YouTube, a video-sharing platform, was founded in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, former PayPal employees. Originally intended to be a dating site, the founders shifted their focus to building a video-sharing platform due to limited options for sharing videos online. The platform has since grown significantly, boasting over 2 billion monthly active users.

YouTube has had a significant impact on society, changing the way we consume media and giving independent filmmakers and musicians a platform to showcase their work. It has also disrupted traditional media, with many people turning to YouTube instead of traditional TV shows and movies. This has given rise to a new generation of creators who have built successful careers on the platform.