The kids rated it the #1 coolest brand of 2024.

No, it's not TikTok, Apple or PlayStation.

I don't know why I was so shocked by this. Maybe because I only ever really use it to listen to background music. I guess, to me, it's always been such a boyish platform, for gamers and tech nerds.

But, gone are the days where YouTube is merely a warehouse for Gamer Vids or James Charles Drama.

YouTube has evolved over the last few years into a dynamic social networking hub. And it's a digital marketing weapon, especially because of its unique features for diverse audiences.

The platform is now far beyond a place to host videos. It's a place to reach large audiences, earn passive income, and spread brand awareness.

With 2.49 BILLION monthly active users, why would you not?

YouTube has 2.49 billion monthly active users. That's half of the 5.04 billion social media users worldwide, making it the second most used social platform. Obviously, this speaks volumes about the platform's popularity.

YouTube, as of this year, has 100 million paying subscribers. A number that's steadily increasing for both the platform's music and premium services.

People spend 48.7 minutes on YouTube each day. This is more than previous years, so far. This stat indicates growth in engagement, making it an ideal place to capture your target audience.

Viewers watch 1 billion hours of YouTube per day on their television. This means there's a huge space for high-resolution creators, but also for content that plays along in the background of people's day-to-day lives.

Users skew male. With roughly 55.5% being men and 45.6% women.

They're (mostly) between 25 and 34. This age group accounts for 21.3% of YouTube's user base, making them the largest group to use the platform.

India has the largest audience, with 462 million active users. This is followed by the U.S., then Brazil. However, the US drives the most traffic, at 21.93%.