam Style hits one billion views on YouTube |date=December 21, 2012 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115080304/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20812870 |archive-date=January 15, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013 ''[[Forbes]]''{{'}} Katheryn Thayer asserted that digital-era artists' work must not only be of high quality, but must elicit reactions on the YouTube platform and social media.<ref name="Forbes20131029">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherynthayer/2013/10/29/the-youtube-music-awards-why-artists-should-care/ |title=The Youtube Music Awards: Why Artists Should Care |last=Thayer |first=Katheryn |date=October 29, 2013 |website=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102005910/https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherynthayer/2013/10/29/the-youtube-music-awards-why-artists-should-care/ |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Videos of the 2.5% of artists categorized as "mega", "mainstream" and "mid-sized" received 90.3% of the relevant views on YouTube and Vevo in that year.<ref name="NextBigSound2013YearInRewind">{{cite web |url=https://www.nextbigsound.com/industryreport/2013/ |title=2013: Year in Rewind (report title) / Mapping the Landscape (specific section title) |date=January 2014 |publisher=[[Next Big Sound]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121225546/https://www.nextbigsound.com/industryreport/2013 |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |url-status=dead}} "Developing" artists 6.9%; "Undiscovered" artists 2.8%.</ref> By early 2013, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' had announced that it was factoring YouTube streaming data into calculation of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and related genre charts.<ref name="Billboard20130220">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549399/hot-100-news-billboard-and-nielsen-add-youtube-video-streaming-to-platforms |title=Hot 100 News: Billboard and Nielsen Add YouTube Video Streaming to Platforms |date=February 20, 2013 |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129170847/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549399/hot-100-news-billboard-and-nielsen-add-youtube-video-streaming-to-platforms |archive-date=January 29, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Jordan Hoffner at the 68th Annual Peabody Awards for YouTube.jpg|thumb|Jordan Hoffner at the 68th Annual [[Peabody Awards]] accepting for YouTube]]

Observing that face-to-face communication of the type that online videos convey has been "fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution", [[TED (conference)|TED]] curator [[Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)|Chris Anderson]] referred to several YouTube contributors and asserted that "what [[Johannes Gutenberg|Gutenberg]] did for writing, online video can now do for face-to-face communication."<ref name="TED201007Anderson">{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html |title=How web video powers global innovation |last=Anderson |first=Chris |date=July 2010 |publisher=[[TED (conference)]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202000212/https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |url-status=dead}} (click on "Show transcript" tab) • Corresponding [https://web.archive.org/web/20131231115225/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnQcCgS7aPQ YouTube video] from official TED channel was titled "How YouTube is driving innovation."</ref> Anderson asserted that it is not far-fetched to say that online video will dramatically accelerate scientific advance, and that video contributors may be about to launch "the biggest learning cycle in human history."<ref name="TED201007Anderson" /> In education, for example, the [[Khan Academy]] grew from YouTube video tutoring sessions for founder Salman Khan's cousin into what ''Forbes{{'}}'' [[Michael Noer (editor)|Michael Noer]] called "the largest school in the world," with technology poised to [[disruptive innovation|disrupt]] how people learn.<ref name="Forbes20121102">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelnoer/2012/11/02/one-man-one-computer-10-million-students-how-khan-academy-is-reinventing-education/print/ |title=One Man, One Computer, 10 Million Students: How Khan Academy Is Reinventing Education |last=Noer |first=Michael |date=November 2, 2012 |website=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204052929/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelnoer/2012/11/02/one-man-one-computer-10-million-students-how-khan-academy-is-reinventing-education/ |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> YouTube was awarded a 2008 [[George Foster Peabody Award]],<ref>[https://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/youtube.com YouTube.com (award profile), "Winner 2008"], peabodyawards.com, May 2009. ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114050222/https://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/youtube.com |date=January 14, 2016 }} from the original on January 14, 2016).</ref> the website being described as a [[Speakers' Corner]] that "both embodies and promotes democracy."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=James |last=Poniewozik |title=Nonprofit Press Release Theater: Peabody Awards Announced |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2009/04/01/nonprofit-press-release-theater-peabody-awards-announced/ |magazine=Time |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' reported that a disproportionate share of YouTube's most subscribed channels feature minorities, contrasting with mainstream television in which the stars are largely white.<ref>{{cite news |first=Haley |last=Tsukayama |title=In online video, minorities find an audience |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/in-online-video-minorities-find-an-audience/2012/04/20/gIQAdhliWT_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 20, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> A [[Pew Research Center]] study reported the development of "visual journalism", in which citizen eyewitnesses and established news organizations share in content creation.<ref name="PEW20120716">{{cite web |url=https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/press-release-2/ |title=PEJ: YouTube & News: A New Kind of Visual Journalism Is Developing, but Ethics of Attribution Have Yet to Emerge |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000334/https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/press-release-2/ |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The study also concluded that YouTube was becoming an important platform by which people acquire news.<ref name="PewYTnews20120716">{{cite web |url=https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-news/ |title=YouTube and News: A New Kind of Visual News |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001742/https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-news/ |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

YouTube has enabled people to more directly engage with government, such as in the [[CNN/YouTube presidential debates]] (2007) in which ordinary people submitted questions to U.S. presidential candidates via YouTube video, with a [[techPresident]] co-founder saying that Internet video was changing the political landscape.<ref>{{cite news |first=Katharine |last=Q. Seelye |title=New Presidential Debate Site? Clearly, YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/us/politics/13cnd-youtube.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Describing the [[Arab Spring]] (2010–2012), sociologist [[Philip N. Howard]] quoted an activist's succinct description that organizing the political unrest involved using "Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world."<ref name="PacificStd20110223">{{cite web |url=https://www.psmag.com/navigation/politics-and-law/the-cascading-effects-of-the-arab-spring-28575 |title=The Arab Spring's Cascading Effects |last=Howard |first=Philip N. |date=February 23, 2011 |website=Pacific Standard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108053257/https://www.psmag.com/navigation/politics-and-law/the-cascading-effects-of-the-arab-spring-28575/ |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, more than a third of the U.S. Senate introduced a resolution condemning [[Joseph Kony]] 16 days after the "[[Kony 2012]]" video was posted to YouTube, with resolution co-sponsor Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] remarking that the video "will do more to lead to (Kony's) demise than all other action combined."<ref name="Politico20120322">{{cite web |url=https://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=76ECD47B-6BE4-4703-BC79-E7955A4DE0D6 |title=Joseph Kony captures Congress' attention |last=Wong |first=Scott |date=March 22, 2012 |website=Politico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108184459/https://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=76ECD47B-6BE4-4703-BC79-E7955A4DE0D6 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:ObamaYouTubers307.png|thumb|left|upright=1.15|Leading YouTube content creators met at the White House with U.S. President Obama to discuss how government could better connect with the "YouTube generation."<ref name="Tubefilter20140302" /><ref name="WhiteHouse20140306">{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Brad L. |title=YouTube Stars Talk Health Care (and Make History) at the White House |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/03/06/youtube-stars-talk-health-care-and-make-history-white-house |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128005716/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/03/06/youtube-stars-talk-health-care-and-make-history-white-house |archive-date=January 28, 2017 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=March 6, 2014 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |publisher=[[White House]] |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

