{{Short description|Online video platform owned by Google}}
{{Short description|Online video platform owned by Google}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
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During this period, YouTube also got into disputes with other tech companies. For over a year in 2018 and 2019 there was no YouTube app available for [[Amazon Fire TV|Amazon Fire]] products and in 2020 [[Roku]] was forced to remove the app from its streaming store after the two companies couldn't come to an agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welch|first=Chris|date=2019-04-18|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|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Solsman|first=Joan E.|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=2021-05-05|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>
During this period, YouTube also got into disputes with other tech companies. For over a year in 2018 and 2019 there was no YouTube app available for [[Amazon Fire TV|Amazon Fire]] products and in 2020 [[Roku]] was forced to remove the app from its streaming store after the two companies couldn't come to an agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welch|first=Chris|date=2019-04-18|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|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Solsman|first=Joan E.|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=2021-05-05|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>
==Features==
===Video technology===
YouTube primarily uses the [[VP9]] and [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] video formats, and the [[Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP]] protocol.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barman|first1=Nabajeet|last2=Martini|first2=Maria G.|date=May 2017|title=H.264/MPEG-AVC, H.265/MPEG-HEVC and VP9 codec comparison for live gaming video streaming|journal=2017 Ninth International Conference on Quality of Multimedia Experience (QoMEX)|pages=1–6|doi=10.1109/QoMEX.2017.7965686|isbn=978-1-5386-4024-1|s2cid=28395957}}</ref> By January 2019, YouTube had begun rolling out videos in [[AV1]] format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqf6gJt7KuHBmeVzZteZUlNUQAVLwrZS|title=AV1 Beta Launch Playlist|website=YouTube|access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2021 it was reported that the company was considering requiring AV1 in streaming hardware order to decrease bandwidth and increase quality.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schoon|first=Ben|date=2021-01-27|title=YouTube may require AV1 support in the future|url=https://9to5google.com/2021/01/27/youtube-av1-netflix-requirement/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=9to5Google|language=en-US}}</ref>
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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8287239.stm |access-date=November 30, 2009 |date=October 5, 2009 |first=Jonathan |last=Fildes}}</ref> In January 2010, YouTube launched an experimental version of the site that used the built-in multimedia capabilities of web browsers supporting the [[HTML5]] standard.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Protalinski|first=Emil|date=2015-01-27|title=YouTube ditches Flash for HTML5 video by default|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/01/27/youtube-ditches-flash-for-html5-video-by-default/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-05|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}</ref> This allowed videos to be viewed without requiring Adobe Flash Player or any other plug-in to be installed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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/http://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 HTML5 would be the default playback method on [[HTML5 video support|supported browsers]].<ref name=":10" /> With the switch to HTML5 video streams using [[Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP]] (MPEG-DASH), an adaptive bit-rate HTTP-based streaming solution optimizing the bitrate and quality for the available network.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rajeev Tiwari |url=http://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}}</ref>
The platform is able to serve videos at optionally lower resolution levels starting at 144p for smoothening playback in areas and countries with limited [[Internet speed]]s, improving compatibility, as well as for preservation of limited cellular [[data plan]]s. The resolution setting can be adjusted automatically based on detected connection speed, as well as be set manually.<ref>[https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en Change the quality of your video - YouTube Help]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Conner|first1=Katie|date=2019-07-01|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/|url-status=live|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>
From 2008 to 2017, users could add "annotations" to their videos—such as pop-up text messages and hyperlinks and which allowed for [[interactive video]]s. By 2019 all annotations had been removed from videos, breaking some videos which 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|language=en-US}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
In 2018, YouTube became an [[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=http://www.isni.org/content/youtube-adopts-isni-id-artists-songwriters|access-date=June 1, 2018|publisher=ISNI}}</ref>
====Uploading====
All YouTube users can upload videos up to 15 minutes each in duration. 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"] YouTube Help. Retrieved July 15, 2017.</ref><ref name="intro to live">[https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026? "Introduction to live streaming"] YouTube Help. Retrieved September 22, 2017.</ref> When YouTube was launched in 2005, it was possible to upload longer videos, but a ten-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}}</ref> The 10-minute limit was increased to 15 minutes in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Lowensohn |title=YouTube bumps video limit to 15 minutes |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-bumps-video-limit-to-15-minutes/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Videos can be at most 128 [[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 is available in 13 languages. YouTube also offers manual closed captioning as part of its creator studio.<ref name="captioning">{{cite web |title=Adding Captions to YouTube Videos |author=University of Washington |publisher=[[University of Washington]] |url=http://www.washington.edu/accessibility/videos/youtube/ |access-date=September 4, 2016|author-link=University of Washington }}</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= YouTube Will Discontinue Community Captions Feature in September |author=Julia Metraux |publisher=[[MSN]] |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/youtube-will-discontinue-community-captions-feature-in-september/ar-BB17q3RQ |access-date=September 12, 2020|author-link=Julia Metraux }}</ref>
YouTube accepts the most common [[Digital container format|container formats]], including [[MPEG-4 Part 14|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|website=support.google.com}}</ref> YouTube provides recommended encoding settings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recommended upload encoding settings - YouTube Help|url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171|access-date=November 24, 2020|website=support.google.com}}</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=http://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 |author=Tinic 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/http://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=http://download.macromedia.com/f4v/video_file_format_spec_v10_1.pdf |title=Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification Version 10.1 |author=Adobe Systems Incorporated |page=72 |quote=Sorenson H.263 |year=2010 |access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> with mono MP3 audio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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/http://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=http://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/http://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 |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]].<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/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=November 20, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</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 |date=July 9, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Lowensohn |title=YouTube now supports 4K-resolution videos |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-now-supports-4k-resolution-videos/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 9, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> In March 2015, support for [[4K resolution]] was added, with the videos playing at 3840 × 2160 pixels. In June 2015, support for [[8K resolution]] was added, with the videos playing at 7680×4320 pixels.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://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}}</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]] (PQ).<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}}</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}}</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 web|url=https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/185454-will-60fps-youtube-videos-force-game-developers-to-prioritize-frame-rate|title=Will 60fps YouTube videos force game developers to prioritize frame rate?|website=ExtremeTech|access-date=November 14, 2019|date=June 27, 2014}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
