Behold YouTube's first-ever video, 'Me at the zoo', posted before it even launched 19 years ago

[Coloroscopio]

The video-sharing giant YouTube boasts millions of uploads daily, encompassing everything from music videos to cat compilations. But where did it all begin?  The very first video uploaded to the platform, a grainy 19-second clip titled "Me at the zoo," holds a special place in YouTube's history.

 

Uploaded on April 23, 2005, by Jawed Karim, a co-founder of YouTube, the video features Karim himself standing in front of elephants at the San Diego Zoo. In a casual tone, Karim remarks on the impressive length of the elephants’ trunks, concluding with, “And that's pretty much all there is to say.” While simple by today’s standards, “Me at the zoo” marked a turning point in online content sharing.

 

Though posted a month before YouTube's official launch in May 2005, “Me at the zoo” embodies the platform's core concept: empowering everyday people to share their experiences with the world.  The video's enduring popularity, with over 317 million views as of today, speaks to the power of user-generated content and the platform's ability to connect people on a global scale.

 

 

 

 

• https://observer.com/2016/04/this-week-in-tech-history-bp-oil-spill-first-youtube-video-uploaded/ 
• https://www.good.is/you-tubes-first-ever-video-was-published-19-years-ago-and-it-was-filmed-at-a-zoo 
• https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/me-at-the-zoo-the-news-and-his-face 

 

 

 

Image: Jawed Karim