
Background YouTube was acquired by Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion and has since become one of Google's most successful and strategically important products. While YouTube has evolved to include social networking features, it remains primarily a video-sharing platform and a core part of Google's digital ecosystem.
Resolution Criteria This market will resolve as YES if
- YouTube remains owned and operated by Google (Alphabet Inc.) through February 24, 2026. 
The market will resolve as NO if:
- YouTube is sold or spun off from Google/Alphabet before February 24, 2026 
- YouTube will discontinue or renamed before this date 
- Google/Alphabet undergoes a corporate restructuring that separates YouTube into a completely independent entity 
Considerations
- While there are occasional rumors about potential antitrust actions or corporate restructuring, there are currently no credible indications that Google plans to divest YouTube 
- The recent announcement of YouTube's Limited Ad Serving policy implementation through 2026 suggests continued long-term integration with Google's advertising infrastructure 
- Any temporary service outages or rebranding that maintains Google's ownership would not affect the resolution of this market