YouTube videos are available in a range of quality levels. The former names of standard quality (SQ), high quality (HQ), and high definition (HD) have been replaced by numerical values representing the vertical resolution of the video. The default video stream is encoded in the [[VP9]] format with stereo [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]] audio; if VP9/WebM is not supported in the browser/device or the browser's user agent reports [[Windows XP]], then [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] video with stereo [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] audio is used instead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vimeo.com/109102513 |title=Deploying VP9 at YouTube: a postmortem |author= Steven Robertson |date=October 16, 2014 |access-date=December 9, 2014}}</ref>
Since 2009, viewers have had the ability watch 3D videos.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 21, 2009|title=YouTube in 3D|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ANcspdYh_U|access-date=August 3, 2009|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> In 2015, the company began natively supporting [[360-degree video]] and it has since allowed for live streaming of 360° video at up to 4K resolution.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bonnington|first=Christina|date=2015-03-13|title=You Can Now Watch and Upload 360-Degree Videos on YouTube|language=en-US|work=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/03/youtube-360-degree-video/|access-date=2021-05-10|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref name="Verge 2016" /> Citing the limited number of users who watched more than 90-degrees, the company 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}}</ref> The company now 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=2021-05-10|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>
In response to increased viewership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company temporarily downgraded the quality of its videos.<ref>{{cite web|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}}</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}}</ref> The company 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=2021-05-05|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>
====Live streaming====
YouTube carried out early experiments with [[live streaming]], including 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=http://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 |website=CNN |access-date=September 22, 2017}}</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}}</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}}</ref> It was used for real-time broadcasting of events such as the 2012 Olympics in London.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/youtube-sleeping-giant-livestreaming/ |title=YouTube Is the Sleeping Giant of Livestreaming |last=Pierce |first=David |journal=Wired |language=en-US|access-date=September 22, 2017|date=August 17, 2015 }}</ref> In October 2012, more than 8 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=http://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/http://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 that 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]]}}</ref> and in December the limit was removed.<ref name="MacNN 2013">{{Cite web |url=http://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}}</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]]}}</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"] 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]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Jon|date=2020-12-08|title=YouTube live streams now support HDR|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/8/22162889/youtube-live-stream-hdr-support|access-date=2021-05-10|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>
===User features===
====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}}</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 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}}</ref>
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 10000 subscribers <!-- was it the first threshold? --> to 1500 subscribers, to 1000 subscribers, which is the current threshold as of September 2019.<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|website=support.google.com}}</ref>
Channels that the community tab becomes enabled for, get their channel discussions (the name before March 2013 “One channel layout” redesign finalization: “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|website=support.google.com}}</ref>
==== User comments ====
{{See also|Criticism of Google#YouTube user comments}}
Most videos enable users to leave comments, and these have attracted attention for the [[Troll (Internet)|negative]] aspects of both their form and content. 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 journal|last=Grossman|first=Lev|date=December 25, 2006|title=You – Yes, You – Are TIME's Person of the Year|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570810,00.html|journal=Time|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</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}}</ref>
{{quote|Juvenile, aggressive, misspelled, 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.}}
In September 2008, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' commented 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|access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' noted in April 2012 that finding comments on YouTube that appear "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=[[The Huffington Post]]|url=http://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}}</ref>
On November 6, 2013, Google implemented a comment system oriented on Google+ that required all YouTube users to use a Google+ account in order 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"], 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=http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/OdxWjrLvzYw|access-date=August 28, 2013|work=Google product forums}}</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}}</ref> The official YouTube announcement<ref>{{YouTube|bVGp8Z8Yb28|"Meet the new YouTube comments"}}, 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>[http://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"], 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 as 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 "Discussion forums across the Internet are already bursting with 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=http://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420}} {{subscription}} [http://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/http://www.amny.com/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420|date=December 3, 2013}}.</ref>
{{quote|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.}}
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}}</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|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</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=http://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}}</ref>
In May 2020, it was noted that comments in videos and live streams containing the mandarin phrases "[[wikt:共匪|共匪]]" (“communist bandit”) or "[[wikt:五毛|五毛]]" (“50-cent party”) were automatically deleted within 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vincent|first1=James|date=May 26, 2020|title=YouTube is deleting comments with two phrases that insult China's Communist Party|language=en|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/26/21270290/youtube-deleting-comments-censorship-chinese-communist-party-ccp|access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Flood|first1=Brian|date=May 26, 2020|title=YouTube investigating 'error' that deleted comments offensive to China's Communist Party|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/youtube-china-error-communist-party|access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube Is Removing Chinese Phrases Critical of China's Communist Party|language=en|work=PCMAG|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/youtube-is-removing-chinese-phrases-critical-of-chinas-communist-party}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 26, 2020|title=Rep. Banks Demands Answers from Google over Alleged YouTube Censorship of CCP Criticism|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/rep-banks-demands-answers-from-google-over-alleged-youtube-censorship-of-ccp-criticism/|access-date=May 26, 2020|website=National Review}}</ref> The censorship was considered odd as YouTube is blocked in China.
In December 2020 it was reported that YouTube is launching 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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=YouTube introduces new feature to address toxic comments|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/12/03/youtube-introduces-new-features-to-address-toxic-comments/|access-date=December 9, 2020|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</ref>
===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|url=http://www.athenswalk.net/_/Blog/Entries/2013/7/30_YouTube_embed_code_guide.html|title=YouTube embedded video guide}}</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".
