This period saw music videos become the platform's primary drivers. In 2012, PSY’s "Gangnam Style" became the first video to reach 1 billion views. It was later surpassed by Luis Fonsi’s "Despacito," which held the crown for several years.
If we treat YouTube as a director, its filmography is inconsistent but undeniably ambitious. It has successfully crowd-sourced the entertainment industry. While traditional cinema relies on gatekeepers, YouTube’s filmography is built on the premise that anyone with a camera can contribute to the canon. free xxx tube xnxx sex videos top
In its infancy, YouTube’s "popular videos" were defined by brevity and low fidelity. The filmography of this era was built on the "viral short"—unpolished, accidental, and universally relatable. This period saw music videos become the platform's
As of April 2026, the platform is dominated by children's content and global music hits. "Baby Shark Dance" remains the most-viewed video in history, having surpassed in early 2026. If we treat YouTube as a director, its