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This deeply reported account of YouTube explores how the platform transformed media, culture, industry, and democracy, authored by a leading tech journalist. With over a billion hours of video watched daily and more than five hundred hours uploaded every minute, YouTube's scale is staggering. Yet, few understand its inner workings. This book is the first to detail the evolution of YouTube's technology and business, revealing how it contributed to Google’s immense power. The narrative is enriched by insights from the creators of YouTube and the Google executives who later took control. It highlights the consequences of corporate greed, including the erosion of truth, the proliferation of violence, and the corruption of the internet—all driven by profit motives. Mark Bergen, a prominent Google reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, has extensive knowledge of the company, having uncovered numerous stories about its business practices and scandals. His unique access within these corporations turns this account into a compelling, character-driven exploration of technological innovation and the hubris that ultimately compromised it.