YouTube is a video sharing service owned by Google. People use it to watch, upload and comment on videos. It also hosts live streams, short vertical videos called Shorts and a music service. Three former PayPal employees started it in 2005, and Google bought it the following year.
Anyone with a Google account can create a channel and publish videos. Creators can earn money through the YouTube Partner Program, which shares advertising income with them. Viewers can also support channels through memberships, Super Chat during live streams and paid features. YouTube Kids is a separate app with content aimed at children.
The core service is free and paid for by ads. YouTube Premium is a monthly subscription that removes ads, allows offline downloads and keeps videos playing in the background. It includes YouTube Music Premium. YouTube runs on the web, on iOS and Android, and on smart TVs, game consoles and streaming devices. It is one of the most visited websites in the world, and its search box is used much like a search engine for how-to and product videos.