How did YouTube gain initial popularity?

YouTube gained initial popularity through several key factors:

1. **Ease of Use**: YouTube provided a simple and user-friendly platform for uploading, sharing, and watching videos. Its intuitive interface made it accessible to a broad audience.

2. **Viral Content**: Early viral videos and user-generated content attracted significant attention. Memorable videos like "Charlie Bit My Finger" and "Evolution of Dance" quickly spread across the internet, drawing more users to the site.

3. **Social Sharing**: The ability to easily share videos via email or embed them on other websites helped YouTube videos reach a wider audience. This facilitated viral growth as videos could be shared across various platforms.

4. **Community Engagement**: YouTube fostered a sense of community by allowing users to comment on videos, create channels, and interact with content creators. This engagement helped build a loyal user base.

5. **Diverse Content**: The platform's openness allowed a wide variety of content, from amateur videos to professional productions, which appealed to diverse interests and demographics.

6. **Media Attention**: Media coverage and word-of-mouth also played a significant role in driving traffic to YouTube. As more people learned about the platform, its popularity grew.

These factors combined to create a compelling and engaging experience that quickly drew users and content creators, propelling YouTube to widespread popularity.