Neal Mohan, chief executive at YouTube, said: “By reconstructing the original 2005 watchpage, we aren’t just showing a video; we are inviting the public to step back in time to the beginning of a global, cultural phenomenon. It also became one of the early examples of user interface design conventions such as badges, rating buttons, sharing and recommendation features which have largely become standard features across media platforms today. Corinna Gardner, senior curator of design and digital at the V&A, said: “This snapshot of YouTube during the early days of web 2.0 marks an important moment in history of the internet and digital design. The process of reconstruction will also be explored in a mini display at V&A East Storehouse, with the acquisition building on the V&A’s commitment to collecting and preserving digital design. Previous digital acquisitions include WeChat, Flappy Bird, EUKI, and the design for the mosquito emoji.

Source: The Herald February 18, 2026 12:14 UTC