Happy 20th Birthday, YouTube! A Quick Recap: What’s New and What’s Next

Hey, YouTube’s turning 20! Let’s take a quick look at the awesome milestones it’s reached, the cool new features just rolled out, and what exciting updates are coming soon.

Purva April 28, 2025 4 min read

Gather ’round and get yourself a slice of cake because my favourite video streaming platform is celebrating its 20th birthday.

That’s right – YouTube turned 20, and what better way to mark this milestone than to look back at how far it’s come?

From that first 19 sec clip of a guy at the zoo to a global powerhouse where we watch, share, and comment on billions of videos every day – YouTube has truly become a part of our daily lives.

Source – YouTube blog

YouTube by the Numbers: Interesting Stats

Can you believe it’s been two whole decades since YouTube first launched? (yes, we are getting old! It seems like yesterday when we were binge streaming Despacito.)

It’s kind of crazy to think about how this platform has changed the way we consume content. In celebration of their 20th birthday, YouTube shared some pretty mind-blowing statistics that show just how much of an impact they’ve made:

Over 20 billion videos have been uploaded to YouTube.
More than 100 million comments are posted every single day.
And get this – 3.5 billion likes are given out on videos each day!

With numbers like these, it’s no wonder YouTube has become the go-to platform for videos, tutorials, and entertainment.

New Features to Celebrate 20 Years of YouTube

But YouTube isn’t just celebrating its past; they’re also looking toward the future with some awesome new features. Here’s what we can expect:

Custom Multiview on YouTube TV

Soon, you’ll be able to create your own multiview setups with select non-sports content, starting with a small group of popular channels and expanding in the coming months.

Voice Replies for Creators

Later this year, creators will have the ability to respond to comments with their own voices, adding a personal touch to interactions.

Ask Music

A new AI-powered tool that lets you describe the type of music you’re in the mood for and create your very own personalized radio station. Available for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music users.

4x Playback Speed for Premium Users

YouTube Premium subscribers can now enjoy playback speeds up to 4x on mobile devices, allowing for faster content consumption.

TV App Redesign

A significant redesign of the YouTube TV app is set to roll out this summer, featuring improved navigation, playback quality, and easier access to comments, channel info, and subscriptions.

Hidden Gems You Might Have Missed

YouTube has several lesser-known features that can enhance your viewing experience:

Long Press for Speed: Long press anywhere on the video player to watch in 2x speed.
Screen Lock: Lock the screen to avoid interruptions while watching.
Sleep Timer: Set a sleep timer to automatically stop the video after a set time.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Use the left and right arrow keys to rewind or fast-forward by 5 seconds. Press the spacebar to play or pause videos.
Song Search: Use Song Search by humming or singing into your device to identify the song and add it to your playlist.
Related Videos in Shorts: Creators can now link related videos to their Shorts, whether it’s a full-length video, a Live session, or another Short.

As YouTube celebrates its 20th birthday, it’s clear that it’s not just about the number of videos, views, and comments. It’s about how YouTube continues to evolve, bringing us closer to the content we love and helping creators reach audiences in new and exciting ways.

Here’s to many more years of binge-watching, learning, laughing, and connecting. Happy 20th, YouTube!