YouTube Celebrates 20 Years With Major Premium Updates
YouTube celebrates 20 years since its first-ever video upload by unveiling a host of new Premium and TV features, updated statistics, and a few hidden tools that many users may not know about. This milestone marks not just two decades of digital video, but the platform’s evolution into a core part of everyday entertainment and education.
20 Years of Video: By the Numbers
According to Viraj Manesh, Senior Product Manager at YouTube:
- 20 million videos are uploaded daily
- In 2024 alone, users posted over 100 million comments per day
- 10 million viewers received hearted replies from creators
For the first time ever, YouTube now displays a “20 years ago” timestamp under legacy videos—an emotional moment for longtime fans.
What’s New for YouTube Premium and TV Users
To mark the anniversary, YouTube is rolling out several major features focused on Premium, Music, and TV subscribers:
📺 YouTube TV:
- Multiview layouts now support non-sports content, including networks like ESPN and Food Network, allowing users to watch multiple streams simultaneously.
🎙️ Creators:
- Voice replies to comments are coming later in 2025, enabling deeper engagement between content creators and their communities.
🎵 YouTube Premium & Music (iOS/Android):
- Launch of personalized radio stations, where users describe their mood to generate tailored playlists
- Expanded playback speed up to 4x for mobile users
These tools are available in English and are gradually rolling out throughout the year.
New Hidden Tools and Features
YouTube is also highlighting lesser-known tools that enhance the viewing experience, especially for mobile users:
- Long-press for 2x speed on the video player
- Sleep timer to stop playback at bedtime
- Screen lock to prevent accidental touches and interruptions
- Song Search on Android – hum, whistle, or sing to identify music
- A special cake icon on the progress bar—available only today—to celebrate the 20th anniversary
A Platform Still Growing
From its humble beginnings in 2005 to becoming the world’s largest video-sharing platform, YouTube celebrates 20 years with more than just nostalgia—it shows a commitment to innovation, accessibility, and creator empowerment.
With a mix of creative tools, improved user experience, and new ways to consume content, YouTube remains at the forefront of online video culture.
