YouTube now clocking up more than 2 billion views a day

How time flies. It seems hard to believe that just five years ago this month YouTube launched the beta version of its site to the world.

The mission was simple: give anyone a place to easily upload their videos and share them with the world.

Whether you were an aspiring filmmaker, a politician, a proud parent, or someone who just wanted to connect with something bigger, YouTube became the place where you could “broadcast yourself.”

But more important than that is the role its played in marketing and advertising. YouTube means that adverts for specific territories now have global reach and longevity way and beyond the initial planned campaign.

The phrase “viral video” is a common piece of language today. But its unlikely it would ever have been coined had it not been for YouTube.

Today (May 17, 2010) the site has announced that it has crossed another milestone and now exceeds over two billion video views a day.

What started as a site for bedroom vloggers and viral videos has evolved into a global platform that supports HD and 3D, broadcasts entire sports seasons live to over 200 countries, brings feature films from Hollywood studios and independent filmmakers to far-flung audiences, documents social unrest seeking to transform societies, and streams interviews with leading political figures to the world.

The landmark moment is being celebrated with a new channel which hosts the ‘My YouTube Story’ project, featuring people from around the world describing how YouTube has changed, or shaped, their lives.

The channel is also home to an interactive timeline containing some of the most important moments and memes in YouTube’s short history.

The site has also asked a handful of luminaries, like Conan O’Brien, Vint Cerf and Katie Couric, to curate playlists showcasing their favourite videos on the subjects they know best, whether it be comedy, tech or news.