most watched youtube videos?
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Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time
As of 2024, "Baby Shark Dance" by Pinkfong Kids' Songs & Stories holds the record for the most viewed YouTube video with over 15.36 billion views 1. Since Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" in 2009, music videos have dominated YouTube's most-viewed list, though children's content has also gained significant popularity
1. The platform's view counting system ensures legitimacy by requiring at least 30 seconds of watch time and limiting views from the same IP address
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Top 10 Most Viewed Videos
- Baby Shark Dance
youtube.com - 15.36 billion views (Released June 2016)
1
- Despacito
youtu.be - 8.60 billion views (Released January 2017)
3
- Johny Johny Yes Papa - 6.99 billion views (Released October 2016)
- Bath Song
- Wheels on the Bus
Baby Shark Dance Loading…
Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee Loading…
Evolution of YouTube Views
The journey to billion-view videos began with a Nike advertisement featuring Ronaldinho in November 2005, which became the first video to reach 1 million views 1. The billion-view milestone was first achieved by PSY's "Gangnam Style"
youtube.com in December 2012
1. The platform has since seen exponential growth, with "Baby Shark Dance" becoming the first video to surpass 10 billion views in January 2022
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View Counting Mechanism
YouTube employs a sophisticated system to ensure view counts are legitimate 1:
- Users must intentionally initiate video playback
- Viewers must watch at least 30 seconds (or entire video if shorter)
- Maximum 4-5 views counted per IP address within 24 hours
- Secret algorithm filters out artificial views
Types of Popular Content
Two main categories dominate the most-viewed list 3:
- Music Videos:
- Professional productions from established artists
- Multiple language offerings, especially Spanish content
- High production values and viral potential
- Children's Content:
- Educational videos and nursery rhymes
- Repetitive viewing patterns from young audience
- Colorful animations and simple, catchy tunes
Notable Achievements
- See You Again
- Shape of You
- Uptown Funk
Platform Impact
YouTube has become the world's second-most visited website and second-most popular social media platform 3. With over 2.70 billion monthly active users as of September 2024, the platform continues to grow, with approximately 500 hours of video uploaded every minute
14.
Regional Influence
India leads global YouTube engagement with 476 million monthly users, followed by the United States (238 million) and Brazil (147 million) 23. This diverse user base contributes to the variety of content reaching viral status.