YouTube started life as a dating app, says co-founder Steve Chen

It is one of the biggest sites in the world with over a billion users, but YouTube began life as a dating site, one its co-founders has revealed. Steve Chen, speaking at the South by Southwest in Austin to launch his news food video site Nom, said it was conceived on Valentine's day - but five days later, had not attracted a single user. 'We always thought there was something with video there, but what would be the actual practical application?' he said. 'We thought dating would be the obvious choice.' YouTube founders Steve Chen (left) and Chad Hurley: Speaking at the South by Southwest in Austin to launch his news food video site Nom, Chen said it was conceived on Valentine's day - but five days later, had not attracted a single user.