TFG1MIKE 365 – 2024 Day 143 – I’m A YouTube TESTER?!??!??!??

Hello all and welcome to my continuing Daily Blog series from me TFG1Mike. This is TFG1MIKE 365!! And it The idea here is for me to write something, anything, once a day for 365 days. From January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. It’s Day 143! And this time I’m featuring a discussion on YouTube and their changes that they are TESTING out! Here is my original post on Twitter. I wish I had old screenshots of YouTube, to show you what it was before, and what it might be going forward. As I said they are testing this out. Everyone knows what it was before, but I still like showing the stuff to compare and contrast. 

(DISCLAIMER: I took these screenshots from YouTube – I will link the videos here and here for the sources.)

So apparently I am one of the lucky ones who got chosen for this. THAT NEVER happens, but here we are. Thanks YouTube, because in hindsight as I’m writing this article three days after the initial thing happened… I can inform them on my visual impairments, and why I liked the old layout better. 

As most of you know if you’ve ever heard me on any of The GCRN podcasts, or read any of my past written content, I DO NOT DO WELL WITH CHANGE! Especially IMMEDIATE CHANGE WITH NO WARNING! To my knowledge, and I’ve searched the web as well as my own email inbox… YouTube never sent out any notice that they were testing new layouts. I spent an hour and a half trying to find if they did… And I’ve found nothing so far…

So here we go…. You’ll see in the image above, that the suggested videos are now at the bottom of the main video you are watching. All the VIDEO INFO of the video you are watching is now on the right. This also includes the like, dislike, share, and other “buttons.” This is a BAD layout to me, because I’ve always been used to scrolling down for the video’s information. Plus any full time or even part time, big or small YouTube Creator has always said the video info is below the Like Button, or comment below etc…. So you’re asking everyone to change everything with their terminology of where their audiences can interact on the platform by making this change. I am SPECIFICALLY talking about YT videos that are uploaded. (Not “Premieres” or live videos, I’ll bring those up later.) I’ve been watching YouTube since 2006, and I’ve been a very small creator on the platform since October 2, 2009. In the last 15 years, I’ve only done YT as a hobby or a side project. I am a Audio Podcaster first and foremost. 

This is what Team YouTube replied to me with. I did fill out and send in their feedback request today (May 22, 2024.) One of the reasons, besides the fact that it’s just logical to me to scroll down for the video info and comments is that now when you are watching a “LIVE” or a “PREMIERE” video, as soon as you click on that video, the LIVE chat pops up OVER all the video info/like button etcetera on the right hand side. That to me is BAD. YES you can X the chat to close it and then see the info, but that just seems like it’s one more step to me. Having the “SUGGESTED” videos or the “WATCH NEXT” videos on the right hand side like it was makes way more sense to me. Chat was already on the right, so it can stay there. Please YouTube put it back the way it was for everything else I’ve mentioned!

I don’t know if I’m the only one who will feel this way, and I’m not just shaking my old man stick, and SCREAMING AT THE SKY here. I’m trying to help YouTube and everyone that watches or makes videos for the platform. 

So Team YouTube on X was very helpful, as far as actually communicating with me, and pointing me in the direction for me to share my feedback with them. 

Thank You Again YouTube for choosing me to test this. 

Join me tomorrow May 23, 2024 as I’ll be writing about something!