YouTube is testing a new feature called the “Play Something” button to make video discovery easier and reduce the time spent endlessly scrolling for content.
What is the ‘Play Something’ Button?
The “Play Something” button is a floating action button that appears just above the bottom navigation bar on the YouTube app. The button has a black background with white text and initiates a randomly selected video.
How It Works
- Random Content Playback:
- The feature initially launches videos in the Shorts player.
- It can also play regular YouTube videos in portrait mode.
- During playback, standard controls such as like, dislike, comment, and share are available on the right side of the screen.
- A timeline scrubber is present at the bottom for easy navigation.
- Button Visibility:
- The “Play Something” button disappears when the mini-player is active.
Background and Testing
This isn’t YouTube’s first attempt at a “Play Something” feature.
- 2023 Experimentation: A Reddit user spotted a banner with the text “Can’t decide what to watch?” paired with a similar button.
- Current Experiment: According to 9to5Google, the updated version of the feature offers both Shorts and regular videos for a diverse viewing experience.
Will It Roll Out?
It remains uncertain whether YouTube will officially launch the “Play Something” button for all users. Google appears to still be evaluating the feature’s reception and utility.
Other Recent YouTube Updates
In October 2024, YouTube introduced several new features:
- Thumbnails for Playlists: Users can now customize thumbnails for their playlists.
- Sleep Timers: A feature to set reminders for taking breaks.
- Redesigned Mini-Player: Improved navigation and aesthetics for a better viewing experience.
If implemented widely, the “Play Something” button could further enhance content discovery by offering a seamless way to explore new videos without manual search or scrolling.
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