What was the original purpose of YouTube?

The original purpose of YouTube was to create a simple and user-friendly platform for sharing and discovering videos. Specifically, the founders envisioned it as a space where users could:

1. **Share Personal Videos**: The platform was designed to allow individuals to upload and share their personal video content easily. This was in response to a perceived gap in the market for a straightforward video-sharing service.

2. **Host Video Content**: YouTube aimed to provide a space where users could store and showcase their videos without needing their own web hosting infrastructure.

3. **Facilitate Social Interaction**: By allowing users to comment on, rate, and share videos, YouTube was intended to foster a sense of community and interaction around video content.

Initially, YouTube was intended to be a platform for casual video sharing and social interaction, not necessarily as a major media or entertainment service. Over time, it evolved to become a central hub for a wide range of content, including professional media, educational videos, and user-generated content from around the world.