All this experimentation is nothing new for YouTube, which has experimented with features openly in recent times via its YouTube Labs for Premium subscribers.
However, a relatively new spot of a feature that has been showing up quietly on YouTube Shorts has ended up generating interest and debate among users. The feature includes a search bar or icon that will allow users to find long-form content about a Short’s topic without revealing more details about its rollout.
What Is the New Feature?
It’s a magnifying glass icon and a related search query above the Shorts creator’s channel name. For instance:
- The “Custom PlayStation 5” query appears as a Short about a custom PS5.
- One video includes NBA Kyrie Irving and features NBA players Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.
In tap response, you will tap the query, which directs you to the YouTube search result page and will pre-populate the search bar with the suggested term. It allows people to dive deeper into a topic of interest through Shorts without having to leave the Shorts app and cut out the gap between the bite-sized content of Shorts and the deep well of longer-form YouTube videos.
Who Gets to See the Feature?
It is been seen on Android, iOS, and the web, whether on a Premium or non-Premium account. But it only shows up on a small portion of Shorts, so it is obviously going through a limited test phase.
How Does It Work?
The mechanics behind the feature’s activation remain ambiguous:
- AI-Powered Automation? The search prompts are generated automatically from the video’s metadata, captions, or content analysis.
- Creator Control? Shorts creators could also be able to add search prompts when uploading manually.
There is no official confirmation that creator input might play a role in a limited rollout, and the hints suggest so, but not explicitly from YouTube yet.
Mixed Reception from Users
The feature’s goal is to enrich the Shorts experience, but it has not been welcomed thus far. Search bar obstructions have frustrated users with another piece of clutter distracting them from video content that is already noised by text, hashtags, and other visual elements on the screen.
- One user commented: “It is already annoying because all the text and hashtags clog a big chunk of the video.” “But who actually thought this was a good idea.”
- Another wrote: “Starting to notice this myself, and it is increasingly driving me crazy.” My days of scrolling through Shorts might be coming to an end.”
Potential Improvements
Critics have suggested tweaks to make the feature less intrusive, such as:
- Making the search bar smaller.
- Moving it to a drop-down in the overflow menu.
- Making it transparent to reduce visual interference.
It is unsure whether YouTube will alter its choice, but user feedback will probably have a huge impact on the feature’s completion.
Conclusion
Using the short search bar on YouTube is easy, but the placement is intrusive. The platform is still innovating and striking a balance between functionality and usability will become increasingly important.
Users will have to hope that YouTube polishes up the feature and releases it more widely or tosses it jointly based on feedback. Have you noticed the search on Shorts? Let us know your thoughts!
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
