YouTube founded by former PayPal staff transforms online video sharing

YouTube was launched publicly in 2005 by three former PayPal employees—Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim. The founders created a simple browser‑based platform that let anyone upload, stream and share video through a link, removing the technical barriers that previously made video distribution difficult.

The site’s first video, “Me at the zoo,” was uploaded by co‑founder Jawed Karim and became an early symbol of user‑generated content. In 2006 Google acquired YouTube, providing the infrastructure and advertising ecosystem needed to scale the service globally. The platform’s growth reshaped online media, fueling creator‑driven channels, tutorial education, music discovery and a new influencer culture.