Google has now decided to open YouTube Pop-up Space in Bangkok on May 12. This is the first YouTube Space in Thailand and the first time that Google has set up a temporary YouTube Space in Asia, following permanent YouTube Spaces in Tokyo and Mumbai, as well as in Los Angeles, New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, Sao Paolo, and Toronto.

YouTube Space is designed to be the home for YouTube creators to produce video content, attend workshops and collaborate with other channels. The YouTube Space team is focused on helping creators make great content through strategic programmes and workshops largely administered at the YouTube Space production facilities.

The concept of YouTube Space is to bring together the most creative people in the world to learn, connect and create. At YouTube Space, facilities featuring the latest production and post-production digital video equipment, as well as workshops, seminars and events will be available to YouTubers.

YouTube in numbers:

l YouTube has over a billion users – almost one-third of all people on the Internet – and every day YouTube generates billions of views.

l YouTube overall, and even YouTube on mobile alone, reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any other cable network in the US.

l Growth in watching time on YouTube has accelerated and is up at least 50 per cent year on year for three straight years. The number of people watching YouTube per day is up 40 per cent year on year since March 2014. The number of users coming to YouTube who start at the YouTube homepage, similar to the way they might turn on their TV, is up more than three times year on year.

l About 80 per cent of YouTube’s views are outside the US, while Thailand is among the top YouTube markets with local versions from among more than 88 countries around the world.

l Once users are on YouTube, they spend more time per session watching videos. On mobile, the average viewing session is now more than 40 minutes, up more than 50 per cent year on year.

l The number of hours people spent watching videos on mobile is up 100 per cent year on year. More than half of YouTube views come from mobile devices.

l The majority of YouTube’s views in Thailand come from mobile devices, showing the mobile-first preference of Thai viewers.

l Partner revenue is up 50 per cent year on year.

l The number of channels earning six figures per year on YouTube is up 50 per cent year on year.

l All of the top 100 global brands have run TrueView ads over the past year, and 95 per cent of TrueView advertisers have run campaigns across screens.

As of July 2015, there were 8,000-plus partners using Content ID — including many major network broadcasters, movie studios and record labels — who have claimed over 400 million videos, helping them control their content on YouTube and make money on videos containing copyrighted material.

The most popular joke this year came out of the US Embassy in Bangkok.

The US mission yesterday posted an announcement that it was recruiting a Feline Welfare Specialist.

Applications would be accepted only on April 1.

Among the requirements were the ability to exercise judgement in dealing with felines with sharp claws and the ability to efficiently take photos of felines for social media use.

Applicants were asked to submit a portfolio of their selfies with cats and a recommendation letter from a cat along with the application form.

On Facebook, They Call Me A Cat commented: Dear U.S. Embassy

I am interested in this position but I can’t wear a tie since I have no neck.

Ps. I don’t have writing skill so would you mind receiving my five rows of talisman instead?

He got a reply: Sawasdee kha. Now we only accept humans for the post. We have many feline officers. We will inform you when we are open for more positions. PS. Mostly, our feline officers wear Birthday Suits [naked], they don’t need a tie.

Other popular jokes, which people always notice as a joke, are wedding invitations and about big fortunes such as winning lotteries or big prizes.

Veena Thoopkrajae wrote: Don’t fill up your tank today. Hang on, oil prices will decrease by Bt5 tomorrow.

Not surprisingly, many Thais made jokes about politics.

Writer Teepagorn Champ Wuttipitayamongkol posted a drawing of a ballot box with a person voting. On the box was written “April Fool”.

On Line, a message was circulated that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had announced he did not want to come back to Thailand but wanted to open a Northern Thai food restaurant in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has quit politics and dedicated his life to teaching poor kids in a northern forest. People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsubangoes back to his oyster farm in Samui while former

premier Yingluck Shinawatra has opened a cafe and salad shop in Mon Chaem.

“General Prayut [Chan-o-cha] resigns and returns happiness to Thai people during Songkran Festival, and also produces a patriotic drama featuring [Korean actor] Song Joong Ki, Mai Davika [Hoorne] and Beer The Voice as main characters.”

Reporter Namsifa Nam wrote on her Facebook: “Thai people should name this day as a National Recheck Day,” and it would be scary if real tragedies happened and people failed to realise.

Nanthasit Nitmetha wrote: “Although someone may speak 100 per cent truth, people around will still doubt. This is how scary ‘a lie’ is.”

Actually in Thailand, April 1 is also the anniversary of many events and organisations.

The media also reminded the people that April 1, 1905, was the day King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) announced the abolition of slavery.

A lot of Thai social media users and even foreigners wrote their appreciation for his kind and brave decision.

However, Titipong Makeakagon wrote, “But nowadays, the poor are returning to be slaves. They are suppressed by the governing class, elites and the rich to not stand up for the basic human rights they possess.

Prawat Sombatwong wrote: “And when will Thais stop being slaves of politicians?”