One billion hours of content from YouTube is viewed daily on TV sets in the U.S. (Photo by Jakub ... [+] Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFrom instruction videos, short student films, vintage and new music videos, and clips from movies and TV it is all in one place: YouTube. What started a "dinner table idea" back in 2005 is now the largest video-sharing platform in the world. With more than 2.7 billion monthly active users, it is the most popular streaming app and remains the second-most-visited website in the world, after only Google.This April will mark the 20th anniversary of the first video being uploaded, but it was on February 14, 2005, that the company was founded by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim."In two decades, YouTube has transformed culture through video and built a thriving creative economy," wrote Neal Mohan, YouTube's CEO, in his annual letter to consumers on Tuesday. "Today's creators have moved from filming grainy videos of themselves on desktop computers to building studios and producing popular talk shows and feature-length films."Mohan added that users aren't just watching YouTube on computers or phones. The video-sharing service has moved to the living room, where more than one billion hours of content from the video-sharing service is viewed daily on TV sets in the U.S."According to Nielsen, YouTube has been #1 in streaming watch time in the U.S. for two years," Mohan added.MORE FOR YOUCultural Shifts ContinueYouTube has certainly come quite a way from its first official video, an 18-second clip titled "Me at the Zoo," which was uploaded by Karim. Just a year after its launch, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion."YouTube's impact continues as it celebrates its 20th anniversary," said technology industry analyst Susan Schreiner of C4 Trends."Unlike other platforms, it has become a significant part of American and global culture," she added. "When it burst onto the scene, it quickly became the fastest-growing site on the web, hosting over 65,000 new video uploads and delivering an average of 100 million video views per day within just a few months."YouTube arguably is an example of arriving at just the right time. A few years earlier, there might not have been enough Americans with broadband, which is necessary to support the streaming of its content. A few years later, something else might have evolved in its place, and we might not have seen the community of creators evolve."There was a lot of 'right things' that happened at the right time," said Scott Talan, assistant professor of public relations and strategic communication at American University. "YouTube came out just before the rise of the iPhone and smartphones, and that gave everyone the ability to shoot video without needing an expensive camera and editing tools."What Could Have BeenThe forgotten part of the story is that a video-sharing app for the type of content we now see wasn't the plan that began at the dinner party."The original idea was a video dating site, but that didn't work out," said Talan.That was certainly for the best, as the company's pivot paved the way for what we have today. Instead, it resulted in a platform that has led to a creator community like no other."YouTube was the first major platform that allowed for content creativity and sharing," said Schreiner. "In retrospect, while the content was mundane, like someone playing an instrument, doing shtick comedy or just eating a fun meal the concept of creating and then being able to share a video was earth-shattering."The platform also laid the foundation for generations of content creators and monetization models."For many artists, musicians, and others, it eliminated the middleman allowing them to connect directly with consumers," added Schreiner. "Fast forward to 2025, and while there are more creators, more channels, more content, and evolving rules, YouTube endures."A Mirror Of Real LifeTalan added that much of YouTube's success is that "nothing mirrors real life like video," and it is no surprise that Google would want in on it, acquiring the company in 2006.To say that there is now something for everyone isn't an overstatement by any stretch of the imagination."There is so much there between education, entertainment, and information. The videos on how to change a tire, cook a meal or something else is so much better than a manual that you can't read without a magnifying glass," said Talan. "We've also seen it come full circle, where the most popular place to listen to podcasts is YouTube, showing how much it has evolved."That evolution isn't likely to end anytime soon."Today, YouTubers aren't just making videos; they're researching their audience, defining their niche, and building their brand," Schreiner continued. "Despite TikTok and Reels, YouTube's longevity and dynamism stems from evolving viewer interests and technological advancements as well as its responsiveness and adaptability to shifting preferences and trends."