On August 27, 2013, YouTube announced that it would remove video responses for being an underused feature.<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}}</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 |author=YouTube |access-date=August 28, 2013}}</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 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</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/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=January 16, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Numerous third-party web sites, applications and browser [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] allow users to download YouTube videos.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/02/---mark-milian.html?cid=149000259 |title=YouTube looks out for content owners, disables video ripping |author=Milian, Mark |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=February 21, 2009}}</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 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 12, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</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=http://torrentfreak.com/google-threatens-to-sue-huge-youtube-mp3-conversion-site-120619/ |title=Google Threatens To Sue Huge YouTube MP3 Conversion Site |author=Torrentfreak |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref> In response, [[Zamzar]] removed the ability to download YouTube videos from its site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.zamzar.com/2012/06/12/downloading-youtube-videos-no-longer-supported/ |title=Downloading YouTube videos – no longer supported |author=Zamzar |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013}}</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/ |publisher=Creative Commons |date=June 2, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2019}}</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 |first=Cathy |last=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}}</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|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Not all of YouTube's videos are available on the mobile version of the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Chitu |title=Mobile YouTube |url=http://googlesystem.blogspot.no/2007/06/mobile-youtube.html |website=Unofficial Google Blog |date=June 15, 2007 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</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 |url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/06/20youtube.html |title=YouTube Live on Apple TV Today; Coming to iPhone on June 29 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |date=June 20, 2007 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228063433/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/06/20youtube.html |archive-date=December 28, 2008 }}</ref>
In July 2010, the mobile version of the site was relaunched based on [[HTML5]], avoiding the need to use Adobe Flash Player and optimized for use with touch screen controls.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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 |author=Zibreg, Christian |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2012}}</ref> The mobile version is also available as an app for the 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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://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}}</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}}</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=http://www.businessinsider.com/google-smartphone-app-popularity-2013-9#infographic |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</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}}</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=http://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}}</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>
In June 2009, 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 |publisher=YouTube |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=June 20, 2009}}</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=http://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=http://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}}</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}}</ref> Videos can also be viewed on the [[Internet Browser (Wii U)|Wii U Internet Browser]] using HTML5.<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}}{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}}</ref> 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}}</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}}</ref>
In November 2018, YouTube launched as a downloadable app for the [[Nintendo Switch]].<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}}</ref>
===Localization===
On June 19, 2007, Google CEO [[Eric Schmidt]] appeared in Paris to launch the new [[Internationalization and localization|localization]] system.<ref name="local" /> The interface of the website is available with localized versions in 104 countries, one territory (Hong Kong) and a worldwide version.<ref>See YouTube localization list on the bottom of the YouTube website.</ref>
| {{dts|2008|May|7|format=mdy}}<ref>{{Cite news |first=Sandeep |last=Joshi |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/08/stories/2008050857242200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510222042/http://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>
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| {{Flag|Israel}}
| [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language in Israel|Arabic]]
| {{dts|2008|September|16|format=mdy}}
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| {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
| [[Czech language|Czech]]
| {{dts|2008|October|9|format=mdy}}<ref>{{Cite news |first=Petr |last=Bokuvka |url=http://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}}</ref>
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| {{Flag|Sweden}}
| [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| {{dts|2008|October|22|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.kullin.net/2008/10/launch-video-unavailable-when-youtube-opens-up-in-sweden/ Launch video unavailable when YouTube opens up in Sweden] October 23, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2012.</ref>
| {{dts|2010|September|8|format=mdy}}<ref name="countries">{{cite web |url=http://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/http://www.typeboard.com/2010/09/youtube-launches-in-argentina/ |archive-date=September 12, 2010 }}</ref>
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| {{Flag|Algeria}}
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]], [[French language|French]]
| {{dts|2011|March|9|format=mdy}}<ref name="arabcrunch1">{{cite web |url=http://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/http://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>
| {{dts|2011|September|1|format=mdy}}<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}}</ref>
| {{dts|2011|November|30|format=mdy}}<ref>[https://thenextweb.com/la/2011/12/01/youtube-launches-localized-website-for-columbia/ YouTube launches localized website for Colombia] December 1, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.</ref>
| {{dts|2011|December|2|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://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/http://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>
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| {{Flag|Nigeria}}
| [[Nigerian Standard English|English]]
| {{dts|2011|December|7|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://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/http://www.techmtaa.com/2011/12/07/google-to-launch-youtube-nigeria-today |date=January 8, 2012 }} December 7, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.</ref>
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| {{Flag|Chile}}
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| {{dts|2012|January|20|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://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/http://nextvlatam.com/index.php/5-otts/google-launches-youtube-chile/ |date=March 25, 2012 }}</ref>
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| {{Flag|Hungary}}
| [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]
| {{dts|2012|February|29|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://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/http://kultura.hu/main.php?folderID=1094&articleID=323455&ctag=&iid=11 |date=January 17, 2013 }}</ref>
| {{dts|2012|March|22|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.webpronews.com/youtube-launches-local-domain-for-malaysia-2012-03 YouTube Launches Local Domain For Malaysia] March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.</ref>
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| {{Flag|Peru}}
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| {{dts|2012|March|25|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.webpronews.com/youtube-peru-launched-expansion-continues-2012-03 YouTube Peru Launched, Expansion continues] March 27, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.</ref>
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| {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]], [[English language|English]]
| {{dts|2012|April|1|format=mdy}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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}}</ref>
| {{dts|2012|May|17|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/youtube-launches-indonesian-version/524443 "YouTube Launches Indonesian Version"], June 15, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Ghana}}
| [[English language|English]]
| {{dts|2012|June|5|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.humanipo.com/blog/713/Google-launches-YouTube-in-Ghana "Google launches YouTube in Ghana"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624232254/http://www.humanipo.com/blog/713/Google-launches-YouTube-in-Ghana |date=June 24, 2012 }}, June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.</ref>
| {{dts|2012|July|4|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.telecompaper.com/news/youtube-launches-local-portal-in-senegal "YouTube launches local portal in Senegal"], Jubr>
{{note|media_type_table_note_3}}[3] itag 120 is for live streaming and has metadata referring to "Elemental Technologies Live". July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Turkey}}
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
| {{dts|2012|October|1|format=mdy}}<ref>[http://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/86446--g "YouTube's Turkish version goes into service"], October 1, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Ukraine}}
| [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| {{dts|2012|December|13|format=mdy}}<ref>{{Cite news |first=Maryna |last=Tarasova |url=http://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}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
| [[Danish language|Danish]]
| {{dts|2013|February|1|format=mdy}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://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/http://www.iprospect.dk/youtube-lanceres-i-danmark |archive-date=May 7, 2013}}</ref>
| {{dts|2013|April|18|format=mdy}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://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}}</ref>
| {{dts|2013|April|25|format=mdy}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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=[http://vat.pravda.sk/autor/64-svec-tomas/ tš] |language=sk}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Bahrain}}
| [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
| {{dts|2013|August|16|format=mdy}}<ref name="gcc">{{cite web |url=http://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 |author=[http://www.tbreak.ae/author/theregos Nick Rego] |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>
| {{dts|2014|March|17|format=mdy}}<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=[http://newtrend.bg/author/ivelina 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>
|-
| {{Flag|Croatia}}
| [[Croatian language|Croatian]]