Conversely, YouTube has also allowed government to more easily engage with citizens, the [[White House]]'s official YouTube channel being the seventh top news organization producer on YouTube in 2012<ref name="PewWhiteHouse20120716">{{cite web |url=https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-video-creationa-shared-process/ |title=YouTube Video Creation – A Shared Process |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231055631/https://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-video-creationa-shared-process/ |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in 2013 a healthcare exchange commissioned Obama impersonator [[Iman Crosson]]'s YouTube music video spoof to encourage young Americans to enroll in the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)]]-compliant health insurance.<ref name="LATimes20131212">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obamacare-hollywood-new-social-media-campaign-20131212,0,2435151.story |title=Round 2: Obamacare and Hollywood open new social media campaign |last=Reston |first=Maeve |date=December 12, 2013 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212184345/https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obamacare-hollywood-new-social-media-campaign-20131212,0,2435151.story |archive-date=December 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2014, U.S. President Obama held a meeting at the White House with leading YouTube content creators not only to promote awareness of Obamacare<ref name="Buzzfeed20140302">{{cite news |last=McMorris-Santoro |first=Evan |title=Obama Enlisted YouTube Personalities For Final Health Care Enrollment Push Last Week |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/obama-enlisted-youtube-personalities-for-final-health-care-e |website=Buzzfeed |date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172252/https://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/obama-enlisted-youtube-personalities-for-final-health-care-e |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but more generally to develop ways for government to better connect with the "YouTube Generation."<ref name="Tubefilter20140302">{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Joshua |title=Obama Meets With YouTube Advisors on How To Reach Online Audiences |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/02/obama-meets-with-youtube-advisors-on-how-to-reach-online-audiences/ |website=Tubefilter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306020608/https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/02/obama-meets-with-youtube-advisors-on-how-to-reach-online-audiences/ |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |date=March 2, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Whereas YouTube's inherent ability to allow presidents to directly connect with average citizens was noted, the YouTube content creators' [[new media]] savvy was perceived necessary to better cope with the website's distracting content and fickle audience.<ref name="Tubefilter20140302" />

Some YouTube videos have themselves had a direct effect on world events, such as ''[[Innocence of Muslims]]'' (2012) which spurred [[Reactions to Innocence of Muslims|protests and related anti-American violence]] internationally.<ref name="CNN20120914">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/meast/embassy-attacks-main/ |title=U.S. warns of rising threat of violence amid outrage over anti-Islam video |date=September 14, 2012 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116033002/https://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/meast/embassy-attacks-main/ |archive-date=November 16, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> TED curator Chris Anderson described a phenomenon by which geographically distributed individuals in a certain field share their independently developed skills in YouTube videos, thus challenging others to improve their own skills, and spurring invention and evolution in that field.<ref name="TED201007Anderson" /> Journalist [[Virginia Heffernan]] stated in ''The New York Times'' that such videos have "surprising implications" for the dissemination of culture and even the future of classical music.<ref>{{cite news |first=Virginia |last=Heffernan |title=Web Guitar Wizard Revealed at Last |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/arts/television/27heff.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 27, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|93082065}}}}</ref>

