Tech History: YouTube was Originally Conceived as an Online Dating Site

Long before YouTube brought us cat videos, makeup tutorials, and conspiracy theory rabbit holes, it had one very specific purpose: To help you get a date.

Back in 2005, YouTube’s founders—Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim—had a grand vision: a video-based dating site called “Tune In, Hook Up.” (We’re not making that up. That was the actual name.)

The idea was simple, if slightly terrifying: People would upload short videos introducing themselves and talking about what they wanted in a partner. Kind of like Tinder, but with more dial-up and public embarrassment.

The problem? Nobody uploaded anything. Apparently, even in the early 2000s, the idea of broadcasting your dating life to the internet was a step too far.

So, in a desperate move to get anyone to upload content, the team flipped the switch:

“Fine. Just upload anything.”

That tiny pivot—from awkward dating site to “post whatever you want” platform—was all it took. The floodgates opened. Videos of dogs skateboarding, weird music remixes, and a guy at the zoo named Jawed talking about elephants started appearing.

The rest ? Billions of views, millions of creators, and a global obsession later... YouTube became the most accidental success story in internet history.