| {{dts|2014|March|17|format=mdy}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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/http://liderpress.hr/poslovna-znanja/oglasavanje-na-video-platformi-youtube-od-sad-dostupno-i-u-hrvatskoj/ |archive-date=January 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Estonia}}
| [[Estonian language|Estonian]]
| {{dts|2014|March|17|format=mdy}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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 |author=Siiri Oden |language=et |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407094928/http://www.meedium.ee/blog/youtube-reklaamid-eestis |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Latvia}}
| [[Latvian language|Latvian]]
| {{dts|2014|March|17|format=mdy}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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=[http://marketing.lv/author/marta/ Marta] |language=lv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321170116/http://marketing.lv/tagad-reklamas-iespejas-youtube-kanala-iespejams-izmantot-ari-latvija/ |archive-date=March 21, 2014 }}</ref>
| {{dts|2015|October|12|format=mdy}}<ref name="adriatics baltics">{{cite web |url=http://9to5google.com/2015/10/12/youtube-global-7-new-countries/ |title=YouTube continues global expansion w/ versions of its site in 7 new locales |author=Stephen Hall |publisher=9to5 Google |date=October 12, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2016}}</ref>
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 |work=google.com |url=https://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en-uk&answer=92571 |access-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref> The interface of the YouTube website is available in 76 language versions, including Amharic, Albanian, Armenian, Burmese, Khmer, Kyrgyz, Laotian, Mongolian, Persian 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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Turks censor YouTube censorship |author=Danforth, Nick |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/30/ED68191LKM.DTL |date=July 31, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2009}}</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/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</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 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</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}}</ref>
== Videos ==
== Videos ==
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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=Huffington Post|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 (Darude composition)|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=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/17-april-fool-pranks-tech-brands-tech-giants-today-article-1.2169557|access-date=June 12, 2016|website=NY Daily News}}</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>
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=Huffington Post|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 (Darude composition)|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=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/17-april-fool-pranks-tech-brands-tech-giants-today-article-1.2169557|access-date=June 12, 2016|website=NY Daily News}}</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}}
YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) is YouTube's premium subscription service. It offers advertising-free streaming, access to exclusive content, background and offline video playback on mobile devices, and access to the [[Google Play Music]] "All Access" service.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/red |title=YouTube Red }}</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]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |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, as well as 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]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |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 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=http://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 original programming|YouTube Originals]] had gotten 250 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>
In May 2014, before Music Key service was launched, the independent music trade organization Worldwide Independent Network alleged that YouTube was using non-negotiable contracts with independent labels that were "undervalued" in comparison to other streaming services and that YouTube would block all music content from labels who do not reach a deal to be included on the paid service. In a statement to the ''[[Financial Times]]'' in June 2014, [[Robert Kyncl]] confirmed that YouTube would block the content of labels who do not negotiate deals to be included in the paid service "to ensure that all content on the platform is governed by its new contractual terms." Stating that 90% of labels had reached deals, he went on to say that "while we wish that we had [a] 100% success rate, we understand that is not likely an achievable goal and therefore it is our responsibility to our users and the industry to launch the enhanced music experience."<ref>{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Popper |title=YouTube will block videos from artists who don't sign up for its paid streaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/17/5817408/youtube-reportedly-block-videos-indie-artists |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name=guardian-musicpass>{{cite news |title=YouTube subscription music licensing strikes wrong notes with indie labels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/22/indie-labels-youtube-subscription-music |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=guardian-stall>{{cite news |title=Talks with indie labels stall over YouTube music subscription service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/23/talks-indie-labels-stall-youtube-music-subscription-service |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=guardian-indieblock>{{cite news |title=YouTube to block indie labels who don't sign up to new music service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/17/youtube-indie-labels-music-subscription |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref> The ''Financial Times'' later reported that YouTube had reached an aggregate deal with [[Merlin Network]]—a trade group representing over 20,000 independent labels, for their inclusion in the service. However, YouTube itself has not confirmed the deal.<ref name="Variety Music Key"/>
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 |work=Billboard|access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>
===YouTube TV===
{{Main|YouTube TV}}
On February 28, 2017, in a press announcement held at YouTube Space Los Angeles, YouTube announced the launch of YouTube TV, an [[over-the-top content|over-the-top]] [[multichannel video programming distributor|MVPD]]-style subscription service that would be available for United States customers at a price of US$35 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 |author=Christina 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]]), as well as approximately 40 cable channels owned by the corporate parents of those networks, [[The Walt Disney Company]], [[CBS Corporation]], [[21st Century Fox]], [[NBCUniversal]] and [[Turner Broadcasting System]] (including among others [[Bravo (U.S. TV network)|Bravo]], [[USA Network]], [[Syfy]], [[Disney Channel]], [[CNN]], [[Cartoon Network]], [[E!]], [[Fox Sports 1]], [[Freeform (TV network)|Freeform]], [[FX (TV network)|FX]] and [[ESPN]]). Subscribers can also receive [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] and [[Fox Soccer Plus]] as optional add-ons for an extra fee, and can access [[YouTube Premium]] original content (YouTube TV does not include a YouTube Premium subscription).<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube takes on cable with new TV service |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39124092 |author=Dave Lee |publisher=BBC |date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2017/02/28/youtube-tv-live-streaming-subscription/ |title=Meet YouTube TV: Google's Live TV Subscription Service |author=Tom Huddleston, Jr. |publisher=Fortune |date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>
During the [[2017 World Series]] (in which it was the presenting sponsor), YouTube TV ads were placed behind the home plate. The trademarked red play button logo appeared at the center of the screen, mimicking YouTube's interface.<ref>[http://awfulannouncing.com/streaming/well-placed-youtube-ad-world-series-broadcast-drove-people-crazy.html This well-placed YouTube ad on the World Series broadcast drove people crazy] – Matt Clapp, Awful Announcing, October 24, 2017</ref>
===YouTube Go===
[[File:YouTube Go.svg|thumb|Logo of YouTube Go]]
YouTube Go is an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] app aimed at making YouTube easier to access on mobile devices in [[emerging market]]s. It is distinct from the company's main Android app and allows videos to be downloaded and shared with other users. It also allows users to preview videos, share downloaded videos through [[Bluetooth]], and offers 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>
YouTube announced the project in September 2016 at an event in [[India]].<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> It was launched in India in February 2017, 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/#as55McomoEqz|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> It was rolled out in 130 countries worldwide, including [[Brazil]], [[Mexico]], [[Turkey]], and [[Iraq]] on February 1, 2018. The app is available to around 60% of the world's population.<ref name=":0">{{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 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>
=== YouTube Music ===
{{Main|YouTube Music}}
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=http://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|work=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 Shorts ===
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|title=YouTube launches its TikTok rival, YouTube Shorts, initially in India|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/09/14/youtube-launches-its-tiktok-rival-youtube-shorts-initially-in-india/|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</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=2021-03-01|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=2021-05-04|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=http://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>
=== 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 is nearly identical to [[Instagram Stories]] and [[Snapchat|Snapchat Stories]]. YouTube later renamed the feature "YouTube Stories". It is only available to creators who have more than 10,000 subscribers and can 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|publisher=YouTube|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref>
=== Experimental (''TestTube'') ===
Experimental features of YouTube can be accessed in an area of the site 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}}</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}}</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}}</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 |date=December 7, 2009}}</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 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 Kids'' has faced criticism from advocacy groups, particularly the [[Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood]], for concerns surrounding the app's use of commercial advertising, as well as algorithmic suggestions of videos that may be inappropriate for the app's target audience. The app has also been associated with [[Elsagate|a controversy surrounding disturbing and/or violent videos depicting characters from children's media franchises]]. Criticism over the videos led YouTube to announce that it would take more stringent actions to review and filter such videos when reported by the community, and prevent them from being accessible from within the YouTube Kids app.
