YouTube plans to launch a feature that users will not find amusing

YouTube continues to adapt to the short video trends driven by TikTok and Instagram Reels. In its latest test, the platform has introduced a new “swipe up” gesture in full-screen long videos, similar to the one already used in Shorts.

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This change, identified by journalist Tushar Mehta, is intended to create consistency in the application by allowing users to swipe up to move to the next video in the queue (currently, this gesture minimizes the player). The proposal has not been well received by users, many of whom believe that this update could affect the traditional YouTube experience.

The difference between the consumption of long and short videos is evident. In the case of long YouTube videos, users usually choose to watch the content with a specific and concrete interest, and not scrolling passively as in short video feeds. This new gesture could interfere with the interaction that has developed over the years, interrupting the natural flow of watching extensive videos, an aspect valued by many users.

The YouTube product team is fucking the gestures in the Android app one after another.

Who the fuck wants to scroll on a long form video? It was more useful to minimize/maximize videos.

As if fucking the in-app PiP wasn’t satisfying enough to whoever is getting off this. pic.twitter.com/1jY0XFbiMW

— Tushar Mehta (@thetymonbay) November 11, 2024

The short videos benefit from the speed and ease of the swipe gesture, a feature that has been fundamental to the success of TikTok, Shorts, and Reels. However, in long videos, changing content by swiping can be intrusive, creating a less immersive experience.

So far, the feature seems to be in an experimental phase and has not been implemented in all accounts or devices. There is also no mention in the app’s release notes or in YouTube Labs, suggesting that the platform is evaluating user reactions before making a final decision.

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