Ever since it was first posted to Luis Fonsi’s official YouTube page back in mid-January of this year, “Despacito” has been destined for greatness on the massively popular video hosting platform. In record time, the colorful, sexy treatment has broken records and earned not just one, but several spots in the history books.
Most-Viewed Video Of All Time
On Friday, “Despacito” blew right past Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again’ to steal the title of the most-watched video of all time on YouTube, which is truly quite the honor. For five years, the No. 1 spot was held by Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” and it was only about one month ago that “Again” finally pulled ahead after years of closing the gap. Now, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s biggest smash is powering forward, leaving both popular tunes in the dust.
First To Hit 3 Billion
Just a few hours after “Despacito” was named the most-viewed clip ever on the platform, it quickly passed three billion views, becoming the first upload to ever see its view count rise to that milestone. It has already been joined by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again,” but it will most likely be a little while before a third video is inducted into the three billion club.
It goes without saying that since it was the first video to reach three billion plays, "Despacito" also holds the record for the fastest climb to that point, and even if a number of other popular visuals quickly match the total view count, it is currently difficult to imagine anything racking up that many watches in such a short span of time.
Most-Liked In YouTube History
In addition to being the most-watched video of all time, “Despacito” is now also the most-liked item available on the site as well, according to a release shared by the company itself. That may simply be serving as icing on the cake for the two Latin artists fronting the track, but it also isn’t terribly surprising. If something is popular enough to best every other visual ever released in terms of plays, it makes sense that it would also earn the most thumbs up on the world’s most heavily trafficked video hosting site.
With the good also comes the bad, as “Despacito” has also earned well over a million and a half thumbs down, so don’t go thinking that everybody in the world loves the latest from Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.
First To Hit 2 Billion (And Then Some)
Before it reached three billion views, “Despacito” broke a few records along the way. It wasted no time in rising to two billion, and then two and a half billion views faster than any other video ever had. The news that it had jumped from billion to billions (with an S) was only released as an official statistic by YouTube less than one month before it finally made history by hitting three billion, which shows just how quickly the total view count is rising.
