Google operates YouTube after acquiring the online video platform in 2006.
YouTube was founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. Google announced its acquisition of YouTube in October 2006 in a stock transaction valued at approximately $1.65 billion. The service remained a distinct brand while gaining Google's infrastructure, advertising technology, and global reach.
YouTube lets users upload, watch, share, and comment on videos. It has expanded from short user-uploaded clips into a broad platform covering music, live streams, news, education, gaming, and professional media. YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are additional subscription offerings.
Google itself is part of Alphabet, which was created as Google's parent company in 2015. This means YouTube is operated by Google, not directly branded as an Alphabet service. The platform's enormous audience and advertising business contribute to the economic importance of Google's wider corporate group.