A 2017 article in ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'' posited that YouTube had become "the new [[Conservative talk radio|talk radio]]" for the [[Far-right politics|far right]].<ref name="NYTimes20170803">{{cite magazine |last1=Herrman |first1=John |title=For the New Far Right, YouTube Has Become the New Talk Radio |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/magazine/for-the-new-far-right-youtube-has-become-the-new-talk-radio.html |magazine=The New York Times Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803175402/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/magazine/for-the-new-far-right-youtube-has-become-the-new-talk-radio.html |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |date=August 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Almost a year before YouTube's January 2019 announcement that it would begin a "gradual change" of "reducing [[Recommender system|recommendations]] of borderline content and content that could misinform users in harmful ways",<ref name="YTblog20190125">{{cite web |title=Continuing our work to improve recommendations on YouTube |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2019/01/continuing-our-work-to-improve.html |website=YouTube.GoogleBlog.com |date=January 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125163130/https://youtube.googleblog.com/2019/01/continuing-our-work-to-improve.html |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Zeynep Tufekci had written in ''The New York Times'' that, "(<span class="ltr">g</span>)iven its billion or so users, YouTube may be one of the most powerful radicalizing instruments of the 21st century".<ref name="NYTimes20180310">{{cite news |last1=Tufekci |first1=Zeynep |title=YouTube, the Great Radicalizer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/opinion/sunday/youtube-politics-radical.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122035903/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/opinion/sunday/youtube-politics-radical.html |archive-date=January 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Under YouTube's changes to its recommendation engine, the most recommended channel evolved from conspiracy theorist [[Alex Jones]] (2016) to [[Fox News]] (2019).<ref name="NYTimes_20201103">{{cite news |last1=Nicas |first1=Jack |title=YouTube Cut Down Misinformation. Then It Boosted Fox News / To battle false information, YouTube cut its recommendations to fringe channels and instead promoted major networks, especially Fox News. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/03/technology/youtube-misinformation-fox-news.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104015452/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/03/technology/youtube-misinformation-fox-news.html |archive-date=November 4, 2020}}</ref> According to a 2020 study, "An emerging journalistic consensus theorizes the central role played by the video 'recommendation engine,' but we believe that this is premature. Instead, we propose the 'Supply and Demand' framework for analyzing politics on YouTube."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Munger |first1=Kevin |last2=Phillips |first2=Joseph |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Right-Wing YouTube: A Supply and Demand Perspective |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1940161220964767 |journal=The International Journal of Press/Politics |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=186–219 |doi=10.1177/1940161220964767 |s2cid=226339609 |issn=1940-1612}}</ref> A 2022 study found that "despite widespread concerns that YouTube's algorithms send people down 'rabbit holes' with recommendations to extremist videos, little systematic evidence exists to support this conjecture", "exposure to alternative and extremist channel videos on YouTube is heavily concentrated among a small group of people with high prior levels of gender and racial resentment.", and "contrary to the 'rabbit holes' narrative, non-subscribers are rarely recommended videos from alternative and extremist channels and seldom follow such recommendations when offered."<ref name="ChenEtAl_20220422">* {{cite arXiv |last1=Chen |first1=Annie Y. |last2=Nyhan |first2=Brendan |last3=Reifler |first3=Jason |last4=Robertson |first4=Ronald E. |last5=Wilson |first5=Christo |title=Subscriptions and external links help drive resentful users to alternative and extremist YouTube videos |date=April 22, 2022 |class=cs.SI |eprint=2204.10921}}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Wolfe |first1=Liz |title=YouTube Algorithms Don't Turn Unsuspecting Masses Into Extremists, New Study Suggests / A new study casts doubt on the most prominent theories about extremism-by-algorithm |url=https://reason.com/2022/04/26/youtube-algorithms-dont-turn-unsuspecting-masses-into-extremists-new-study-suggests/ |magazine=Reason |date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426124312/https://reason.com/2022/04/26/youtube-algorithms-dont-turn-unsuspecting-masses-into-extremists-new-study-suggests/ |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers]]''<ref name="TED201002LXD">{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/the_lxd_in_the_internet_age_dance_evolves.html |title=The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves |last=Chu |first=Jon M. |date=February 2010 |publisher=[[TED (conference)]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104063431/https://www.ted.com/talks/the_lxd_in_the_internet_age_dance_evolves.html |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[YouTube Symphony Orchestra]]<ref name="Reuters20090414" /> selected their membership based on individual video performances.<ref name="TED201007Anderson" /><ref name="Reuters20090414">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-youtube-idUSTRE53D4PE20090414 |title=YouTube orchestra prepares for Carnegie debut |last1=Nichols |first1=Michelle (reporter) |editor-last=Simao |editor-first=Paul |date=April 14, 2009 |work=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921182641/https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/04/14/us-youtube-idUSTRE53D4PE20090414 |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Further, the cyber-collaboration charity video "[[We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube edition)]]" was formed by mixing performances of 57 globally distributed singers into a single musical work,<ref name="CNNtranscripts201003">{{cite news |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/cnr.02.html |title=CNN Newsroom |last=Levs |first=((Josh (interviewer))) |date=March 6, 2010 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313010623/https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/cnr.02.html |archive-date=March 13, 2010 |url-status=dead}} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20100313004701/https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/smn.01.html CNN Saturday Morning News] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20101023042008/https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/07/sm.01.html CNN Sunday Morning] (archives).</ref> with ''The Tokyo Times'' noting the "We Pray for You" YouTube cyber-collaboration video as an example of a trend to use crowdsourcing for charitable purposes.<ref name="TokyoTimes20110511">{{cite web |url=https://www.tokyotimes.jp/post/en/1829/Crowdsourcing+After+Quakebook+We+Pray+For+You.html |title=Crowdsourcing: After Quakebook, We Pray For You |last=Smart |first=Richard |date=May 11, 2011 |website=The Tokyo Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612153700/https://www.tokyotimes.jp/post/en/1829/Crowdsourcing+After+Quakebook+We+Pray+For+You.html |archive-date=June 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The anti-bullying [[It Gets Better Project]] expanded from a single YouTube video directed to discouraged or [[Suicide among LGBT youth|suicidal LGBT teens]],<ref name="SFChronicle20101008">{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Dan-Savage-overwhelmed-by-gay-outreach-s-response-3171312.php |title=Dan Savage overwhelmed by gay outreach's response |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |date=October 8, 2010 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104120324/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Dan-Savage-overwhelmed-by-gay-outreach-s-response-3171312.php |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> that within two months drew video responses from hundreds including U.S. President [[Barack Obama]], Vice President Biden, White House staff, and several cabinet secretaries.<ref name="WhiteHouseItGetsBetter">{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/it-gets-better |title=It Gets Better |publisher=White House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102042529/https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/it-gets-better |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, in response to fifteen-year-old [[Suicide of Amanda Todd|Amanda Todd]]'s video "My story: Struggling, bullying, suicide, self-harm", legislative action was undertaken almost immediately after her suicide to study the prevalence of bullying and form a national anti-bullying strategy.<ref name="CanadaTV20121014">{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/in-wake-of-amanda-todd-suicide-mps-to-debate-anti-bullying-motion-1.995254 |title=In wake of Amanda Todd suicide, MPs to debate anti-bullying motion |date=October 14, 2012 |publisher=CTV News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213910/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/in-wake-of-amanda-todd-suicide-mps-to-debate-anti-bullying-motion-1.995254 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2018, after London [[Metropolitan Police]] claimed that [[UK drill|drill music]] videos glamorizing violence gave rise to [[Gang#Gang violence|gang violence]], YouTube deleted 30 videos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/29/youtube-deletes-30-music-videos-after-met-link-with-gang-violence |title=YouTube deletes 30 music videos after Met link with gang violence |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=May 28, 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321160833/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/29/youtube-deletes-30-music-videos-after-met-link-with-gang-violence |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Finances ==
Prior to 2020, Google did not provide detailed figures for YouTube's running costs, and YouTube's revenues in 2007 were noted as "[[materiality (auditing)|not material]]" in a regulatory filing.<ref name="Moneyclip">{{cite news |first=Yi-Wyn |last=Yen |date=March 25, 2008 |url=https://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2008/03/25/youtube-looks-for-the-money-clip/ |title=YouTube Looks For the Money Clip |access-date=March 26, 2008 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212192446/https://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2008/03/25/youtube-looks-for-the-money-clip/ |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2008, a ''Forbes'' magazine article projected the 2008 revenue at $200&nbsp;million, noting progress in advertising sales.<ref name="Forbes08">{{cite news |first1=Quentin |last1=Hardy |first2=Evan |last2=Hessel |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0616/050.html |title=GooTube |work=Forbes |date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> In 2012, YouTube's revenue from its ads program was estimated at $3.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Wall Street Journal 5.6 Billion Annual revenue" /> In 2013, it nearly doubled and estimated to hit $5.6&nbsp;billion according to e-Marketer,<ref name="Wall Street Journal 5.6 Billion Annual revenue">{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/12/11/streaming-video-means-streaming-dollars-for-youtube/ |title=YouTube Growing Faster Than Thought, Report Says |last1=Winkler |first1=Rolfe |date=December 11, 2013 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Youtube earns 5.6 Billion Yahoo">{{cite web |title=YouTube's ad revenue estimated at $5.6&nbsp;billion |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/video/youtubes-ad-revenue-estimated-5-195900788.html |publisher=YAHOO |access-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> while others estimated $4.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Wall Street Journal 5.6 Billion Annual revenue" /> The vast majority of videos on YouTube are free to view and supported by advertising.<ref name="subscription" /> In May 2013, YouTube introduced a trial scheme of 53 subscription channels with prices ranging from $0.99 to $6.99 a month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/09/youtube_subscription_channels/ |title=YouTube launches subscriptions with 53 paid channels |work=The Register |first=Neil |last=McAllister |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref> The move was seen as an attempt to compete with other providers of online subscription services such as [[Netflix]], [[Amazon Prime Video|Amazon Prime]], and Hulu.<ref name="subscription" />

