CEO of the Year Neal Mohan Discusses YouTube’s Cultural Dominance

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Neal Mohan, TIME’s 2025 CEO of the Year, describes his role at YouTube as being like a “mayor” – responsible for a vast and dynamic community. At a recent TIME event in New York City honoring Mohan and other leaders like Leonardo DiCaprio and A’ja Wilson, he discussed YouTube’s impact on culture and politics, its connection with content creators and young viewers, and his plans for the platform’s future with TIME’s editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs.

According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, they focus on supporting creators rather than competing with other streaming services. They see their role as providing a platform for talented individuals to share their work. YouTube has over two billion users and receives more than 500 hours of new video content every minute, as reported by Google.

I was listening to a conversation where someone asked the CEO of YouTube, Mohan, how he’d describe the platform to someone who last saw it back in 2006. His answer really struck me. He said YouTube is basically where culture happens every day. He believes that for most young people, opening YouTube on their phone is like getting a direct line to what’s new and trending. He really emphasized that the platform’s ability to adapt and be everything to everyone is what made it so dominant in the first place.

YouTube offers creators incredible flexibility: you can share your story in any format, from quick 15-second shorts to lengthy 15-hour live streams, or anything in between.

When asked about potential issues between Hollywood and platforms like YouTube, Mohan highlighted that many media companies are actually major content creators on YouTube, running numerous channels. He explained that a significant amount of fan activity surrounding their movies and shows happens on YouTube, and they’ve told him this directly.

I was really surprised to hear that YouTube reportedly paid over $20 million to a trust connected to building the White House ballroom to settle a lawsuit with Donald Trump. It made me wonder how YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, explained that decision to everyone working there and to the creators who use the platform. He basically said their main goal is to keep delivering on YouTube’s promise – giving everyone a voice and a window to the world. He framed the payment as a way to remove a distraction from that core mission, and that contributing to what he hopes is a good cause was the best way to handle the situation and move forward.

When asked if the Trump Administration had tried to control what people could comment on YouTube, Mohan explained that with so many people posting daily, the platform inevitably plays a role in public conversation, a responsibility he acknowledges. He stated that YouTube works with governments globally, but also feels strongly about keeping its original commitment to being a place where people can freely express themselves.

I was really struck by something Jacobs brought up – a recent poll showed about 20% of American teens are practically living on YouTube or TikTok! It got me thinking, and Jacobs actually asked Mohan directly if he ever worried about how all that screen time might be affecting kids. It’s a valid concern, right?

I was really struck by what Mohan said about responsibility, especially when he emphasized how important it is to focus on young people. He reminded us that YouTube was actually the first to create a separate app just for kids, way back ten years ago! It’s interesting to hear that he and his wife personally try to limit their own kids’ screen time on platforms like YouTube, too. He believes – and I agree – that the best thing YouTube can do is give parents easy-to-use tools to manage what their children see and do, and to tailor it to what works best for their family.

When asked about YouTube’s future, CEO Neal Mohan explained that while technology will evolve how content is made and viewed, the platform’s core values will remain the same. He believes YouTube’s strength lies in its open access for creators. “The heart of YouTube will stay largely the same,” Mohan said. “It’s a place where anyone with a good idea can share it, regardless of their appearance, gender, or location. That fundamental aspect won’t change.”

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2025-12-11 10:06