== Creators ==
{{See also|YouTuber|List of YouTubers}}In November 2019, it was announced that YouTube was gradually phasing out the classic version of its Creator Studio across all users by the spring of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Transition to YouTube Studio|url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9706811?hl=en/|access-date=March 31, 2020|website=YouTube Help}}</ref> As of August 2020, the classic studio is no longer available.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Intro to YouTube Studio – YouTube Help|url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7477160?hl=en|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=support.google.com}}</ref>
=== Creators for Change program and content partnerships ===
In 2016, YouTube introduced a global program to develop creators whose videos produce a positive social impact. Google dedicated $1 million to this Creators for Change program.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mihalcik|first1=Carrie|date=September 22, 2016|title=YouTube commits $1 million to Creators for Change|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-creators-for-change-1-million-positive-social-impact/|access-date=December 30, 2018|work=CNET|language=en}}</ref> The first three videos from the program premiered at the 2017 [[Tribeca TV Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hardawar|first1=Devindra|date=September 23, 2017|title=YouTubes 'Creators for Change premiere at Tribeca's TV Festival|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/23/youtube-creators-for-change-tribeca/|access-date=December 30, 2018|work=[[Engadget]]|language=en}}</ref> YouTube expanded the program in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Julie|date=May 8, 2018|title=YouTube investing $5 million on 47 creators trying to make platform more positive|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/8/17330950/creators-for-change-youtube-5-million-asapscience|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165255/https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/8/17330950/creators-for-change-youtube-5-million-asapscience|archive-date=December 9, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2018|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> YouTube also launched [[YouTube Space]] in 2012, and has currently expanded to 10 global locations. The Space gives content creators a physical location to learn about producing content and provides them with facilities to create content for their YouTube channels.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Buxton|first=Madeline|title=YouTube's NYC Space Will Make You Want To Quit Your Day Job|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/youtube-nyc-office-tour|website=www.refinery29.com}}</ref>
=== Logan Paul corpse scandal ===
In January 2018, YouTube creator [[Logan Paul]] faced criticism for a video he had uploaded from a trip to Japan, where he encountered a body of a [[suicide]] death in the [[Aokigahara]] forest. The [[corpse]] was visible in the video, although its face was censored. The video proved controversial due to its content, with its handling of the subject matter being deemed insensitive by critics. On January 10—eleven days after the video was published—YouTube announced that it would cut Paul from the [[Google Preferred]] advertising program. Six days later, YouTube announced tighter thresholds for the partner program to "significantly improve our ability to identify creators who contribute positively to the community", under which channels must have at least 4,000 hours of watch time within the past 12 months and at least 1,000 subscribers. YouTube also announced that videos approved for the Google Preferred program would become subject to manual review and that videos would be rated based on suitability (with advertisers allowed to choose).<ref>{{Cite news|title=YouTube tightens rules around what channels can be monetized|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/16/16899068/youtube-new-monetization-rules-announced-4000-hours|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|date=January 16, 2018|title=YouTube Sets Stricter Requirements for Creator Partners in Response to Advertiser Concerns|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-changes-partner-program-google-preferred-advertisers-1202665815/|access-date=January 17, 2018|website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Brockington|first1=Ariana|date=January 11, 2018|title=YouTube Cuts Logan Paul From Preferred Program Over Controversial Video|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/latest/youtube-logan-paul-cut-ties-suicide-video-1202660515/|access-date=April 5, 2019|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>
These changes led to further criticism of YouTube from independent channels, who alleged that the service had been changing its algorithms to give higher prominence to professionally produced content (such as celebrities, music videos, and clips from [[late night talk show]]s), that attract wide viewership and has a lower risk of alienating mainstream advertisers, at the expense of the creators that had bolstered the service's popularity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=YouTube's relationship with creators, the source of so much success, has been turbulent|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/04/05/youtube-creators-relationship-tense-san-bruno/486949002/|access-date=April 5, 2019|website=USA Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=April 5, 2019|title=The golden age of YouTube is over|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18287318/youtube-logan-paul-pewdiepie-demonetization-adpocalypse-premium-influencers-creators|access-date=April 5, 2019|website=The Verge}}</ref>
==Social impact==
{{Main|Social impact of YouTube}}
Both private individuals<ref name=Reuters20070225 /> and large production companies<ref name=WiredUK20131127>{{Cite journal |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 |journal=Wired UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110202429/http://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 audiences. Independent content 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/2007/02/26/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/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/02/26/us-youtube-idUSN2518918320070226 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</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 |website=The New Yorker |last=Seabrook |first=John |date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108081333/http://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 million to $12 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://www.webcitation.org/6d0sXMyOT?url=http://www3.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/ |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |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://www.webcitation.org/6d0suEsJS?url=http://www2.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-top-earning-youtube-stars-2015/11/ |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |date=November 2015 |access-date=November 16, 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/http://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/http://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 web |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 |author=''Billboard'' staff |date=February 20, 2013 |website=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129170847/http://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|upright|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=http://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)|TED]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202000212/http://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/http://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>[http://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/http://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 journal |first=James |last=Poniewozik |title=Nonprofit Press Release Theater: Peabody Awards Announced |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2009/04/01/nonprofit-press-release-theater-peabody-awards-announced/ |journal=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 web |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 |website=[[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=http://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 |last=Journalism Project Staff |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000334/http://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=http://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-news/ |title=YouTube and News: A New Kind of Visual News |last=Journalism Project Staff |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001742/http://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=http://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/http://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=http://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/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=76ECD47B-6BE4-4703-BC79-E7955A4DE0D6 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:ObamaYouTubers307.png|thumb|right|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]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |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=http://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-video-creationa-shared-process/ |title=YouTube Video Creation – A Shared Process |last=Journalism Project Staff |date=July 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231055631/http://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/http://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 to not only 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/http://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=http://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/http://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=http://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/http://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}}</ref>
A 2017 ''New York Times Magazine'' article 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, "(g)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>
''[[The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers]]''<ref name=TED201002LXD>{{cite web |url=http://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)|TED]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104063431/http://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/2009/04/14/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/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/04/14/us-youtube-idUSTRE53D4PE20090414 |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Further, the cybercollaboration 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=http://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/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/cnr.02.html |archive-date=March 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20100313004701/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/smn.01.html CNN Saturday Morning News] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20101023042008/http://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=http://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/http://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=http://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/http://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=WhiteHouse.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102042529/http://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=http://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/http://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 [[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>
==Revenue ==
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=http://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 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212192446/http://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 million, noting progress in advertising sales.<ref name="Forbes08">{{Cite news |first=Quentin |last=Hardy |author2=Evan Hessel |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0616/050.html |title=GooTube |work=Forbes Magazine |date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> In 2012, YouTube's revenue from its ads program was estimated at $3.7 billion.<ref name="Wall Street Journal 5.6 Billion Annual revenue" /> In 2013 it nearly doubled and estimated to hit $5.6 billion according to eMarketer,<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|first=Rolfe|date=December 11, 2013|work=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 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 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]] 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 million subscribers combined between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions, and 2 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's revenue increased to $19.8 billion in 2020.<ref name="2020revenue">{{Cite web|last=Alphabet Inc.|date=26 January 2021|title=Alphabet Inc. Form 10-K (2020)|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1652044/000165204421000010/goog-20201231.htm|access-date=2021-04-16|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>
===Advertisement partnerships===
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=http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1519 |author=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=http://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}}</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 |website = [[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 |author=Allen, 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}}</ref> which is only available to users in the United States, Canada, and the UK as of 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://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> 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>
==== Advertiser mass 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 web|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|website=Bloomberg}}</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=http://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=http://mashable.com/2017/04/04/youtube-h3h3-what-happened-wsj/|access-date=April 10, 2017|website=Mashable}}</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|publisher=Vox Media}}</ref>
===Video creators earnings===
In May 2007, YouTube launched its Partner Program (YPP), a system based on [[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]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |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=http://www.businessinsider.com/money-youtube-stars-actually-make-2014-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=September 16, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
There are over a million members of the YouTube Partner Program.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html Statistics – YouTube] Retrieved May 20, 2013.</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}}</ref>
YouTube 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/#7841841b2625 |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 |website=support.google.com |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 |website=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 watchtime 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|publisher=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 web |ref={{sfnRef|"What is the Gold Play Button REALLY Made of? – JerryRigEverything"|n.d.}}|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHA2HbNtcG4|title=What is the Gold Play Button REALLY Made Of?|publisher=YouTube|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Sends PewDiePie Custom Ruby Play Button To Commemorate 50 Million Subscribers |url=http://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]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</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 [[Phillip 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=http://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|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</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=2021-05-23|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</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=2020-11-19|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=2021-05-23|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>
===Revenue to copyright holders===
{{further|#Copyrighted material}}
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], ''Ad 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}}</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.<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=http://www.recode.net/2015/2/4/11558648/nintendo-wants-youtubers-to-pretend-its-competitors-games-dont-exist |website=[[Recode]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |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=http://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>
==Censorship and bans==
{{Main|Censorship of YouTube}}
[[File:YouTube Availability.png|thumb|300px|Availability of YouTube as of January 2021:<br />
{{legend|#008000|Has local YouTube version}}
{{legend|#B2B2B2|Accessible}}
{{legend|#FF0000|Currently blocked}}
{{legend|#FF8888|Previously blocked}}]]
YouTube has been censored, filtered, or banned for a variety of reasons, including:<ref name=ONIYouTubeCensored>[http://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 of YouTube#Censorship of LGBT 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 |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=http://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 |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]], [[Syria]], [[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|Communist Party of China]] ([[wikt:共匪|共匪]] or "communist bandit") or ([[wikt:五毛|五毛]] or "[[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=http://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=http://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}}</ref><ref name="bbc turkey">{{cite news |title=Turkey goes into battle with Google |url=http://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=http://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>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/turkey#_ftn21 "Turkey report"], ''Freedom on the Net 2012'', Freedom House, September 24, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/TR | title=Top Sites in Turkey | publisher=[[Alexa Internet]]}}</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=http://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' |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014|newspaper=BBC News }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-banned-turkey-n63776 |title=YouTube Banned in Turkey |work=[[NBC News]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |author=Wagstaff, 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=http://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=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/27/2173501.htm?section=world |agency=AFP |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=http://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=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single10381 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629065235/http://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=http://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>[http://www.metro.co.uk/news/828161-youtube-ban-lifted-by-pakistan-authorities "YouTube ban lifted by Pakistan authorities"], Joanne McCabe, ''Metro'' (Associated Newspapers Limited, UK), May 27, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2012</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130507082318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-27/pakistan/28304621_1_blasphemous-caricatures-blasphemous-material-sacrilegious-content "Pakistan lifts ban on YouTube"], ''The Times of India'', May 27, 2010</ref> Pakistan again placed a ban on YouTube in September 2012, after the site refused to remove the film ''[[Innocence of Muslims]]'', with the ban still in operation as of September 2013.<ref>[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-17/news/42148641_1_blasphemous-content-videos-pakistan-ban Pakistan ban on YouTube stays even after one year] ''The Economic Times'', September 17, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> 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 |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>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2012/libya "Libya"], ''Freedom on the Net 2012'', Freedom House, September 24, 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>[http://www.afghanistantimes.af/news_details.php?id=1654&&cid=1 "Afghanistan to unblock YouTube – Afghanistan Times"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060611/http://www.afghanistantimes.af/news_details.php?id=1654&&cid=1 |date=January 17, 2013 }}, December 1, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/12/us-afghanistan-youtube-idUSBRE88B0SC20120912 "Afghanistan bans YouTube to block anti-Muslim film"], Miriam Arghandiwal, Reuters (Kabul), September 12, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/youtube-blocked-in-bangladesh-over-prophet-mohamed-video-8152056.html "YouTube blocked in Bangladesh over Prophet Mohamed video"], ''The Independent'' (AP), September 18, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |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 |website=[[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.|Bloomberg]] |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 Innocence of Muslims should be banned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian court bans anti-Islam film |url=http://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/http://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{{By whom|date=September 2017}} for violent protests. YouTube stated that "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=http://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>
* [http://video.pbs.org/video/2365039828/ Are YouTubers Revolutionizing Entertainment?] (June 6, 2013), video produced for PBS by ''[[Off Book (web series)|Off Book]]''.
* [http://video.pbs.org/video/2365039828/ Are YouTubers Revolutionizing Entertainment?] (June 6, 2013), video produced for PBS by ''[[Off Book (web series)|Off Book]]''.
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YouTube
Logo since 2017
Screenshot
Screenshot of YouTube's front page on August 29, 2017
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
YouTube provides several ways to watch videos, including the website, the mobile apps, and permitting other websites to embed them. Available content includes music videos, video clips, short and documentary films, audio recordings, movie trailers, live streams, and video blogs. Most content is generated by individuals, but media corporations also publish videos. Besides watching and uploading, registered users can comment on videos, rate them, create playlists, and subscribe to other users.
Founded in 2005, YouTube was acquired the following year by Google for US$1.65 billion. It has become one of the company's most lucrative subsidiaries, earning $19.8 billion in 2020.[1] YouTube and selected creators earn advertising revenue from Google's AdSense program. The vast majority of videos are free to view, but some require a music or premium subscription.
Given the popularity of YouTube and its abundance of video content, the platform has made a significant social impact throughout the world. There have also been numerous controversies regarding the business, moral, and political aspects of YouTube.
There are multiple stories told of the company's founding. 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 commented 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".[11] Karim said the inspiration for YouTube first came from Janet Jackson's role in the 2004 Super Bowl incident when her breast was exposed during her performance, and later from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Karim could not easily find video clips of either event online, which led to the idea of a video sharing site.[12] 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.[11][13] They created posts on Craigslist asking attractive women to upload videos of themselves to YouTube in exchange for a $100 reward.[14] Difficulty in finding enough dating videos led to a change of plans, with the site's founders deciding to accept uploads of any type of video.[15]
The YouTube logo was used from its launch until 2011. Another version of this logo without their "Broadcast Yourself" slogan was used until 2015.
YouTube began as a venture capital–funded technology startup. Between November 2005 and April 2006, the company raised money from a variety of investors with Sequoia Capital, $11.5 million, and Artis Capital Management, $8 million, being the largest two.[9][16] YouTube's early headquarters were situated above a pizzeria and Japanese restaurant in San Mateo, California.[17] In February 2005, the company activated www.youtube.com.[18] The first video was uploaded April 23, 2005. Titled Me at the zoo, it shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo and can still be viewed on the site.[19][20] 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.[21][22] The site launched officially on December 15, 2005, by which time the site was receiving 8 million views a day.[23][24] Clips at the time were limited to 100 megabytes, as little as 30 seconds of footage.[25]
YouTube was not the first video-sharing site on the Internet, as Vimeo was launched in November 2004, though that site remained a side project of its developers from CollegeHumor at the time and did not grow much either.[26] The week of YouTube's launch, NBC-Universal's Saturday Night Live ran a skit "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 established YouTube as an important website.[27] 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 month later based on copyright concerns.[28] Despite eventually being taken down, these duplicate uploads of the skit helped popularize YouTube's reach and led to the upload of further third-party content.[29][30] The site grew rapidly and, 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 million video views per day.[31]
The choice of the name www.youtube.com led to problems for a similarly named website, www.utube.com. 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 towww.utubeonline.com.[32][33]
Acquisition by Google (2006–2013)
YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California
On October 9, 2006, Google announced that it had acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock.[34][35] The deal was finalized on November 13, 2006.[36][37] Google's acquisition launched new newfound interest in video-sharing sites; IAC, which now owned Vimeo focused on supporting the content creator to distinguish itself from YouTube.[26]
YouTube logo from 2015 until 2017
The company experienced rapid growth. The Daily Telegraph wrote that in 2007, YouTube consumed as much bandwidth as the entire Internet in 2000.[38] By 2010, the company had reached a market share of around 43% and more than 14 billion views of videos according to comScore.[39] That year the company also redesigned its interface with the aim of simplifying the interface and increasing the time users spend on the site.[40] In 2011, more than three billion videos were being watched each day with 48 hours of new videos uploaded every minute.[41][42][43] 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.[44] That year the company again changed its interface and at the sametime introduced a new logo with a darker shade of red.[45][46] A further interface change, designed to unify the experience across desktop, TV, and mobile, was rolled out in 2013.[47] By that point more than 100 hours were being uploaded every minute, a number that would increase to 300 hours by November 2014.[48][49]
During this time, the company also went through some organizational changes. In October 2006, YouTube moved to a new office in San Bruno, California.[50] 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.[51]
New revenue streams (2013–2018)
YouTube logo since 2017
Susan Wojcicki was appointed CEO of YouTube in February 2014.[52] In January 2016, YouTube expanded its headquarters in San Bruno by purchasing an office park for $215 million. The complex has 51,468 square metres (554,000 square feet) of space and can house up to 2,800 employees.[53] 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.[54]
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 within the platform.[55][56] This effort was discontinued in January 2018 and relaunched in June, with US$4.99 channel subscriptions.[57][58] 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.[59] 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.[60] 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.[61][62][63]
The company also attempted to create products to appeal to specific kinds of 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.[64] 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.[65]
Consolidation and conflict (2018–present)
The company was attacked on April 3, 2018, when a shooting took place at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California which wounded three and resulted in two deaths (including the shooter).[66] By February 2017, one billion hours of YouTube were watched every day and 400 hours of video were uploaded every minute.[7][67] Two years later, the uploads increased to more than 500 hours per minute.[8] During the COVID-19 pandemic, when most of the world was under stay-at-home orders, usage of services such as YouTube grew greatly. One data firm estimated that YouTube was accounting for 15% of all internet traffic, twice its pre-pandemic level.[68] In response to EU officials requesting that such services reduce bandwidth as to make sure medical entities had sufficient bandwidth to share information, YouTube along with 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.[69] YouTube later announced that they will 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".[70]
Following a 2018 complaint alleging violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).,[71] the company was fined $170 million by the FTC for collecting personal information from minors under the age of 13.[72] YouTube was also ordered to create systems to increase children's privacy.[73][74] 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.[75][76] Joining the YouTube kids app, the company created a supervised mode, designed more for tweens in 2021.[77]
During this period, YouTube also got into disputes with other tech companies. For over a year in 2018 and 2019 there was no YouTube app available for Amazon Fire products and in 2020 Roku was forced to remove the app from its streaming store after the two companies couldn't come to an agreement.[78][79]
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.[80] In 2017, viewers on average watched YouTube on mobile devices for more than an hour every day.[81]
In December 2012, two billion views were removed from the view counts of Universal and 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.[82][83] On August 5, 2015, YouTube patched the formerly notorious behaviour which caused a video's view count to freeze at "301" (later "301+") until the actual count was verified to prevent view count fraud.[84] YouTube view counts once again updated in real time.[85]
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.[86] In March 2021 it was reported that YouTube was testing hiding dislikes on videos for viewers. YouTube creators would still be able to see the number of likes and dislikes in the YouTube Studio dashboard tool, according to YouTube.[87][88]
YouTube has faced numerous challenges and criticisms in its attempts to deal with copyright, including the site's first viral video, Lazy Sunday, which had to be taken down, due to copyright concerns.[27] At the time of uploading a video, YouTube users are shown a message asking them not to violate copyright laws.[89] 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 DMCAtakedown 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.[90][91] From 2007 to 2009 organizations including 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.[92][93][94]
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.[95] 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.[96]
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.[97] He asserted seven causes of action, and four were ruled in Smith's favor.[98] In April 2012, a court in Hamburg ruled that YouTube could be held responsible for copyrighted material posted by its users.[99] 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.[100]
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.[101][102] 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.[103] 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.[104] Experts noted that some of these clips said qualified for fair use.[104]
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, which alleged that YouTube profited from content that it did not have the right to distribute.[105] The system, which was initially called "Video Identification"[106][107] and later became known as Content ID,[108] 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.[109] 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.
By 2010, YouTube had "already invested tens of millions of dollars in this technology".[107]
In 2011, YouTube described Content ID as "very accurate in finding uploads that look similar to reference files that are of sufficient length and quality to generate an effective ID File".[109]
By 2012, Content ID accounted for over a third of the monetized views on YouTube.[110]
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.[111] The use of Content ID to remove material automatically has led to controversy in some cases, as the videos have not been checked by a human for fair use.[112] If a YouTube user disagrees with a decision by Content ID, it is possible to fill in a form disputing the decision.[113]
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.[114] Should the uploader want to monetize the video again, they may remove the disputed audio in the "Video Manager".[115] 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.[116]
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".[117] Generally prohibited material includes sexually explicit content, videos of animal abuse, shock videos, content uploaded without the copyright holder's consent, hate speech, spam, and predatory behavior.[117] 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.[117] Despite the guidelines, YouTube has faced criticism over aspects of its operations,[118] its recommendation algorithms perpetuating videos that promote conspiracy theories and falsehoods,[119] hosting videos ostensibly targeting children but containing violent or sexually suggestive content involving popular characters,[120] videos of minors attracting pedophilic activities in their comment sections,[121] and fluctuating policies on the types of content that is eligible to be monetized with advertising.[118]
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 limited 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 moderator's 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.[122][123][124]
To limit the spread of misinformation and fake news via YouTube, it has rolled out a comprehensive policy regarding how to planned to deal with technically manipulated videos.[125]
YouTube has also been criticized for suppressing opinions dissenting from governments' positions, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[126][127][128]
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.[129][130] 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:
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.[131] (July 2008)
In October 2010, U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner urged YouTube to remove from its website videos of imam Anwar al-Awlaki.[132] YouTube pulled some of the videos in November 2010, stating they violated the site's guidelines.[133] In December 2010, YouTube added the ability to flag videos for containing terrorism content.[134]
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 Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia as a means to inform users to minimize misinformation propagation without impacting freedom of speech.[135] In the wake of the Notre-Dame de Paris fire on April 15, 2019, several user-uploaded videos of the landmark fire were flagged by YouTube' system automatically with an Encyclopedia 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.[136]
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 diverts 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.[137]
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.[138][139][140] 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."[138][141] When users search for political or scientific terms, YouTube's search algorithms often give prominence to hoaxes and conspiracy theories.[140][142] 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.[138][143][144][145] 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.[146]
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.[147] 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.[147]
Alex Jones, known for right-wing conspiracy theories, had built a massive audience on YouTube.[148] 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".[149] On August 6, 2018, however, YouTube removed Alex Jones' YouTube page following a content violation.[150]
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."[151] Jonathan Albright of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University described YouTube as a "conspiracy ecosystem".[140][152]
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 flat earth theories, miracle cures, and 9/11 trutherism as examples.[153] 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.[154] In late 2019, the site began implementing measures directed towards "raising authoritative content and reducing borderline content and harmful misinformation."[155]
A July 2019 study based on ten YouTube searches using the Tor Browser related to the climate and climate change, the majority of videos were videos that communicated views contrary to the scientific consensus on climate change.[156]
A 2019 BBC investigation of YouTube searches in ten different languages found that YouTube's algorithm promoted health misinformation, including fake cancer cures.[157] In Brazil, YouTube has been linked to pushing pseudoscientific misinformation on health matters, as well as elevated far-right fringe discourse and conspiracy theories.[158]
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 numerous 5G towers in the United Kingdom to be destroyed, YouTube removed all such videos linking 5G and the coronavirus in this manner.[159]
Hateful content
Before 2019, YouTube has taken steps to remove specific videos or channels related to supremacist content that had violated its acceptable use policies but otherwise did not have site-wide policies against hate speech.[160]
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.[161][162] 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.[163]
YouTube joined an initiative led by France and New Zealand with other countries and tech companies in May 2019 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.[164][165] 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 the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, took place."[160][166]
In June 2020, YouTube 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.[167]
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%.[168][169] However, with the increase in videos featuring children, the site began to face several controversies related to 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.[170][171][172][173] A similar case happened in 2019 when the owners of the channel Fantastic Adventures was accused of abusing her adopted children. Her videos would later be deleted.[174]
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.[175][176][177][178] 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 as a broader concern regarding child safety on YouTube, the wave of deletions also targeted channels which 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 million subscribers, that featured a father and his two daughters in odd and upsetting situations.[179][180][181][182][183] According to analytics specialist SocialBlade, it earned up to £8.7 million annually prior to its deletion.[184]
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.[185] Alternative, some of the most-watched children's programming on YouTube comes from channels who have no identifiable owners, raising concerns of intent and purpose. One channel that had been of concern was "Cocomelon" which provided numerous mass-produced animated videos aimed at children. Up through 2019, it had drawn up to US$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,[185][186][187] 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.[188] The anonymity of such channel raise concerns because of the lack of knowledge of what purpose they are trying to serve.[189] 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 both critics and parents to be concerns for their children becoming too enraptured by the content from these channels.[185] Content creators that earnestly make kid-friendly videos have found it difficult to compete with larger channels like ChuChu TV, unable to produce content at the same rate as these large channels, and lack the same means of being promoted through YouTube's recommendation algorithms that the larger animated channel networks have shared.[189]
In January 2019, YouTube officially banned videos containing "challenges that encourage acts that have an inherent risk of severe physical harm" (such as, for example, the Tide Pod Challenge), and videos featuring pranks that "make victims believe they're in physical danger" or cause emotional distress in children.[190]
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 pedophiles[191][192] with predators finding the videos through private YouTube playlists or typing in certain keywords in Russian.[192] 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.[193]
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.[178][194] 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 sexualised poses and touching other children inappropriately) by strangers.[195] 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.[195]
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. 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 reuploaded the video in unlisted form but with incoming links from other videos, and then monetized these, propagating this network.[196] 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."[197][198] Despite these measures, AT&T, Disney, Dr. Oetker, Epic Games, and Nestlé all pulled their advertising from YouTube.[196][199]
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.[200] 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.[201][202]
A related attempt to algorithmically flag videos containing references to the string "CP" (an abbreviation of child pornography) resulted in a number of 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.[203] 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.[204]
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.[205] 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.[206] 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 autoplay system.[207]
April Fools
YouTube featured an 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".[208][209] 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".[210] 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."[211]
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.[212] 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.[213]
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 YouTube celebrities, including Antoine Dodson. A video of two presenters announcing the nominated videos streamed live for 12 hours.[214][215]
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".[216] The next year, YouTube added a music button to the video bar that played samples from "Sandstorm" by Darude.[217] In 2016, YouTube introduced an option to watch every video on the platform in 360-degree mode with Snoop Dogg.[218]
References
↑ 1.01.1Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2020revenue
↑Ohio Northern District Court (July 18, 2013). "Court Docket". Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC. Docket Alarm, Inc. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
↑District Judge James G. Carr (June 6, 2011). "Order". Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC. United States District Court, N.D. Ohio, Western Division. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
↑Popper, Ben (November 9, 2017). "YouTube says it will crack down on bizarre videos targeting children". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. 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.
Lacy, Sarah (2008). The Stories of Facebook, YouTube and MySpace: The People, the Hype and the Deals Behind the Giants of Web 2.0. Richmond: Crimson. ISBN978-1-85458-453-3.
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US$19.8 billion (2020)[1]
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