Google first published exact revenue numbers for YouTube in February 2020 as part of Alphabet's 2019 financial report. According to Google, YouTube had made {{USD|15.1 billion}} in ad revenue in 2019, in contrast to {{USD|8.1 billion}} in 2017 and {{USD|11.1 billion}} in 2018. YouTube's revenues made up nearly 10% of the total Alphabet revenue in 2019.<ref name="verge 15b">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/3/21121207/youtube-google-alphabet-earnings-revenue-first-time-reveal-q4-2019 |title=YouTube is a $15 billion-a-year business, Google reveals for the first time |first=Nick |last=Statt |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/2019Q4_alphabet_earnings_release.pdf?cache=05bd9fe |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2019 Results |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |publisher=[[Alphabet Inc.]]}}</ref> These revenues accounted for approximately 20&nbsp;million subscribers combined between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions, and 2&nbsp;million subscribers to YouTube TV.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/03/youtube-premium-and-music-20-million-subscribers/ |title=YouTube Premium and Music have 20 million subscribers |first=Jon |last=Fingas |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |work=[[Engadget]]}}</ref>

YouTube had $29.2&nbsp;billion ads revenue in 2022, up by $398&nbsp;million from the prior year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=goog-20221231 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1652044/000165204423000016/goog-20221231.htm |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>

=== Partnership with corporations ===
YouTube entered into a marketing and advertising partnership with [[NBC]] in June 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Online Video: The Market Is Hot, but Business Models Are Fuzzy |url=https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1519 |work=Knowledge@wharton |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> In March 2007, it struck a deal with [[BBC]] for three channels with BBC content, one for news and two for entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Weber |title=BBC strikes Google-YouTube deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6411017.stm |website=[[BBC News]] |date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> In November 2008, YouTube reached an agreement with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]], [[Lions Gate Entertainment]], and [[CBS]], allowing the companies to post full-length films and television episodes on the site, accompanied by advertisements in a section for U.S. viewers called "Shows". The move was intended to create competition with websites such as Hulu, which features material from NBC, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], and [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Disney]].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Brad |last1=Stone |first2=Brooks |last2=Barnes |title=MGM to Post Full Films on YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/media/10mgm.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 9, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|897152483}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Staci |last=D. Kramer |title=It's Official: Disney Joins News Corp., NBCU In Hulu; Deal Includes Some Cable Nets |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043001853.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |publisher=[[Jeff Bezos|Nash Holdings LLC]] |date=April 30, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> In November 2009, YouTube launched a version of "Shows" available to UK viewers, offering around 4,000 full-length shows from more than 60 partners.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube launches UK TV section with more than 60 partners |last1=Allen |first1=Katie |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/nov/19/youtube-uk-full-length-shows |access-date=December 13, 2009 |date=November 19, 2009}}</ref> In January 2010, YouTube introduced an online film rentals service,<ref>{{cite news |first=Miguel |last=Helft |title=YouTube Takes a Small Step into the Film Rental Market |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/technology/internet/21youtube.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 20, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|1458355634}}}}</ref> which is only available to users in the United States, Canada, and the UK as of 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8471635.stm |title=YouTube turns to movie rental business |access-date=May 7, 2010 |date=January 21, 2010 |work=BBC News |first=Maggie |last=Shiels}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15214939 |title=YouTube to offer film rentals in the UK |work=BBC News |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=October 2021|reason=Is it now available in other countries?}} The service offers over 6,000 films.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alexia |last=Tsotsis |title=Google Partners With Sony Pictures, Universal And Warner Brothers For YouTube Movies |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/09/google-partners-with-sony-pictures-nbc-universal-and-warner-brothers-for-youtube-movies/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=May 9, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

==== 2017 advertiser boycott ====
In March 2017, the government of the United Kingdom pulled its advertising campaigns from YouTube, after reports that its ads had appeared on videos containing extremist content. The government demanded assurances that its advertising would "be delivered safely and appropriately". ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper, as well as other major British and U.S. brands, similarly suspended their advertising on YouTube in response to their advertising appearing near [[offensive content]]. Google stated that it had "begun an extensive review of our advertising policies and have made a public commitment to put in place changes that give brands more control over where their ads appear".<ref name="Bloomberg-adsextremist">{{cite news |title=Google Ad Crisis Spreads as Biggest Marketers Halt Spending |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/at-t-halts-spending-on-some-google-ads-after-youtube-controversy |access-date=March 23, 2017 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=March 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="bbc-youtubeadsuk">{{cite news |date=March 17, 2017 |title=YouTube: UK government suspends ads amid extremism concerns |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39301712 |access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref> In early April 2017, the YouTube channel [[h3h3Productions]] presented evidence claiming that a ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' article had fabricated screenshots showing major brand advertising on an offensive video containing [[Johnny Rebel (singer)|Johnny Rebel]] music overlaid on a [[Chief Keef]] music video, citing that the video itself had not earned any ad revenue for the uploader. The video was retracted after it was found that the ads had been triggered by the use of copyrighted content in the video.<ref name="and-youtubestar">{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Ben |date=April 4, 2017 |title=A YouTube Star, Reddit Detectives, and the Alt-Right Call Out a Fake News Story. Turns Out It Was Real. |newspaper=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/04/fake-news-blows-up-in-trolls-faces.html |access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="mashable-h3h3youtube">{{cite web |title=How one little screenshot drove YouTube to the brink |url=https://mashable.com/2017/04/04/youtube-h3h3-what-happened-wsj/ |access-date=April 10, 2017 |website=Mashable |date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>

On April 6, 2017, YouTube announced that to "ensure revenue only flows to creators who are playing by the rules", it would change its practices to require that a channel undergo a policy compliance review, and have at least 10,000-lifetime views, before they may join the Partner Program.<ref name="verge-10kviewsrule">{{cite web |date=April 6, 2017 |title=YouTube will no longer allow creators to make money until they reach 10,000 views |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/6/15209220/youtube-partner-program-rule-change-monetize-ads-10000-views |access-date=April 6, 2017 |website=The Verge }}</ref>

=== YouTuber earnings ===
[[File:2017- Top earners on YouTube - column chart.svg|thumb|upright=1.25| Total annual earnings of the top ten YouTuber accounts, and the income of the single highest-earning account.]]
In May 2007, YouTube launched its Partner Program (YPP), a system based on [[Google AdSense|AdSense]] which allows the uploader of the video to share the revenue produced by advertising on the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Biggs |title=YouTube Launches Revenue Sharing Partners Program, but no Pre-Rolls |url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/05/04/youtube-launches-revenue-sharing-partners-program-but-no-pre-rolls/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=May 4, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> YouTube typically takes 45 percent of the advertising revenue from videos in the Partner Program, with 55 percent going to the uploader.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Carmody |title=It's not TV, it's the Web: YouTube partners complain about Google ads, revenue sharing |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/4/4062810/youtube-partners-complain-revenue-sharing-google-ads |website=[[The Verge]]  |date=March 4, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The biggest stars on YouTube make huge incomes ... yet they can't keep the vast majority of it |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/money-youtube-stars-actually-make-2014-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

There are over two million members of the YouTube Partner Program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=August 23, 2021 |title= YouTube says its Partner Program now has 2 million members|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/23/22636827/youtube-partner-program-2-million-members-creators|work=The Verge|access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> According to [[TubeMogul]], in 2013 a pre-roll advertisement on YouTube (one that is shown before the video starts) cost advertisers on average $7.60 per 1000 views. Usually, no more than half of the eligible videos have a pre-roll advertisement, due to a lack of interested advertisers.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |first=Leslie |last=Kaufman |title=Chasing Their Star, on YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/business/chasing-their-star-on-youtube.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|1943327539}}}}</ref>

YouTube's policies restrict certain forms of content from being included in videos being monetized with advertising, including videos containing violence, strong language, sexual content, "controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown" (unless the content is "usually newsworthy or comedic and the creator's intent is to inform or entertain"),<ref name="verge-advertiserfriendly">{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Why is YouTube being accused of censoring vloggers? |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/1/12753108/youtube-is-over-party-advertising-monetization-censorship |access-date=March 19, 2017 |work=The Verge |date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> and videos whose user comments contain "inappropriate" content.<ref name="tubefilter-inappropriatecomments">{{cite web |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/02/22/youtube-videos-demonetized-inappropriate-comments/ |title=After Child Video Scandal, YouTube Says Ad-Friendly Videos Can Be Demonetized For Inappropriate Comments |date=February 22, 2019 |website=Tubefilter |access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref>

In 2013, YouTube introduced an option for channels with at least a thousand subscribers to require a paid subscription in order for viewers to watch videos.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCue |first1=TJ |title=Google's YouTube Introduces Paid Content Subscriptions |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2013/01/30/google-youtube-introduces-paid-content-subscriptions/ |website=Forbes |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Introduction to paid content – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/3249127?hl=en |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In April 2017, YouTube set an eligibility requirement of 10,000 lifetime views for a paid subscription.<ref name ="ypp">{{cite web |title=Additional Changes to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to Better Protect Creators |url=https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2018/01/additional-changes-to-youtube-partner.html |via=YouTube |access-date=January 16, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> On January 16, 2018, the eligibility requirement for monetization was changed to 4,000 hours of watch-time within the past 12 months and 1,000 subscribers.<ref name ="ypp" /> The move was seen as an attempt to ensure that videos being monetized did not lead to controversy, but was criticized for penalizing smaller YouTube channels.<ref name="ypp_guardian">{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Levin |title=YouTube's small creators pay price of policy changes after Logan Paul scandal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/18/youtube-creators-vloggers-ads-logan-paul |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref>

[[YouTube Play Button]]s, a part of the YouTube Creator Rewards, are a recognition by YouTube of its most popular channels.<ref>{{cite web |ref={{sfnRef|"YouTube Creator Rewards"|n.d.}} |url=https://www.youtube.com/yt/creators/rewards.html |title=YouTube Creator Rewards |via=YouTube |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> The trophies made of nickel plated copper-nickel alloy, golden plated brass, silver plated metal, ruby, and red tinted crystal glass are given to channels with at least one hundred thousand, a million, ten million, fifty million subscribers, and one hundred million subscribers, respectively.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=December 3, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHA2HbNtcG4 |title=What is the Gold Play Button REALLY made of?!? |publisher=JerryRigEverything |via=YouTube |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317141729/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHA2HbNtcG4 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube Sends PewDiePie Custom Ruby Play Button To Commemorate 50 Million Subscribers |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/12/19/pewdiepie-ruby-play-button-youtube-50-million-subscribers/ |website=Tubefilter |access-date=September 16, 2017 |date=December 19, 2016}}</ref>

YouTube's policies on "[[Censorship by Google#Advertiser-friendly content|advertiser-friendly content]]" restrict what may be incorporated into videos being monetized; this includes strong violence, language,<ref name="Spangler Spangler 2019">{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=January 14, 2019 |title=YouTube Explains Which Profanities and 'Inappropriate Language' Are Not OK for Ad-Supported Videos |newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/yo'utube-profanity-ad-supported-video-demonetized-1203107619/ |access-date=January 4, 2020}}</ref> sexual content, and "controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown", unless the content is "usually newsworthy or comedic and the creator's intent is to inform or entertain".<ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=September 1, 2016 |title=Why is YouTube being accused of censoring vloggers? |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/1/12753108/youtube-is-over-party-advertising-monetization-censorship |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=[[The Verge]] }}</ref> In September 2016, after introducing an enhanced notification system to inform users of these violations, YouTube's policies were criticized by prominent users, including [[Philip DeFranco]] and [[Vlogbrothers]]. DeFranco argued that not being able to earn advertising revenue on such videos was "censorship by a different name". A YouTube spokesperson stated that while the policy itself was not new, the service had "improved the notification and appeal process to ensure better communication to our creators".<ref>{{cite web |last=Guynn |first=Jessica |date=September 2, 2016 |title=YouTubers protest 'advertiser friendly' policy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/09/01/youtube-creators-advertisers-controversy/89728728/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mulkerin |first=Tim |date=September 1, 2016 |title=A bunch of famous YouTubers are furious at YouTube right now – here's why |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-stars-advertiser-friendly-content-guidelines-2016-9 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=E. Solsman |first=Joan |date=September 1, 2016 |title=Pause the #YouTubeIsOverParty: YouTube isn't pulling more ads from stars' videos |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/pause-the-youtubeisoverparty-youtube-isnt-pulling-more-ads-from-stars-videos/ |access-date=March 25, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] }}</ref> ''[[Boing Boing]]'' reported in 2019 that LGBT keywords resulted in demonetization.<ref name="Beschizza 2019">{{cite web |last=Beschizza |first=Rob |date=October 2, 2019 |title=YouTube demonetizing videos where LGBTQ keywords are said |url=https://boingboing.net/2019/10/02/youtube-demonetizing-videos-wh.html |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=[[Boing Boing]]}}</ref>

