4 days ago
Last Updated:December 31, 2024, 08:00 IST
YouTube is testing a slew of features before it rolls out for all the users and this new one could change the way you stream on it.
YouTube is testing another feature that could change how you stream content
YouTube is testing a new feature on Android. YouTube is one of the most widely used streaming apps with billions of active users. Now the Google-owned platform is looking to enhance the user experience by making it easier for individuals to view random content if they do not know what to watch next. They are reportedly testing an exciting new feature aimed at helping users find the right video without having to deal with endless scrolling. This feature will be a floating action button that says ‘Play something’, as per details from 9to5google.
The new ‘Play something’ button reportedly appears against a black background with white text, located just above the bottom navigation bar. It is supposed to work as a random video picker. When a user taps on this button, it initiates a random video in the YouTube Shorts player.
This feature can also play regular content in portrait mode while leaving enough room for large buttons for like, dislike, comments and share on the mobile screen. You will be given a timeline scrubber at the bottom of your phone’s display. It is also worth noting that when this mini-player is being used, the ‘Play something’ button tends to disappear.
The ‘Play Something’ feature lets you initiate the main content consumption purpose of the YouTube app. It supposedly takes your video preferences into account to provide you with something you may consider watching. As per 9to5google, YouTube has been testing this feature since last year. However, this recent report of the ‘Play something’ feature comes from version 19.50 for Android. In previous versions, they had included banners with the same name. It featured a much simpler black-and-white button that resembled the platform’s logo. YouTube is now looking to focus on developing a more prominent button.
YouTube’s ‘Play Something’ experiment works similarly to Netflix’s ‘Surprise Me’ feature. Netflix originally launched this feature in 2021. The ‘Surprise Me’ feature, however, was retired last year. It was also aimed at helping users quickly find something to watch instead of endlessly scrolling through options.
There is still no clarity on when or if the new ‘Play something’ button will be made available to all users. It seems Google is still reviewing if they should proceed with the rollout of this feature. For now, it just stands as another experiment in the ongoing evolution of the streaming platform.
First Published:December 31, 2024, 08:00 IST
News tech What Is YouTube ‘Play Something’ Feature? Everything You Need To Know
