Now, when a YouTube video goes viral, it guarantees that somebody or something will get their 15 minutes of fame.
Indeed, a hit video can change lives in an Internet heartbeat. Jeanne Moos takes a look at the videos that caused the most buzz this year.
The thing about YouTube videos is that some you get... and some seem like gibberish.
For instance, in this year's top-10 most-viewed videos the number-five spot went to a very annoying cat.
The number-10 spot went to a very adorable cat -- a mother cat hugging its kitten while the two of them take a catnap.
The number-nine video was Volkswagen's Super Bowl commercial called "The Force."
Number eight was a cute 11-year-old Canadian singing Lady Gaga's hit.
Lady Gaga was so impressed she invited Maria Aragon to sing a duet in concert.
Number seven was a dance comedy video. YouTube is the place if you want people to...
Look at me now, oh!
At least 56 million people looked at the twin talking babies who seem to understand each other perfectly.
Adults enjoyed adding subtitles and nominating them for Best Foreign Language Film.
Comedy music videos were popular. And we might as well acknowledge the number-one video that got over 180 million views.
It's Friday, Friday.
OK. That's enough acknowledgment. But it's the video that came in at number two that's number one in my heart.
And since it's my story, that's the one we're gonna concentrate on.
You know what the meat drawer is, right?
Yes. What was in there?
There is just something riveting about the talking dog being teased.
You know that bacon that's like maple? It's got maple flavoring?
The maple kind. Yeah.
Yeah, so...
Yeah?
I took that out, and I thought...
Yeah?
...I know who would like that. Me! So I ate it.
Ahhh!
Looks like he's getting his hopes up and then they're dashed. And then he gets his hopes up again and then they're dashed again.
Clark the Dog now has a Facebook fan page with a joke bacon tree and a bacon T-shirt. And if you're wondering...
You're kidding me.
...what he really said in dog-speak... (ruff-arf)
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.