As of November 2020 in the United States, and June 2021 worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube announces changes in its terms of services |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/youtube-announces-changes-in-its-terms-of-services/cid/1816154 |access-date=May 23, 2021 |website=The Telegraph (India)}}</ref> YouTube reserves the right to monetize any video on the platform, even if their uploader is not a member of the YouTube Partner Program. This will occur on channels whose content is deemed "advertiser-friendly", and all revenue will go directly to Google without any share given to the uploader.<ref>{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Megan |date=November 19, 2020 |title=YouTube will put ads on non-partner videos but won't pay the creators |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/19/youtube-will-put-ads-on-non-partner-videos-but-wont-pay-the-creators.html |access-date=May 23, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

=== Revenue to copyright holders ===
The majority of YouTube's advertising revenue goes to the publishers and video producers who hold the rights to their videos; the company retains 45% of the ad revenue.<ref>Garett Sloane, [https://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-ad-revenue-disclosed-google-first-time-topped-15-billion-2019/2233811 YouTube Ad Revenue, disclosed by Google for the first time, topped $15 billion in 2019], ''Advertising Age'' (February 3, 2020).</ref> In 2010, it was reported that nearly a third of the videos with advertisements were uploaded without permission of the copyright holders. YouTube gives an option for copyright holders to locate and remove their videos or to have them continue running for revenue.<ref>{{cite news |first=Claire Cain |last=Miller |title=YouTube Ads Turn Videos into Revenue |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/technology/03youtube.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|1461135701}}}}</ref> In May 2013, [[Nintendo]] began enforcing its copyright ownership and claiming the advertising revenue from video creators who posted screenshots of its games.<ref>{{cite web |first=Keza |last=MacDonald |title=Nintendo enforces copyright on YouTube Let's Plays |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/nintendo-enforces-copyright-on-youtube-lets-plays |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[j2 Global]] |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> In February 2015, Nintendo agreed to share the revenue with the video creators through the Nintendo Creators Program.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Tassi |title=Nintendo Updates Their Bad YouTube Policies By Making Them Worse |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/02/06/nintendo-updates-their-bad-youtube-policies-by-making-them-worse/ |website=[[Forbes]] |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Johnson |title=Nintendo Wants YouTubers to Pretend Its Competitors' Games Don't Exist |url=https://www.recode.net/2015/2/4/11558648/nintendo-wants-youtubers-to-pretend-its-competitors-games-dont-exist |website=[[Recode]]  |date=February 4, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Patricia |last=Hernandez |title=Nintendo's YouTube Plan Is Already Being Panned By YouTubers [Update] |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendos-youtube-plan-is-already-being-panned-by-youtu-1682527904 |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Univision Communications]] |date=January 29, 2015 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> On March 20, 2019, Nintendo announced on Twitter that the company will end the Creators program. Operations for the program ceased on March 20, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=November 28, 2018 |title=Nintendo's Controversial Creators Program Is Shutting Down |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendos-controversial-creators-program-is-shutting-do-1830728813 |access-date=October 20, 2021 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kent |first=Emma |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Nintendo scraps controversial Creators Program, making life easier for YouTubers |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-29-nintendo-scraps-creators-program-making-life-much-easier-for-youtubers |access-date=October 20, 2021 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}</ref>

== Censorship and bans ==
{{Main|Censorship of YouTube}}
[[File:YouTube Availability.svg|thumb|300px|Availability of YouTube as of April 2024:<br />
{{legend|#008000|Has local YouTube version}}
{{legend|#B2B2B2|Accessible (via the Worldwide version)}}
{{legend|#FF0000|Currently blocked}}
{{legend|#FF8888|Previously blocked, now accessible}}]]
YouTube has been censored, filtered, or banned for a variety of reasons, including:<ref name="ONIYouTubeCensored">[https://opennet.net/youtube-censored-a-recent-history "YouTube Censored: A Recent History"], OpenNet Initiative. Retrieved September 23, 2012.</ref>
* Limiting public access and exposure to content that may ignite social or political unrest.
* Preventing criticism of a ruler (e.g. in [[North Korea]]), government (e.g. in [[Internet censorship in China|China]]) or its actions (e.g. in [[Morocco]]), government officials (e.g. in [[Turkey]] and [[Libya]]), or religion (e.g. in [[Pakistan]]).
* Morality-based laws, e.g. in [[Internet censorship in Iran|Iran]].
Access to specific videos is sometimes prevented due to copyright and intellectual property protection laws (e.g. [[Blocking of YouTube videos in Germany|in Germany]]), violations of hate speech, and preventing access to videos judged inappropriate for youth,<ref>{{cite news |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=September 16, 2017 |date=March 27, 2017}}</ref> which is also done by YouTube with the [[YouTube Kids]] app and with "[[Censorship by Google#Censorship of sexual content in Restricted Mode|restricted mode]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shu |first1=Catherine |title=YouTube responds to complaints that its Restricted Mode censors LGBT videos |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/19/youtube-lgbt-restricted-mode/ |website=TechCrunch |date=March 20, 2017 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Businesses, schools, government agencies, and other private institutions often block social media sites, including YouTube, due to its bandwidth limitations<ref>{{cite web |author1=David Meerman Scott |title=Facebook and YouTube blocked by paranoid corporations at their own peril |url=https://www.webinknow.com/2008/06/facebook-and-yo.html |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en |author1-link=David Meerman Scott}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hannaford |first1=Kat |title=US Military Bans YouTube, Amazon and 11 Other Websites to Free Up Bandwidth for Japan Crisis |url=https://gizmodo.com/5782886/us-military-bans-youtube-amazon-and-11-other-websites-to-free-up-bandwidth-for-japan-crisis |website=Gizmodo |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and the site's potential for distraction.<ref name="ONIYouTubeCensored" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Strom |first1=Stephanie |title=YouTube Finds a Way Off Schools' Banned List |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/10/education/youtube-finds-a-way-off-schools-banned-list.html?mcubz=0 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 16, 2017 |date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>

