YouTube is celebrating a major milestone: 20 years since the very first video — a simple, 19-second clip — was uploaded to the platform.
Since then, YouTube has exploded in scope and reach. More than 20 billion videos have been uploaded, ranging from music videos and Shorts to podcasts and everything in between.
YouTube in South Africa: 15 Years of Growth and Impact
In South Africa, YouTube has been a part of the digital landscape for 15 years. Kabelo Makwane, Country Director of Google South Africa, highlights the unique bond between the platform and South African culture. “South Africans inherently value music, dance, self-expression, and authenticity,” he says. “As both users and creators, we've played a vital role in YouTube’s evolution over the past fifteen years, building a vibrant and creative community.”
YouTube describes this relationship as one rooted in love and trust. In fact, 89% of South Africans say YouTube is their favorite video service, and the same percentage believe the content from YouTube creators is trustworthy, according to a company statement.
A Celebration with Features, Surprises, and a Touch of Nostalgia
To mark its 20th anniversary, YouTube is rolling out a variety of festive features for its global community. Among them:
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A new, limited-edition YouTube logo that pays homage to the platform’s Bay Area roots.
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Birthday-themed animations — such as a special scrubber and a cheerful like-button animation — appearing on select videos.
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Easter egg for desktop users: Type ‘bday’ anywhere on the watch page to trigger a nostalgic throwback.
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Playables users will see a celebratory welcome screen before diving into their games.
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Special gifts during livestreams, including virtual cake slices and party hats, to send to creators in celebration.
YouTube is also introducing new features:
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4x playback speed, available for YouTube Premium members.
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A refreshed TV viewing experience with improved navigation, easier access to playback controls, comments, channel information, and subscription options.
Fun YouTube Stats Worth Knowing
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An average of 20 million videos are uploaded to YouTube every day.
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YouTube Music and YouTube Kids are also celebrating birthdays this year — both turning 10.
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In 2024 alone, users posted over 100 million comments per day, and creators “hearted” comments from around 10 million viewers daily.
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YouTube videos collectively received over 3.5 billion likes per day last year.
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Over 300 music videos have joined the billion views club. Among the fastest to reach 1 billion views:
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Adele – Hello (88 days)
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Ed Sheeran – Shape of You and Luis Fonsi – Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee (97 days)
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J Balvin & Willy William – Mi Gente (103 days)
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ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – APT. (105 days)
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Looking Ahead
“As YouTube enters its next chapter,” Makwane says, “we extend our heartfelt thanks to South Africa’s dynamic and passionate community. Your support and creativity have helped shape the platform’s journey. We’re excited for the future — one filled with even more innovation, connection, and unforgettable moments.”