Stembolt Twenty years ago today, on February 14, 2005, a simple video-sharing website quietly launched, changing the way the world consumed media and connected with each other. The story of YouTube is one of remarkable growth and transformation. Founded by three former PayPal employees, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, the initial concept was a simple way to share videos online. The first video uploaded to the site, “Me at the zoo,” featuring Karim at the San Diego Zoo, was a modest 18-second clip that inadvertently marked the beginning of a revolution. YouTube Launched 20 Years Ago Today