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Early YouTube Video Acquired By The Victoria And Albert Museum

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Diabolical Rabbit

Pop Culture – Early YouTube Video Acquired By The Victoria And Albert Museum.

The Victoria and Albert Museum has officially acquired an early YouTube watch page and the platform’s first-ever video, “Me at the zoo.”

Captured originally by the Internet Archive on December 8, 2006, the acquisition preserves a pivotal moment in web design and digital history. The digital artifact consists of three main components: the front-end code of the watch page, the video file for “Me at the zoo” which was initially uploaded on April 23, 2005, and a selection of banner advertisements from the era. Showcasing the lightweight and functional aesthetic of the mid-2000s, the 2006 layout features the video player and comments in a large left column, flanked by related and suggested videos on the right.

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Pop Culture – Early YouTube Video Acquired By The Victoria And Albert Museum.

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