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The Discovery of the “Welcome to YouTube!!!” Video Glitch
On January 26, 2023, a video titled “Welcome to YouTube!!!” suddenly appeared on social media, claiming to be the oldest video on YouTube, pre-dating the iconic “Me at the zoo” upload by several days. The video featured an old YouTube logo on a blue background with overlaid text referencing the YouTube co-founders and a mid-2000s aesthetic reminiscent of Windows Movie Maker.
However, upon closer inspection, viewers noticed several inconsistencies that cast doubt on the authenticity of the video. The upload date was listed as April 6, 2005, before the actual upload date of “Me at the zoo.” Furthermore, the video utilized features such as YouTube premieres and resolution sizes that were not introduced until years later.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the video was exploiting a glitch that allowed the upload date to be changed, creating the illusion of a historical discovery. YouTube quickly addressed the issue, confirming that the true oldest video on the platform remains “Me at the Zoo,” uploaded on April 23, 2005.
The “Welcome to YouTube!!!” video’s upload date has since been corrected, and the channel behind it has continued to upload videos poking fun at the situation. Despite the temporary confusion, the glitch served as a reminder of the enduring legacy of “Me at the zoo” as the first-ever YouTube video.
