2005 founded Standing
video · youtube.com
YouTube
the moat is real
21 years 187 days and counting
Valentine's Day 2005. Bought by Google in 2006. Still the second search engine.
Why it lasted
- It is cable for the internet, plus the search box for 'how do I'.
- Creators' livelihoods are on it. That is a political constituency, not just a feature.
- Google bought it before it could become a competitor. Distribution plus ads plus default on TVs.
Times it almost ended
- Bandwidth costs in 2006 could have killed it pre-acquisition. Google's infra made the math work.
- TikTok ate short attention. YouTube Shorts is the defensive clone that had to exist.
What would finish it
- A TV OS that buries the app, plus a creator exodus to a platform that pays. Nobody has both.
Questions
Is YouTube still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2005.
How long has YouTube been around?
YouTube has been up since 2005-02-14.
Why did YouTube survive?
It is cable for the internet, plus the search box for 'how do I'.
Could YouTube still die?
A TV OS that buries the app, plus a creator exodus to a platform that pays. Nobody has both.