ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
Online video existed in clunky formats, but three former PayPal employees wanted an easy site where anyone could upload clips and share links without complicated software.
What happened
The first YouTube video, "Me at the Zoo," was uploaded on April 23, 2005, by co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo, lasting nineteen seconds.
Why it still matters
YouTube became the dominant video platform; Google acquired it in 2006 for $1.65 billion, transforming media, politics, and entertainment. Memorable detail: Karim's video shows elephants and mentions their "really, really, really long trunks."
Background
Google bought YouTube the next year.