A decade of doo doo doo: How Baby Shark swam across the globe on YouTube
Oct 13, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read
Ten years ago, a simple song about a family of sharks began its journey on YouTube. While global family entertainment company The Pinkfong Company first introduced the tune in 2015, it was their 2016 follow-up, featuring two children and iconic dance moves, that launched the global sensation we now know as “Baby Shark Dance.”
As we celebrate that 10 year milestone, “Baby Shark Dance” holds an almost unimaginable record: it surpassed 16 billion views in June 2025 and is still swimming, with a view count that has long surpassed the world’s population.
Here at YouTube, we see incredible content reach their audience every day, but the story of Baby Shark is a masterclass in how creators can use our platform to build a global community and a lasting cultural touchstone.
The Anatomy of Baby Shark’s success on YouTube
The success of “Baby Shark Dance” wasn't an accident; it was a perfect storm of elements that resonate deeply with our global audience.
- YouTube’s Global Stage: With billions of monthly logged-in users, YouTube provides an unparalleled platform for creators to share their stories and culture with the world. This massive audience served as the springboard that propelled “Baby Shark Dance” to travel across the globe almost instantly.
- The Universal Language of Song and Dance: The core of the song is simple, repetitive, and incredibly catchy. Combined with hand-motions that even the youngest viewers can mimic, it transcended language and cultural barriers. It didn’t matter where you were in the world; you could participate.
- Community-Powered Participation: The video sparked the #BabySharkChallenge, a user-generated trend that saw millions of people uploading their own versions of the dance. But it goes even deeper: creators have made over 100,000 videos using "Baby Shark Dance" and other Pinkfong content. This not only helped the song reach a broader audience but also created an additional revenue stream for the company through Content ID.
- A Destination for Families: YouTube Kids, which also celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year, has become a go-to destination for safe and engaging family content. “Baby Shark Dance” became a prime example of a video that kids wanted to watch on repeat, and its positive, educational nature made it a favorite for parents and teachers around the world.
A Truly Global Phenomenon
The song's reach is staggering. "Baby Shark Dance" has been watched by viewers in over 200 countries and regions. While it was watched the most in the United States, it received the most Likes from viewers in Brazil.
Viewers are also watching across different devices. The United States leads for watch time on Connected TVs, while Indonesia has the highest watch time on mobile devices. To meet this global demand, Pinkfong has made the song available in 25 different languages.
More Than a Video: A Launchpad for a Global Brand
The journey of Baby Shark is a testament to the power of YouTube as a launchpad for creators. The incredible viewership and global recognition The Pinkfong Company earned on the platform became the foundation for a massive, multi-platform franchise.
The initial success on YouTube led to:
- Hit animated series, Baby Shark's Big Show! and the feature film Baby Shark's Big Movie, collectively nominated for 3 Emmy Awards.
- A 20-week streak on Billboard's Hot 100, achieving RIAA Diamond (11x Platinum) and BRIT certified 5x Platinum
- Interactive family concerts, engaging with over 1.5 million fans in more than 200 cities and 16 countries
- A global musical show tour in the U.S., Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and more.
- An extensive line of merchandise, from toys to books to apparel.
Pinkfong leveraged its YouTube audience to build a durable brand that now exists both on and off the platform, reaching families in their homes and communities in new and exciting ways.
A Ten-Year Legacy
The story of “Baby Shark Dance” is a story about connection. It connected parents with their children, classrooms with a new learning tool, and united the world in a shared cultural moment. It demonstrates how a single video from a creative team can become a beloved part of daily life for billions.
Congratulations to The Pinkfong Company on this incredible 10-year milestone. It’s a powerful reminder that on YouTube, a catchy song can become a global anthem, a family of sharks can launch a worldwide brand, and the next cultural touchstone might just be one upload away.
- English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Spanish, Russian, Bahasa Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, German, Dutch, Mongolian, Italian, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Navajo, Hindi, Ukrainian, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali