V&A displays first YouTube video and watchpage
Source: BBC Technology
V&A displays first YouTube video and watchpage
Visitors to the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) can “step back in time” as a reconstruction of the original YouTube watch page goes on display. The museum worked with YouTube to rebuild the design and experience of the platform, using internet archives from December 2006—the oldest available.
The south‑Kensington museum has also acquired the first video ever uploaded to the site, Me at the Zoo, posted by YouTube co‑founder Jawed Karim in April 2005.
“By reconstructing the original 2005 watch page, we aren’t just showing a video; we are inviting the public to step back in time to the beginning of a global, cultural phenomenon.” – Neal Mohan, YouTube chief executive
Significance of “Me at the Zoo”
“Me at the Zoo was the first video posted to YouTube by its co‑founder Jawed Karim,” said Mohan. “It is a proud moment to see this piece of digital history housed in the V&A where we hope it will inspire generations to come.”
- Viewed nearly 380 million times
- Liked over 18 million times
- Filmed with a digital camera, marking a turning point in user‑generated content and media consumption
- Introduced early UI conventions (badges, rating buttons, sharing and recommendation features) that are now standard across media platforms
Curator perspective
Corinna Gardner, senior curator of design and digital at the V&A, called the snapshot “an important moment in the history of the internet and digital design.” She added:
“The acquisition opens new storytelling opportunities for us to showcase and explore how the internet has shaped our world, from the birth of mainstream video‑sharing platforms through to today’s hyper‑visual world and the media and creator economy that go with it.”
Exhibition details
The reconstruction process will be explored in a mini‑display at the V&A East Storehouse, reinforcing the museum’s commitment to collecting and preserving digital design.
Previous digital acquisitions
- Flappy Bird
- EUKI
- Design for the mosquito emoji