Here are the top 10 facts about YouTube:

1. Launch and Founders: YouTube was launched on February 14, 2005, by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. The first video uploaded was “Me at the zoo” by Jawed Karim.
2. Acquisition by Google: In November 2006, just over a year after its launch, YouTube was acquired by Google for $1.65 billion in stock, which helped YouTube become the video giant it is today.
3. Massive User Base: YouTube has over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, and it’s estimated that more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.
4. Global Reach: YouTube is available in over 100 countries and can be accessed in 80+ languages, making it one of the most globally recognized websites.
5. Monetization and YouTube Partners: YouTube allows content creators to earn money through its Partner Program, where revenue is shared from ads, channel memberships, and Super Chats. This has enabled many users to turn YouTube into a full-time career.
6. Second-Largest Search Engine: After Google, YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, processing more than 3 billion searches per month.
7. YouTube Shorts: In response to the rising popularity of short-form video content, YouTube introduced YouTube Shorts in 2020. Shorts are 60-second vertical videos designed to compete with TikTok.
8. Live Streaming: YouTube introduced live streaming in 2011, and today, it is one of the leading platforms for broadcasting live events, gaming, and real-time discussions.
9. YouTube Premium: Launched as a subscription service, YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) offers an ad-free experience, exclusive content, and access to YouTube Music, a music streaming service.
10. YouTube’s Impact on Pop Culture: YouTube has shaped internet culture and pop culture significantly. It has given rise to numerous internet celebrities and trends, such as viral challenges, memes, and popular music artists like Justin Bieber, who gained recognition through the platform.

YouTube continues to evolve, catering to a vast range of interests, from entertainment to education and beyond.