Although YouTube has been a part of our lives for over 20 years, our consumption habits have evolved significantly. In 2024, as highlighted by CEO Neil Mohan in his annual letter, a major shift occurred, particularly regarding how Americans engage with the platform. Previously, viewing was predominantly through computers or mobile devices, but in 2024, television emerged as the leading medium for YouTube consumption in the U.S. Mohan remarked, “TV has surpassed mobile and is now the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S. (by watch time), and according to Nielsen, YouTube has been #1 in streaming watch time in the U.S. for two years.”
Mohan also emphasized YouTube’s role in facilitating access to historic events, particularly during the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, where Americans flocked to the platform for diverse election-related content. Noteworthy examples included Joe Rogan’s interview with President Trump, which amassed 55 million views, and popular primetime sketches from Saturday Night Live. On election day alone, over 45 million viewers engaged with related content, with some dubbing it ‘the YouTube election,’ reminiscent of the 2008 ‘YouTube Debates.’ From the Olympics to Coachella, and the Super Bowl to the Cricket World Cup, YouTube continues to showcase the world’s biggest moments.
Beyond the growth of YouTube.com, Mohan also celebrated the ongoing success of YouTube’s subscription services. “Our subscription services are seeing a lot of momentum, too,” he shared. “YouTube TV has more than 8 million subscribers, and YouTube Music & Premium boasts over 100 million subscribers (including trials). We’ll keep enhancing popular YouTube TV features, such as Key Plays and multiview, while introducing new benefits for YouTube Premium subscribers.” Furthermore, Feb. 14 will mark the 20th anniversary of YouTube, officially founded on Valentine’s Day in 2005.
