Charlie Bit Me displays on platform’s legacy

What do Child Shark, the Harlem Shake and Gangnam Taste have in not unusual?

Overplayed? Worrying? You might be entitled for your opinion.

However what is now not doubtful is that all of them went viral on YouTube, which is now two decades outdated.

It is develop into where the place 2.5 billion other people go surfing per thirty days to kill time, be entertained and, every now and then no less than, be informed one thing.

However additionally it is been life-changing for a few of its breakout stars, like Charlie.

You would not recognise him now however thousands and thousands around the globe have watched him, as a child, chomping on his large brother’s digits.

That is as a result of he is the megastar of Charlie Bit My Finger.

“It used to be by no means now not part of my existence, it is at all times been there,” Charlie, who is now 18, tells BBC Newsbeat.

The 55-second clip has had nearly 900 million perspectives because it used to be uploaded in 2007.

Charlie says he cannot be mindful the instant, filmed when he used to be “about one” and sitting on Harry’s lap.

He says the clip’s luck has made existence “more straightforward” and helped him get to school the place he now research legislation.

His dad Howard Davies-Carr prior to now instructed Newsbeat the circle of relatives had made an estimated £a million off the video over time.

The video used to be bought as a non-fungible token, or NFT, for £500,000 in 2021.

However Mr Davies-Carr mentioned he sought after to stay the lads “very grounded” in how they are living their lives.

Charlie stocks that view and says he does not play the “do not you realize who I’m?” card.

“It is not like I exploit it as an icebreaker or the rest,” he says.

“I used to be by no means going to make use of this as a amusing reality.”

Charlie says he does not wish to be observed as a show-off, so when requested about himself volunteers “one thing else a little extra dull”.

“However my pals like to inform other people [sometimes], so it is onerous preserving it locked down,” says.

“It slips out once in a while.

“And persons are like: ‘Oh that is cool’, for like 5 mins. Or they are saying: ‘I have no idea what this is.'”

YouTube used to be based on 14 February 2005 through 3 pals – Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim – all former staff of the net cost device PayPal.

Whilst the primary video printed on 23 April 2005 used to be now not moderately Child Shark, it did have an animal theme.

It used to be a 19-second clip referred to as Me on the zoo, posted through co-founder Jawed.

The founders opened the primary YouTube headquarters in an administrative center above a California pizza eating place.

It’s now owned through Google and has places of work all over the place the arena.

In the United Kingdom, 82% of grownup web customers in the United Kingdom have reported the use of the platform – greater than WhatsApp (80%), Fb (76%) and Instagram (57%).

Now YouTube is a vacation spot many select for the newest trailers, evaluations and information.

However it’s track movies which dominate the most-viewed listing, with Child Shark Dance having greater than 15 billion watches.

Despacito through Luis Fonsi has greater than 8 billion, Form of You through Ed Sheeran has greater than six billion perspectives and PSY’s Gangnam Taste has 5.4 billion.

And whilst Charlie’s circle of relatives has been helped through source of revenue from YouTube, a few of its largest names have made a fortune.

American YouTuber MrBeast, a.ok.a Jimmy Donaldson, is the preferred YouTuber with greater than 360 million subscribers.

Industry mag Forbes estimates that he earned $85 million (£68 million) in 2024, making him the highest-paid author.

But it surely hasn’t all been easy crusing within the platform’s 20 years.

Truth-checking organisations around the globe have prior to now mentioned that YouTube isn’t doing sufficient to stop incorrect information at the platform.

The website online has additionally been punished for privateness violations, being fined $170m (£139m) through a US regulator for violating kids’s privateness rules.

In 2023, it used to be accused of gathering the viewing knowledge of kids elderly below 13, in breach of a UK knowledge privateness code.

And there has been grievance that, like different on-line platforms, violent and extremist movies had been to be had to view in spite of govt calls for his or her elimination.

Journalist Tamzin Kraftman, who covers era information, feels whilst the platform has controlled to stick related in opposition to festival from TikTok and Instagram, there are demanding situations with preventing such things as incorrect information.

“No workforce can undergo the entirety with a fine-toothed comb,” she says.

“So the query is how they’re going to be sure the entirety on there may be right kind and inside rules.”

Tamzin tells Newsbeat AI may just play a large function in serving to to handle the ones problems, however “may get issues flawed and may just ban the flawed channel”.

“I believe it is how they use new equipment to in reality prevent the unfold of incorrect information this is going to be their golden price ticket [going forward].”

And Charlie does not suppose the platform is “loss of life out” any time quickly, years on from his flutter with repute.

Whilst he does not be mindful rather a lot from then, he’s thankful for the alternatives it has introduced.

He has controlled to commute “a tight quantity” and been to the USA, filming a flight-safety video.

As for whether or not he is attempted to recreate the chunk?

“I have not since I used to be very younger.

“I may just get started charging now. However I think like I have misplaced my skill,” he says.

Pay attention to Newsbeat are living at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or pay attention again right here.