Wilgens Sirise
By: Wilgens Sirise
When I first heard the word “YouTube,” I didn’t think it would become one of the biggest tools that could transform people’s lives on a global scale. But today, if you’re reading this, it’s because you already know how powerful this platform is. And I’m here to shed light on it – not just how it works, but how it can change you, just as it is already changing so many people around the world.
YouTube: How did it start?
YouTube was officially launched in February 2005 by three young men who worked for PayPal: Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. They wanted to create a place where people could share videos easily, without too much hassle. The first video on YouTube was “Me at the zoo” – a short video posted by Jawed on April 23, 2005.
Google didn’t take long to notice YouTube’s potential. In 2006, Google bought the platform for $1.65 billion. And since then, it’s history. A story of limitless growth.
How Many People Are On YouTube Today?
By 2025, YouTube will have over 2.7 billion monthly active users. That makes it the second most visited website in the world, after Google itself. More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to the platform every minute, and more than 1 billion hours of video are watched every day. This is no joke. This is a movement. It’s like a new country on the internet – a country where anyone, anywhere, can become a global celebrity.
How Much Money Can You Make on YouTube?
Okay, let’s be clear. You can make a lot of money on YouTube – but it’s not a magic button. You don’t just post videos and the money will come pouring in. But when you work it right, it’s one of the best ways to build a long-term revenue stream.
On average, YouTube pays between $1 and $20 per 1,000 views (depending on your video’s subject matter, language, country, and engagement). This is called CPM (Cost Per Mille – this means how much they pay for 1,000 views). A niche like finance, technology, or health can earn higher CPMs.
Here’s an example
If you have a video that gets 1 million views, you can earn $2,000 to $15,000. What if you have 10 videos like that a month? You do the math. Even smaller channels can make money. There are YouTubers with 10,000 subscribers who earn $1,000 a month, depending on their community engagement.
How Does YouTube Pay YouTubers?
YouTube doesn’t just pay you for uploading videos. To start earning, you need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Here are the requirements:
Have at least 1,000 subscribers
Have 4,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months
Follow YouTube’s community guidelines and have an AdSense account.
Once you accept, you can earn by:
Advertising (Adsense)
Super Chat/Super Thanks
Channel Memberships
.YouTube Premium (where YouTube Premium users watch your .videos without ads and you earn from it) Channel Memberships .Merchandise (Products you sell through YouTube)
I am Wilgens Sirise – What Does YouTube Mean to Me?
I am a believer in the power of narrative. It’s not a cliché. It’s reality. When I hear stories of people who came from nothing and YouTube turned them into people with impact, it makes my heart skip a beat.
I see YouTube as a tool of freedom. A space where you don’t need anyone to give you opportunities – you can create your own. You can use your phone camera, your laptop, or even your voice to make videos. If you put in the right amount of effort, if you put in your mind, your passion, and your consistency, you can build a community, you can make a living doing what you love.
I believe in that. And that’s what I want for all other young people like me – don’t let fear stop you from acting. Don’t let contempt stop you from trying. YouTube is for everyone – it doesn’t require you to speak English, it doesn’t require you to have a nice camera, it requires you to have valuable content, and a simple but real voice.
Here are some real tips, from what I do.
.Choose a Topic You Love – If you love what you’re talking about, you’ll always find the energy to do more. Consistency – Post regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but keep a rhythm..Don’t Imitate Too Much – Do your own thing. People love authenticity.
.Optimize your videos for search – Title, description, keywords. This helps people find you. .Engage with your community – Reply to comments, post polls, make people feel important.
Conclusion: YouTube Is Not Just a Platform – It’s an Opening
YouTube is not a game. It’s not a waste of time. It’s not simply a place to “talk in front of a camera”. It is a tool that can take you beyond anything you ever imagined. If you put the right strategy, the right conscience, and your heart into it, it can be your greatest achievement.
I am Wilgens Sirise, and this is my voice. This is not written by AI. This is not a robot. This is a young person who believes in the power of content, who sees YouTube as the bridge that leads from dreams to reality. These words come from hope and experience – and if you believe like me, the time to start is now.
