YouTube was launched in 2005 by three former PayPal employees with an unclear vision that initially attempted to market itself as a dating site. However, a lack of interest prompted a strategic pivot to focus on user-generated videos. This shift was pivotal, leading to a user-friendly platform and an interactive experience that engaged viewers and creators alike. The rapid growth and popularity culminated in Google acquiring YouTube for $1.65 billion just a year later, highlighting its significant potential and influence in digital culture.
We found this very interesting. We said, 'Why not let the users define what YouTube is all about?' By June, we had completely revamped the website, making it more open and general. It worked.
To generate interest, we just said it was a new kind of dating site. We even had a slogan for it: 'Tune in, Hook up'.
Within a year of its launch, users worldwide were drawn to YouTube's user-friendly interface and the novelty of allowing people to be content creators.
At his University of Illinois commencement speech back in 2007, the German-born Karim explained, 'We didn't even know how to describe our new product.'
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