What happened to all the funny betting videos from the 1990s and early 2000s?
The world of social media has changed the way we consume content. Back in the day, if we wanted to watch funny or cute animal videos, we’d visit YouTube or Vimeo and maybe check in on social media sites like Twitter or Facebook to see what the trending topics were. Sometimes we’d even read the comments to get a feel for what others thought about the content we were watching. Now? With memes being tweeted about and Facebook videos gaining millions of views, perhaps watching these animal-related videos is no longer a pastime.
We looked into the data to find out which videos were most popular and where the audience was coming from. While we were unable to track the exact viewing figures for YouTube videos before April 2021, the data gives us a good idea of which content YouTube’s algorithm deemed most popular and relevant to its users.
Top Content From the Past Decade
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember some of the most popular videos from the previous 10 years.
The following table lists the top 10 most viewed videos for each year, excluding duplicates. We’ll discuss some key takeaways from this data in a bit.
The most viewed video each year
2019 | 1080p, Dr. Danielle Naccarella, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of the UCSF Digestive Diseases Week, University of California
—|—
| 2019 | 830 million views
| 2019 | 8.3 million views
| 2019 | 7.72 million views
| 2019 | 7.48 million views
| 2019 | 6.89 million views
| 2019 | 6.82 million views
| 2019 | 6.81 million views
| 2019 | 6.75 million views
| 2019 | 6.5 million views
| 2019 | 6.45 million views
| 2019 | 6.25 million views
| 2018 | 630 million views
| 2018 | 6.2 million views
| 2018 | 4.73 million views
| 2018 | 4.69 million views
| 2018 | 4.65 million views
| 2018 | 4.57 million views
| 2018 | 4.5 million views
| 2018 | 4.45 million views
| 2018 | 4.4 million views
The Most Popular Videos From 2019
Looking at the most viewed videos from 2019, we can see some interesting trends. First, many of them are related to animals and memes. Second, many are centered on health issues, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic. Third, some highlight specific sports rivalries while others just want to have some fun. Take a look.
The most viewed video of 2019, as you might have guessed, was “Dr. Danielle Naccarella, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of the UCSF Digestive Diseases Week, University of California.” The video, which was uploaded in April, had 830 million views as of December 31, 2019. It highlights Dr. Naccarella’s incredible 2019 at UCSF as she talks about the pandemic, its impact, and how to help patients during these challenging times.
Next in line for the most viewed video on YouTube this year is “TikTok – the Most Popular iPhone App, 2019 Edition.” This clip, uploaded by TikTok on April 28, had 8 million views as of November 20, 2019. It highlights some of the most popular iPhone games of 2019, such as Pokémon Go, Monument Valley, and more.
Health Videos
The health videos category was one of the most engaging categories on YouTube in 2019. Looking at the top five videos, we can see that these videos tended to be short and snappy —just like the videos you see at the start of an episode of TV show, House of Gucci. Perhaps this is because people are seeking quick and easy answers to their health questions during these challenging times. Here are some interesting tidbits about the top five health-related videos from 2019.
- The most viewed health video of 2019 was “What is a Meme?” uploaded by the Cartoonist Group on March 27, with 144 million views.
- The second most viewed health video of 2019 was “What is a Virus?” uploaded by Mediators Inc. on April 9, with 123 million views.
- The third most viewed health video of 2019 was “How Covid-19 Started.” uploaded by DrDora on April 3, with 116 million views.
- The fourth most viewed health video of 2019 was “How to make your own face mask.” uploaded by Mediators Inc. on March 28, with 112 million views.
- The fifth most viewed health video of 2019 was “The Truth About Handwashing,” uploaded by The Rhema Media on April 1, with 111 million views.
If you look at the ten most popular videos in the health category, you’ll notice that most of them are related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The following are some of the most viewed health videos from 2019.
Covid-19: The Videos
While we can’t say for sure that watching funny animal videos will make you immune to the effects of the pandemic, it probably won’t hurt. Covid-19, or the coronavirus, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was first detected in December 2019, after which time it went mainstream media. As the number of cases grew, so did the number of videos related to the pandemic. Here are some of the most engaging videos about Covid-19 from 2019.
- The most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Coronavirus News Videos That Will Make You Feel Better.” uploaded by Jovi Scientific On March 26, with 144 million views.
- The second most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Top Videos Relevant to Covid-19.” uploaded by Just Medias on March 27, with 123 million views.
- The third most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Top Videos Relevant to Covid-19.” uploaded by Just Medias on March 27, with 123 million views.
- The fourth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Coronavirus News and Media Round-up.” uploaded by Mediators Inc. on April 2, with 116 million views.
- The fifth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Covid-19:” An Important Historical Perspective.” uploaded by DrDora on April 3, with 112 million views.
- The sixth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Covid-19 Is Just a Cold.” uploaded by the Cartoonist Group on March 26, with 110 million views.
- The seventh most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Coronavirus Cases in the US.” uploaded by CDCgov on March 26, with 105 million views.
- The eighth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “How Is the Pandemic Going?” uploaded by Liana Science on April 13, with 99 million views.
- The ninth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “Covid-19 and the Global Economy.” uploaded by Global Dog on April 8, with 98 million views.
- The tenth most viewed video about Covid-19 from 2019 was “How to Build a Better Protein Shake? Create a Perfect Recipe With These Tips.” uploaded by My Health Co on April 24, with 92 million views.
If you’re seeking relief from the anxiety caused by the pandemic, be sure to check out one of the many great YouTube comedy channels, like Mr. Bean or Harvey Levin’s How to Become a YouTube Comedy Partner. The videos are funny and they make you feel a little better. However, if you’re looking for information about the pandemic, these videos may not be for you —particularly the older videos. The information contained in these videos may not be current and it may also be skewed toward humor, which could potentially cause you to feel worse. If you’re seeking information about Covid-19, try searching for reliable sources or consult with a physician or medical professional. Alternatively, you could read our blog post about the best videos on YouTube about Covid-19.