This Month in YouTube: December 2009

Top news from the site this month:

1. The "YouTube revolution" grips Iran
As conflict flares up again in Iran, YouTube continues to provide a window into what ordinary citizens are experiencing on the ground. These videos are the voice of the people — unfiltered, unedited and with a single, sometimes disturbing point of view. Read more in our blog.

2. What you watched and searched for in 2009
For the first time we shared our official Most Watched lists and some of the fastest-rising search terms on YouTube. If you haven't seen the lists yet (over half a million people have already checked them out), click here.

3. Most memorable videos of the year
Sponsored by Samsung, this channel features an advent-calendar-style countdown revealing some of the don't-miss clips uploaded in '09. Use it as a cheat sheet to get up-to-speed on the core people and videos that defined YouTube this year.

4. Unknown filmmaker gets Hollywood funding
Uruguayan filmmaker Federico Alvarez Mattos recently made headlines when his special-effects-laden YouTube video, "Ataque de Panico (Panic Attack!) 2009," caught the eye of Hollywood bigwigs, who offered him $30 million to bring his talents to the large screen under the tutelage of director Sam Raimi. Hear about his experience firsthand in the Creator's Corner blog.

5. Viral Video of the Month...
...is of this irresistibly cute 5-year-old uke player from Japan.

Posted by Mia Quagliarello, Product Marketing Manager, Editorial/Community