YouTube launched in 2005 and quickly became a part of everyday life for a lot of people online. Some s are content creators, some are consumers, and others enjoy being both. With over fifteen years of history, a lot of things have changed on YouTube's website. YouTubing has become a viable source of income for many creators, but that means the site has had to expand and adjust accordingly.
Those who YouTube's early days might miss certain aspects of its 2000s experience, but others are glad to see all the developments YouTube has made for creators and consumers.
2000s: Viral Videos
Viral videos still exist, but they were a fresh phenomenon after YouTube launched in the 2000s. Videos like "Charlie Bit My Finger," "Charlie The Unicorn," "The Duck Song," and many more were talked about regularly when YouTube was still new.
Such videos were just for fun, and people loved to imitate them and laugh or puzzle over their contents. Because of the novelty of YouTube, clicking on funny videos was a unique source of entertainment for all ages.
Now: Going Viral & Building A Career
An obvious change in YouTube over the past decade is its increasing ability to give rising stars a platform for their talents. It's entirely possible to start a YouTube channel, post content that people like, and build a career from the ground up. This doesn't happen for everyone, but YouTubers like Emmy "Made in Japan" Cho are examples of the fame that the medium can bring for certain content creators.
Some people dislike the culture of famous YouTubers, but at the same time, it's important that people with a wide range of backgrounds and talents have opportunities to share what they have to offer.
2000s: Window Into Celebrity Life
Before celebrities took on a more polished approach to their online content, some of them let fans into their lives with simplistic web videos. For instance, teen Disney stars at the time used YouTube as a way to express themselves and connect with their fans. Consumers of a certain age might the YouTube feud in which Miley Cyrus and Mandy Jiroux used their web show to make fun of Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato's video.
Not all the videos were positive, but it was interesting to see a slightly less curated portrait of fame in those days.
Now: Access To A Range Of News
In the age of cord-cutting, some people opt to forgo cable in favor of streaming services. News programs and talk shows often get lost in the shuffle when people give up their cable subscriptions.
In recent years, official news clips on a range of topics have become more available to YouTube s. Those who can't catch a given program on television can often find at least part of it on YouTube for free.
2000s: Less Emphasis On Subscribers
As great as it is that people can make careers out of their YouTube content, it's possible that a fight for subscribers could distract from the amazing content that people deliver. YouTubers typically start and end their videos with a reminder for people to like, comment, and subscribe. This is necessary in the current climate, but the earliest days of YouTube didn't capture the emphasis on subscribers that exists today.
In a way, it was nice to watch videos without such a focus on who gained the biggest following the fastest.
Now: The Help Of The Algorithm
Algorithms are debated among streaming s, but these tech innovations can actually be helpful. It is understandable that some people dislike a system telling them what they should watch, but others quite enjoy this feature.
YouTube doesn't always give its s what they're looking for. At the same time, they also might deliver videos that are right up a subscriber's alley. Simply by clicking "watch later," people can build a nice library of content to watch on their own time.
2000s: Greater Parental Involvement
While it isn't true for all families, many parents were quite hands-on when their kids first discovered YouTube in the 2000s. The site was still unknown territory for its s, so it made sense to monitor children's YouTube use. Some parents preferred their kids not watch certain videos, or that they only watch with adult supervision.
Perhaps that kind of parental involvement still exists for some people, it's less likely today. Kids with iPads might be limited by s, but they still have so much content at their fingertips on apps like YouTube Kids. Safety is a concern here, as evidenced by a violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act in 2019.
Now: More Educational Content
Content creators of today represent a diverse sampling of video types. Tons of YouTubers specialize in entertainment and celebrity topics. Others might focus on politics or Internet analysis. Name it, and there's most likely a YouTuber who specializes in it.
Though viewers should fact-check the information they consume, there's definitely plenty to be learned from YouTubers. In addition to lecture-oriented videos, YouTubers might teach their viewers new skills, like knitting, cooking, or playing the piano, to name a few.
2000s: Focus On Creators
As YouTube has grown, it has become a hotspot not just for individual creators, but also for corporations, celebrities, and other powerful entities.
YouTuber Anthony Padilla believes "YouTube shines brightest when individuals are given an opportunity to make an impact and reach the eyes of millions of viewers who believe in them." This sentiment was more continuously reflected in the earlier years of the platform.
Now: More Ways To Watch TV
Just as YouTube has branched out in of ers, it also places itself in the competitive streaming world.
YouTube TV and YouTube have provided even more viewing options for s who want to spend some extra money. YouTube TV can act as a proper cable substitute, but without that, people can still purchase movies and television episodes on YouTube. The versatility of the website/app is incredible.