YouTube turns 20

On this day in 2005, the first video was uploaded to YouTube. Just 18 seconds at the San Diego Zoo were enough to spark a revolution. Twenty years later, the platform boasts over 20 trillion videos uploaded, 2 billion monthly active users, and a deep imprint on contemporary culture. YouTube turns 20 and Mexico has not only been a spectator, but a protagonist in its evolution.

Mexico: a key player in YouTube’s growth

In the past year alone, Mexican channels uploaded more than 8 million hours of content, with 45% of viewing time coming from abroad — a reflection of the global impact of local voices. The platform has become a space for expression, education, and entertainment, connecting millions of people with creators, brands, and communities. Today, over 70 million Mexicans over the age of 18 use YouTube.
From La caída de Edgar to creators like Yuya, Werevertumorro, Luisito Comunica, and Doña Ángela, Mexico has been a cradle of talent. Today, there are more than 900 channels with over one million subscribers in the country. YouTube is not just home to viral or musical videos: it also documents elections, Olympic Games, and the cultural evolution of the last two decades.

Reinventing how we watch content

What began as a home video repository is now a comprehensive multimedia platform. YouTube offers content in multiple formats: videos on demand, Shorts, livestreams, podcasts, and music, adapting to every generation and lifestyle. Its growth on connected TVs has been explosive: over one billion hours of daily viewing are consumed on big screens globally.
At the same time, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids celebrate 10 years of existence, expanding the experience for specific audiences. While one fuels music as a global cultural driver (with artists like Peso Pluma, Yuridia, and Los Ángeles Azules surpassing one billion views), the other protects and educates children with parent-approved content and verified channels.

Additionally, YouTube has become the platform of choice for Generation Z: 71% of users aged 18 to 24 believe it’s where they find the most relevant content for their interests. With the implementation of artificial intelligence, creators can optimize their uploads, grow their audiences, and generate increasingly relevant content.

YouTube: witness, protagonist, and engine of digital culture

For 20 years, YouTube has served as a visual archive of the modern world. From viral challenges like the Ice Bucket Challenge or La Chona Challenge, to the rise of traditional recipes with De Mi Rancho a Tu Cocina, the platform has enabled all voices to find a space. The podcast phenomenon, Shorts, and the professionalization of creators mark the next stage of this ecosystem.
For brands, YouTube has become the preferred medium for connecting with consumers. According to a study by Offerwise, it’s the platform with the best creators for communicating a brand, product, or service. And in business terms, it remains one of the most profitable and dynamic platforms for the creator economy.

With 20 years of history, YouTube hasn’t just revolutionized how we watch content — it has transformed how brands understand the world.

Keep reading:

Únete a más de 25 mil lectores

Regístrate a nuestro newsletter en la siguiente forma y recibe a primera hora las noticias más importantes de marketing de consumo, BTL y retail tu correo.