{{As of|2018}}, public access to YouTube is blocked in many countries, including [[China]], [[North Korea]], [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkmenistan |url=https://rsf.org/en/news/turkmenistan-1 |website=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |language=en |date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> [[Uzbekistan]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Syundyukova |first1=Nazerke |title=Uzbekistan has blocked YouTube social network |url=https://qazaqtimes.com/en/article/48743 |access-date=January 23, 2019 |work=The Qazaq Times |date=October 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Маҳаллий ОАВ: Ўзбекистонда Facebook ва YouTube яна ўчириб қўйилди |trans-title=Local Media: YouTube and Facebook once again blocked in Uzbekistan |url=https://www.ozodlik.org/a/29713088.html |access-date=January 23, 2019 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Uzbek Service |date=January 16, 2019 |language=uz}}</ref> [[Tajikistan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Sudan]] and [[South Sudan]]. In some countries, YouTube is blocked for more limited periods of time such as during periods of unrest, the run-up to an election, or in response to upcoming political anniversaries. In cases where the entire site is banned due to one particular video, YouTube will often agree to remove or limit access to that video in order to restore service.<ref name="ONIYouTubeCensored" />

Reports emerged that since October 2019, comments posted with Chinese characters insulting the [[Chinese Communist Party]] ([[wikt:共匪|共匪]] "communist bandit" or [[wikt:五毛|五毛]] "[[50 Cent Party]]", referring to [[State-sponsored Internet propaganda|state-sponsored commentators]]) were being automatically deleted within 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vincent |first1=James |title=YouTube is deleting comments with two phrases that insult China's Communist Party |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/26/21270290/youtube-deleting-comments-censorship-chinese-communist-party-ccp |work=The Verge |date=May 26, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Specific incidents where YouTube has been blocked include:
* [[Thailand]] blocked access in April 2007 over a video said to be insulting the [[Monarchy of Thailand|Thai king]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Thailand Bans YouTube |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/business/worldbusiness/05tube.html |work=The New York Times |date=April 5, 2007}}</ref>
* Morocco blocked access in May 2007, possibly as a result of videos critical of [[Political status of Western Sahara|Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara]].<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube site 'blocked' in Morocco |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6702973.stm |access-date=December 25, 2013 |date=May 29, 2007}}</ref> YouTube became accessible again on May 30, 2007, after ''Maroc Telecom'' unofficially announced that the denied access to the website was a mere "technical glitch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ar.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=22322 |title=YouTube again accessible via Maroc Telecom |date=May 30, 2007 |access-date=May 30, 2007 |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416003945/http://ar.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=22322 |archive-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref>
* Turkey blocked access between 2008 and 2010 after controversy over videos deemed insulting to [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Rosen |title=Google's Gatekeepers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/magazine/30google-t.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 28, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |id={{ProQuest|905061951}}}}</ref><ref name="bbc turkey">{{cite news |title=Turkey goes into battle with Google |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10480877.stm |work=BBC News |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey lifts two-year ban on YouTube |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11659816 |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=October 31, 2010}}</ref> In November 2010, a video of the Turkish politician [[Deniz Baykal]] caused the site to be blocked again briefly, and the site was threatened with a new shutdown if it did not remove the video.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey Reinstates YouTube Ban |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704462704575590420251199614.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |first=Marc |last=Champion}}</ref> During the two and a half-year block of YouTube, the video-sharing website remained the eighth-most-accessed site in Turkey.<ref>{{Citation |title=Turkey report |date=September 24, 2012 |url=https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/turkey#_ftn21 |work=Freedom on the Net 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927235933/https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/turkey#_ftn21 |url-status=dead |publisher=Freedom House |archive-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/TR |title=Top Sites in Turkey |publisher=[[Alexa Internet]] |access-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217112619/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/TR |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, Turkey blocked the access for the second time, after "a high-level intelligence leak."<ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=B. Kelley |title=YouTube Blocked in Turkey Amid High-Level Intelligence Leak |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-blocked-in-turkey-2014-3 |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26773702 |title=Turkey moves to block YouTube access after 'audio leak' |newspaper=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-banned-turkey-n63776 |title=YouTube Banned in Turkey |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |last1=Wagstaff |first1=Keith}}</ref>
* Pakistan blocked access on February 23, 2008, because of "offensive material" towards the Islamic faith, including display of the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy|Danish cartoons]] of [[Muhammad]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan blocks YouTube website |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7261727.stm |access-date=November 30, 2008 |date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> This led to a near global blackout of the YouTube site for around two hours, as the Pakistani block was inadvertently transferred to other countries. On February 26, 2008, the ban was lifted after the website had removed the objectionable content from its servers at the request of the government.<ref name="PAK-ban-lifted">{{cite news |title=Pakistan lifts YouTube ban |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/27/2173501.htm?section=world |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |date=February 26, 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan lifts the ban on YouTube |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7262071.stm |access-date=November 30, 2008 |date=February 26, 2008}}</ref> Many Pakistanis circumvented the three-day block by using [[virtual private network]] software.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan web users get round YouTube ban |publisher=Silicon Republic |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single10381 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629065235/https://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single10381 |archive-date=June 29, 2008 |access-date=November 30, 2008}}</ref> In May 2010, following the [[Everybody Draw Mohammed Day]], Pakistan again blocked access to YouTube, citing "growing sacrilegious content".<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan blocks access to YouTube in internet crackdown |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/10130195.stm |access-date=May 20, 2010 |date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> The ban was lifted on May 27, 2010, after the website removed the objectionable content from its servers at the request of the government. However, individual videos deemed offensive to Muslims posted on YouTube will continue to be blocked.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCabe |first=Joanne |date=May 27, 2010 |title=YouTube ban lifted by Pakistan authorities |work=Metro |publisher=Associated Newspapers Limited |url=https://www.metro.co.uk/news/828161-youtube-ban-lifted-by-pakistan-authorities |url-status=dead |access-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722062958/http://www.metro.co.uk/news/828161-youtube-ban-lifted-by-pakistan-authorities |archive-date=July 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 27, 2010 |title=Pakistan lifts ban on YouTube |work=The Times of India |url=https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-27/pakistan/28304621_1_blasphemous-caricatures-blasphemous-material-sacrilegious-content |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507082318/https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-27/pakistan/28304621_1_blasphemous-caricatures-blasphemous-material-sacrilegious-content|archive-date=May 7, 2013 }}</ref> Pakistan again placed a ban on YouTube in September 2012, after the site refused to remove the film ''[[Innocence of Muslims]]''. The ban was lifted in January 2016 after YouTube launched a Pakistan-specific version.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan unblocks access to YouTube |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35345872 |access-date=January 27, 2016 |work=BBC News |date=January 18, 2016}}</ref>
