YouTube, the leading platform for sharing videos worldwide, marks its 20th year of existence this year. Starting out in 2005 as a platform for amateur video makers, it has transformed into a worldwide powerhouse, competing closely with conventional entertainment centers. Nowadays, YouTube promotes itself as the “new Hollywood,” where professional content creators and influencers attract vast audiences, frequently surpassing film and TV industry giants. As an illustration, in 2024, the platform’s top creator, MrBeast, garnered 762 million views on a single video—almost equaling the total number of cinema tickets sold throughout the US and Canada that year.
YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. From its humble beginnings in 2005 as a space for amateur creators, it has grown into a global giant, one that now rivals traditional entertainment hubs. Today, YouTube brands itself as the “new Hollywood,” with professional creators and influencers drawing massive audiences, often outshining film studios and TV networks. For example, in 2024, the platform’s most popular creator, MrBeast, amassed 762 million views on a single video—nearly as many as the total cinema tickets sold across the US and Canada combined that year.
Yet, beneath this polished and commercialized surface lies a hidden world that remains largely untouched by the platform’s algorithms and invisible to most users. This vast, forgotten side of YouTube consists of millions of videos—rarely watched, unpolished, and far removed from the content that dominates our recommendation feeds. These videos, while seemingly insignificant, provide a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of people worldwide, showcasing the platform’s original purpose as a tool for self-expression.
Although YouTube is commonly linked with viral sensations and high-quality productions, most of its estimated 14.8 billion videos have been watched fewer than 50 times. Researchers from the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently carried out one of the initial large-scale studies of YouTube’s less-viewed aspect. By developing a tool to randomly sample videos from across the platform, they discovered an alternative reality of YouTube—one rarely influenced by its recommendation algorithm.
Though YouTube is often associated with viral hits and high-production content, the majority of its estimated 14.8 billion videos have been viewed fewer than 50 times. Researchers from the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently conducted one of the first large-scale studies of YouTube’s lesser-seen side. By building a tool to randomly sample videos across the platform, they uncovered an alternate reality of YouTube—one that is rarely touched by the recommendation algorithm.
A researcher came across a video from 2020 where a man just recorded the snowfall outside his window for 19 minutes. With just two views before it was found, the video captures the essence of YouTube’s concealed realm. The man quietly comments as a bird settles on a fence, with the faint sound of a TV in the background. While nothing remarkable occurs, it encapsulates a tranquil moment that might otherwise be overlooked in today’s increasingly curated and performance-centric digital world.
Why YouTube’s overlooked side is important
To McGrady and his team, these neglected videos showcase an aspect of YouTube that more accurately reflects its societal role compared to its widely popular content. “We often view YouTube as a platform for influencers and professional creators,” McGrady states. “However, in truth, it serves as an essential component of digital infrastructure—a medium that millions of everyday individuals utilize to communicate, document, and connect.”
For McGrady and his colleagues, these overlooked videos reveal a side of YouTube that is far more representative of its role in society than the platform’s most popular content. “We often think of YouTube as a space for influencers and professional creators,” McGrady explains. “But in reality, it’s also a critical piece of digital infrastructure—a tool that millions of ordinary people use to communicate, document, and connect.”
The changing purpose of YouTube
The evolution of YouTube’s purpose
Nevertheless, this move towards professionalization has eclipsed the platform’s initial mission as a place for unfiltered self-expression. The researchers’ findings indicate that, although viral videos and slick productions often dominate discussions about YouTube, they only account for a small portion of the platform’s actual content. Most videos are produced by individuals with no desire to become famous or profit from their work. Rather, they use YouTube as a digital repository, a means of communication, or a creative outlet.
For instance, a researcher discovered a video posted by a woman named Emily, filmed in her college dorm room in 2008. The video, titled “sw33t tats,” features Emily and her sister giggling as they draw fake tattoos on each other with markers. With its blurry visuals and lack of a clear objective, the video may appear insignificant, yet it acts as a time capsule of a particular moment in Emily’s life. When asked about it years later, Emily confessed she had forgotten it was there. “I uploaded it to free up space on my hard drive,” she mentioned. “It’s funny and weird. I’m glad it’s still there.”
