YouTube launched in 2005 as a video sharing platform, and was acquired by Google (now Alphabet) in 2006. It has built an entire community of creators that run channels dedicated to topics like gaming, tech reviews, and beauty. It also houses news videos and entertainment such as music videos, movie trailers, and clips from late-night TV shows.
YouTube’s rapid growth has not been without problems. YouTubers typically make money from ads that run in front of their videos, but if they break the platform’s rules, their channels and videos can be demonetized. Executives and moderators have worked to combat harassment, misinformation, terrorist propaganda, hate content, and other abuse.
The Verge runs two YouTube channels, The Verge and Verge Science.
Yes, Paramount just trolled everyone waiting for its Mission Impossible livestream and links you to purchase the movie online instead.
Maybe not anytime soon.
Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reports that YouTube has looked into acquiring the rights to the Oscars, which is set to air on ABC through 2028.
[Bloomberg]
The platform announced earlier this month that it will begin to use AI to detect users under 18 and automatically apply restrictions to their account. If it incorrectly identifies someone as underage, YouTube will ask for the user’s government ID, credit card, or a selfie to verify their age.
That was EV accessory manufacturer Hansshow’s offer to YouTuber Branden Flasch, after he posted a pretty damning takedown of their “Dangerous, useless and overpriced” charging adapter.
Believe it or not, the apparent attempted bribe was only the opening gambit in a conversation that goes on to include accusations of corruption, plenty of profanity, and arguing the adapter must be safe because Flasch didn’t die. You’re gonna want to read this for yourself.
The full report, which you can find here, shows that Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) terminated almost 11,000 channels between April and June of 2025 as part of an investigation into “coordinated influence operation campaigns.”
The mass removals included over 7,700 channels with ties to China, and 2,000 linked to Russia, as reported by CNBC.
We’ve talked before about the funhouse-mirror-alternative-reality that Trump (and Musk) have built. JP Brammer, who watches much more YouTube than I do, notes something weird is going on in content land — it seems Donald Trump has lost control of the plot. NBC’s Brandy Zadrozny, writing from a more anxious angle, seems to agree. Content has now outpaced reality. I guess we’re going to find out by how much.
[johnpaulbrammer.substack.com]
As of July 22nd, teens will have to be at least 16 years old to live stream on the platform, according to a support post. If a teen 13-15 years old wants to appear in a live stream, they’ll have to have to be “visibly accompanied” by an adult.
[support.google.com]
Streaming platforms might be having a hard time bringing on new subscribers, but according to Nielsen’s most recent Gauge report, services like YouTube, Pluto TV, Roku, and Tubi overtook traditional broadcast TV and cable in terms of viewership for the first time last month.
The video platform is launching a new “open call” feature that allows creators to effectively audition for brand partnerships. Companies can publish campaign briefs to the YouTube Partner Program hub where creators then submit video content for the brands to review and approve, which may prevent smaller creators from being overlooked.
The head of the AI video platform on Hollywood, copyright, and the future of filmmaking.
ICYMI, the livestream of a bald eagle nest in California’s Big Bear Valley is mesmerizing. Eagle-eyed viewers are anxiously waiting for the two twelve-week-old eaglets to fledge the nest, where they’ve been carefully raised by parents Jackie and Shadow since hatching in March.
The nest is perched about 145 feet above Big Bear Lake, so it’s a hair-raising prospect. But just yesterday, Sunny caught some serious air. Will this weekend bring the big day?
That’s according to Nielsen’s media distributor Gauge report, which tracks how much time viewers spend watching TV across the networks and streaming platforms owned by different media companies each month.
In April 2025, Nielsen found that YouTube once again earned the top spot by capturing 12.4 percent of viewers’ total time watching TV. It’s followed by Disney (10.7 percent), Paramount (8.9 percent), and NBCUniversal (8.2 percent).
The cheaper subscription, which cuts ads on “most” videos, but not music, is expanding to Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil too, after launching in the US in March. It’s rolling out gradually, so check the Premium Lite site to see if you’re eligible to sign up — I’m still not, but my colleague Tom apparently is.
Premium Lite costs CAD$7.99 / £7.99 per month, compared to CAD$12.99 / £12.99 for YouTube Premium.
[support.google.com]
Luke Nichols, who runs the nearly 15-million-subscriber-strong YouTube channel, partly blames fame:
...Because of people stealing my content and posting it on other platforms, my family and I have been viewed about 4 billion times, in addition to the 2.8 billion views on YouTube. The sheer volume of fans trying to contact me, trying to take pictures with me, or just trying to come up and talk to me in public can be overwhelming ... The time to stop is before this problem gets so out of hand that my family and I can’t live normal lives.
The company says its new ad system will use AI to place ads in videos at “contextually relevant” moments where viewers are most likely to be engaged. YouTube announced the feature on Wednesday at its annual Brandcast event for advertisers.
This wildlife filmmaker documents the unseen beauty of freshwater ecosystems.
The app on TVs now has a dedicated podcasts tab and the ability to loop all VOD content. Check out more details about those changes and more in a post from YouTube.
20 years in, YouTube is a dominant entertainment force. Now it’s coming for just about every way you spend your time.
