People only just learning what first ever YouTube video actually was after 20 years

It has been just a few clicks away for 20 years - but many people still have no ideawhat the first YouTube video ever uploaded actually was. Founded in February 2005 by former PayPal employees, Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen, YouTube has more than 2.5 billion active monthly users as of early 2025.

Alongside this, an incredible 500,000 hours of video has been uploaded onto the platform every day this year, equating to nearly 22,000 hours per hour. This means it would take a person centuries to watch all the videos uploaded to the platform every single day.

But despite the fact YouTube is used in households up and down the country every day, many people still have no idea what the first video uploaded on the platform actually was.

• UK snow forecast to be 'heavier than expected' with four inches landing
• Gasps as BBC Question Time guest challenges Reform UK's Zia Yusuf on immigration

It prompted a Reddit user to share this revelation - and the light-hearted content shocked some social media users who expected it to be something completely different.

Uploaded on April 24, 2005, the first ever YouTube video is called 'Me at the zoo' and shows co-founder Jawed Karim standing in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo in California.

In the 19-second clip, he comments on the length of an elephant's trunk and shares how he thinks they're a "cool" animal.

Over the past 20 years, the video has racked up 373 million views and more than 10 million comments from users sharing their thoughts on this piece of internet history.

One user said: "Everything would have been different if he decided to stay at home that day instead of going to the zoo."

Another user added: "I miss this YouTube without all the drama, algorithms, and nonsense. Can we go back to the zoo?"

A third user said: "This video is older than many people watching it now, and it's nice."

One more user added: "Just got this piece of art recommended, never gets old!"

Another user said: "Seeing "20 years ago" on a YouTube video makes me feel a certain type of way."

San Diego Zoo's official YouTube channel said: "We're so honoured that the first ever YouTube video was filmed here!"

In November 2006, Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion and expanded its business model to include advertisements to generate revenue.

Following this, it went on to develop apps so viewers could watch YouTube on their phones and TVs, rather than just their computer screens.

Today, YouTube has more than 132,000 employees worldwide - and there's an approximate 115 YouTubers who have made careers from uploading videos on the platform.

American YouTuber MrBeast is the most-subscribed channel on YouTube with 440 million subscribers as of September 2025.