: 2023 saw the full integration of YouTube Shorts as a dominant format, often overshadowing traditional long-form premieres.
YouTube allows creators to upload videos and set them to "Premiere" at a future date and time. During the 2020–2022 period, it became a trend for users to schedule videos for 2023, 2025, or even 2030. THIS VIDEO PREMIERS IN 2023
While many of these "2023" videos were jokes, scheduling content in advance is a legitimate strategy used by professional YouTubers to maintain consistency: A Year on YouTube, 2023 - YouTube Culture & Trends : 2023 saw the full integration of YouTube
The phrase "THIS VIDEO PREMIERS IN 2023" was a widespread YouTube phenomenon where creators used the platform's scheduling and premiere tools to create placeholders for videos years before their release. While often appearing as a glitch or a meme, this practice served as a unique digital time capsule and a way for creators to engage with long-term audience curiosity. The Mechanics of the Trend While many of these "2023" videos were jokes,
: These videos would often appear in "Recommended" feeds or search results. Users would click out of curiosity, only to find a countdown that lasted years.
: Creators often used bait-and-switch tactics, titling videos with sensational claims only to reveal they wouldn't be viewable for another three years. Why 2023 Was a Digital Milestone
: Major 2023 cultural moments, such as the Barbie movie aesthetic and the Skibidi Toilet series, eventually filled the void that these placeholder "2023 premieres" once occupied. Strategic Implications for Creators