* Libya blocked access on January 24, 2010, because of videos that featured demonstrations in the city of [[Benghazi]] by families of detainees who were killed in [[Abu Salim prison]] in 1996, and videos of family members of Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] at parties. The blocking was criticized by [[Human Rights Watch]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gMqNCaIpcd74x_33F16sT_6IDriw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209004610/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gMqNCaIpcd74x_33F16sT_6IDriw |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |title=Watchdog urges Libya to stop blocking websites |agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref> In November 2011, after the [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]], YouTube was once again allowed in Libya.<ref>{{Citation |title=Libya |date=September 24, 2012 |url=https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/libya |work=Freedom on the Net 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927235826/https://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/libya |url-status=dead |publisher=Freedom House |archive-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Afghanistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Sudan]] blocked access in September 2012 following [[Reactions to Innocence of Muslims|controversy]] over a 14-minute trailer for the film ''[[Innocence of Muslims]]'' which had been posted on the site.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 1, 2012 |title=Afghanistan to unblock YouTube |work=Afghanistan Times |url=https://www.afghanistantimes.af/news_details.php?id=1654&&cid=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060611/https://www.afghanistantimes.af/news_details.php?id=1654&&cid=1 |archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Arghandiwal |first=Miriam |date=September 12, 2012 |title=Afghanistan bans YouTube to block anti-Muslim film |work=Reuters |location=Kabul |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-youtube-idUSBRE88B0SC20120912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170643/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/12/us-afghanistan-youtube-idUSBRE88B0SC20120912 |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 2012 |title=YouTube blocked in Bangladesh over Prophet Mohamed video |work=The Independent |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/youtube-blocked-in-bangladesh-over-prophet-mohamed-video-8152056.html |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824171641/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/youtube-blocked-in-bangladesh-over-prophet-mohamed-video-8152056.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Haley |last=Tsukayama |title=YouTube blocked in Pakistan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/youtube-blocked-in-pakistan/2012/09/17/30081fa2-00ea-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 17, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan, Bangladesh Block YouTube Amid Islam Film Protests |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-18/pakistan-bangladesh-block-youtube-to-restrict-anti-islam-film.html |access-date=September 18, 2012 |date=September 18, 2012 |first=Arun |last=Devnath}}</ref> A court in the southern Russian Republic of [[Chechnya]] ruled that ''Innocence of Muslims'' should be banned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian court bans anti-Islam film |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-134721-Russian-court-bans-anti-Islam-film |newspaper=The News |date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060611/https://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-134721-Russian-court-bans-anti-Islam-film |archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> In Libya and [[Egypt]], it was blamed for violent protests. YouTube stated: "This video—which is widely available on the Web—is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube. However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt we have temporarily restricted access in both countries."<ref>{{cite news |title='Innocence of Muslims': Mystery shrouds film's California origins |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/12/world/la-fg-libya-filmmaker-20120913 |access-date=March 1, 2019 |date=September 12, 2012 |first1=Phil |last1=Willon |first2=Rebecca |last2=Keegan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube restricts video access over Libyan violence |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/12/tech/web/youtube-violence-libya/index.html?hpt=hp_c3 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |date=September 12, 2012}}</ref>
* Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022, YouTube announced on March 1 the immediate removal of RT (and other Russian-government funded outlets) from its platform in Europe. The removal was soon expanded globally.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/youtube-block-channels-linked-russias-rt-sputnik-across-europe-2022-03-01/ |title=YouTube to block channels linked to Russia's RT and Sputnik across Europe |work=Reuters |date=March 1, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies|Internet|San Francisco Bay Area|United States}}
* [[iFilm]]
* [[Google Video]]
* [[Metacafe]]
* [[Revver]]
* [[vMix]]
* [[blip.tv]]
* [[Videosift]]
{{div col}}
* [[Invidious]], a free and open-source alternative frontend to YouTube
* [[Alternative media]]
* [[BookTube]]
* [[BreadTube]]
* [[CNN/YouTube presidential debates]]
* Lists
** [[Comparison of video hosting services]]
** [[List of Google Easter eggs#YouTube]]
** [[List of Internet phenomena]]
** [[List of most-disliked YouTube videos]]
** [[List of most-liked YouTube videos]]
** [[List of most-viewed YouTube videos]]
** [[List of most-subscribed YouTube channels]]
** [[List of online video platforms]]
** [[List of YouTubers]]
* Lawsuits
** ''[[Viacom International Inc. v. YouTube, Inc.]]''
** ''[[Garcia v. Google, Inc.]]''
** ''[[Ouellette v. Viacom International Inc.]]''
* [[YouTube copyright issues]]
* [[Reply girl]]
* [[YouTube Awards]]
* [[YouTube Creator Awards]]
* [[YouTube Instant]]
* [[YouTube Live]]
* [[Multi-channel network]]
* [[YouTube Music Awards]]
* [[YouTube Rewind]]
* [[YouTube Theater]]
* [[YouTube poop]]
{{div col end}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Bergen |first=Mark |year=2022 |title=Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube's Chaotic Rise to World Dominance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1zhTEAAAQBAJ |location=New York |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-0-593-29634-9 |oclc=1289250597}}* {{cite web |last=Dickey |first=Megan Rose |title=The 22 Key Turning Points in the History of YouTube |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2 |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=February 15, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}
* {{cite web |last=Haran |first=Brady |title=Why do YouTube views freeze at 301? |url=https://www.numberphile.com/videos/301_views.html |work=Numberphile |publisher=Brady Haran |author-link=Brady Haran |author2=Hamilton, Ted |access-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226033151/https://www.numberphile.com/videos/301_views.html |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book |last=Kelsey |first=Todd |title=Social Networking Spaces: From Facebook to Twitter and Everything In Between |url=https://archive.org/details/socialnetworking0000kels |url-access=registration |year=2010 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |isbn=978-1-4302-2596-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Lacy |first=Sarah |title=The Stories of Facebook, YouTube and MySpace: The People, the Hype and the Deals Behind the Giants of Web 2.0 |year=2008 |publisher=Crimson |location=Richmond |isbn=978-1-85458-453-3}}
* {{cite news |last=Walker |first=Rob |title=On YouTube, Amateur Is the New Pro |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/magazine/on-youtube-amateur-is-the-new-pro.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 28, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}
{{Refend}}

==Notes==
{{Notefoot}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links}}
{{Scholia|topic}}
* {{Official website}}

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{{Google LLC}}
{{Alphabet Inc.}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}}
{{Video game live streaming services}}

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