What year was YouTube acquired by Google?

YouTube was acquired by Google in 2006.

Google announced the deal on October 9, 2006, offering about $1.65 billion in Google stock for the young video-sharing company. The acquisition was completed on November 13, 2006. YouTube had been founded only the year before by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, but its rapid growth made it an important rival to Google Video.

The purchase gave Google a major foothold in online video while allowing YouTube to keep operating as a distinct brand. Google provided infrastructure, advertising expertise, and legal resources as the site expanded dramatically. A common mix-up is confusing the announcement date with the closing date: both occurred in 2006, so the year remains unambiguous.

YouTube’s first uploaded video, “Me at the zoo,” appeared in April 2005. The platform’s growth helped make user-generated video a central part of internet culture and eventually turned YouTube into one of Google’s most recognizable services.