For example, one researcher found a video uploaded by a woman named Emily, recorded in her college dorm room in 2008. The video, titled “sw33t tats,” shows Emily and her sister laughing as they draw fake tattoos on each other with markers. With blurry footage and no clear purpose, the video seems trivial, yet it serves as a time capsule of a specific moment in Emily’s life. When asked about it years later, Emily admitted she had forgotten it existed. “I uploaded it to free up space on my hard drive,” she said. “It’s funny and weird. I’m glad it’s still there.”
The role of the algorithm in shaping YouTube
YouTube states that the algorithm’s goal is to assist users in finding videos that match their interests, whether those videos have six views or six million. “The magic of YouTube is that it enables anyone, regardless of where they begin, to share their voice with the world,” a company spokesperson notes. However, critics contend that the algorithm’s emphasis on engagement has fueled the spread of harmful content, such as misinformation and divisive rhetoric, by incentivizing sensationalism and controversy.
According to YouTube, the algorithm’s purpose is to help users discover videos that align with their interests, whether those videos have six views or six million. “The magic of YouTube is that it allows anyone, regardless of their starting point, to share their voice with the world,” says a company spokesperson. However, critics argue that the algorithm’s focus on engagement has contributed to the rise of harmful content, including misinformation and divisive rhetoric, by rewarding sensationalism and controversy.
In contrast, YouTube’s hidden world remains untouched by these dynamics. Without the pressures of performance metrics, these videos offer a more authentic and intimate view of human life. They reveal how people use technology to document their lives, share memories, and connect with others in ways that are often overlooked in discussions about social media.
Exploring YouTube’s concealed realm is both intriguing and thought-provoking. The platform’s less visible side is abundant with simple, everyday moments that might appear trivial, but together, they create a rich tapestry of human experience. From a man living in his car chronicling his journey to a young ballerina performing on stage, these videos capture the beauty and intricacy of ordinary life.
Exploring YouTube’s hidden world is both fascinating and humbling. The platform’s lesser-seen side is filled with small, everyday moments that might seem insignificant but collectively form a rich tapestry of human experience. From a man living in his car documenting his journey to a young ballerina performing on stage, these videos capture the beauty and complexity of ordinary life.
For some creators, like Bill “The WoofDriver” Hellman, YouTube is a way to share their passions with the world. Hellman, a 58-year-old dog enthusiast, has spent years documenting his adventures with his four Siberian huskies, creating over 2,400 videos in the process. Despite putting significant effort into his content—including original music and drone footage—Hellman’s channel has a modest audience, with many videos receiving only a handful of views. “I don’t get a big audience most of the time, but that doesn’t bother me,” he says. “I just do it because of the joy it brings me and my dogs.”
While YouTube’s most prominent content frequently ignites discussions about misinformation, extremism, and harmful stereotypes, its hidden realm offers a contrast. The vast majority of videos on the platform are neutral or highly positive, highlighting the ordinary yet meaningful ways people use technology to share their lives. These videos remind us that, beyond the polished veneer of viral content, YouTube continues to be a space for creativity, connection, and self-expression.
While YouTube’s most visible content often sparks debates about misinformation, extremism, and harmful stereotypes, its hidden world provides a counterpoint. The vast majority of videos on the platform are neutral or overwhelmingly positive, showcasing the mundane yet meaningful ways people use technology to share their lives. These videos remind us that, beyond the polished façade of viral content, YouTube remains a space for creativity, connection, and self-expression.
As YouTube enters its third decade, its hidden world serves as a powerful reminder of the platform’s original purpose. In an era where social media is often criticized for its negative impact, these forgotten videos highlight the quieter, more personal side of the internet—a space where content doesn’t have to perform but can simply exist.
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