YouTube unveiled its latest update, which offers a more streamlined experience for users opting to turn off their ‘watch history’. Announced on Tuesday, the new feature addresses the concern of users who previously found themselves inundated with a plethora of video suggestions, a result of YouTube’s recommendation system based on watch history.
Now, users who disable their watch history will be welcomed by a tidier homepage, devoid of the overwhelming stream of video thumbnails that typically make up the home feed. The refreshed interface will prominently display just the search bar and the left-side guide menu that provides shortcuts to sections like Subscriptions, Shorts, and Library.
Google highlighted the motive behind this move in their recent post, stating, “We are launching this new experience to make it more clear which YouTube features rely on watch history to provide video recommendations and make it more streamlined for those of you who prefer to search rather than browse recommendations.” Users can expect to see this transformation roll out over the upcoming months.
In a separate development concerning YouTube, several iOS users have raised concerns about buffering hiccups experienced while consuming live content on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels. Despite YouTube acknowledging the glitch, a definitive solution or update remains pending. The buffering setback seems to be exclusive to iOS devices, with Android users and those using TVs and other devices enjoying uninterrupted viewing.
YouTube’s decision to enhance the user experience by tailoring its interface according to watch history preferences is a commendable move. It respects user privacy and preferences, paving the way for a more user-centric platform. As for the buffering issues on iOS, while technological glitches are inevitable, swift resolutions are essential to maintain user trust and satisfaction. It will be interesting to see how quickly YouTube addresses this concern.
