YouTube is a video-sharing platform that was founded in 2005 by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. The platform quickly became popular, and by 2006, it had over 100 million views per day.

In 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion, which was a significant acquisition at the time. After the acquisition, YouTube continued to grow rapidly, and in 2007, it launched a partner program that allowed users to monetize their content.

Over the years, YouTube has introduced a number of new features, including the ability to upload videos in high definition, the ability to livestream, and the introduction of the YouTube Kids app. The platform has also been used by politicians, celebrities, and influencers to reach their audience and share their message.

YouTube has faced some controversies over the years, including concerns about the spread of hate speech and misinformation. The platform has taken steps to address these issues, including updating its policies and working to remove harmful content.

In recent years, YouTube has also become a popular platform for music videos and podcasts. In 2018, the platform launched YouTube Music, a music streaming service that competes with other services like Spotify and Apple Music.

Today, YouTube is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users as of 2021. It has had a significant impact on the way we consume and share video content online, and it continues to be a major player in the world of online media.