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Technology @lemmy.world

Salamendacious @lemmy.world

1y ago

YouTube is testing a mystery button that starts playing random videos

www.androidpolice.com /youtube-mystery-button-for-random-shorts/

YouTube is testing a new video button on its app, allowing users to easily access random Shorts content based on their suggestions.
Additional features of this play button are currently unknown, but it is likely to pull content based on watch history, subscribed creators, and video likes.
The feature is being tested with a limited number of people and does not appear to be part of an official YouTube experiment.

Android @lemdro.id

ijeff @lemdro.id

1y ago

YouTube is testing a mystery button that starts playing random videos

www.androidpolice.com /youtube-mystery-button-for-random-shorts/

35 9

49 comments

I'm at the stage now where I view everything Google does with great cynicism and suspicion.
- And it's fairly obvious how that would work here. The videos won't be "random", they'll specifically be videos that are known to keep people on the platform longer.
  
  A "gimme a discount facebook feed" if you will.

"random" videos

- Name a better duo than tech compaines and repackaging old features to sell them as "new"
  
  Google and killing products
  Microsoft and a bizarre amount of backwards compatibility

Aren't shorts random already? What a useless feature
- their search function also returns primarily random, unrelated videos... I think they just don't like people deciding what they look at
  
  They can control your watch time better if you make less decisions. Just be a good little brainless consumer and scroll through endless amounts of bullshit instead of specifically finding one video, then doing something else.
  It started with autoplay, wormed it's way into search feature, and now it's all over home and subscriptions.
- I feel the same. It will probably be more random than shorts in which the algorithm decides what to give you.

The day I have so little will to get off my ass that I need to hit a button made by youtube to force feed me random entertainment is the day someone needs to forcibly take my internet connection away from me.
- It's a brave new world with new consumers and addictions

It’s just a Skinner’s Box for rats but for teens
- Skinner Box For Teens is a good band name.
  That also describes Tiktok now, I think?
  
  Graphic design is my passion
  
  I think Teen Skinner Box works a bit better.

Random video (that has the highest relative monitization values for YouTube)

Good timing.
I just started using Invidious.

So only shorts are delivered? Who not "normal" videos as well/instead?
- Maybe because shorts are short and un-seekable, so more "engagement".
  
  What's un-seekable
- I find myself watching a lot of shorts these days but I'd prefer if it was a separate app or function. Sometimes I want long format and not to be inundated with smaller thumbnails or in some cases stretched out oversized portrait thumbnails taking up the whole screen

dont click its a virus
- The article link?
  
  I"m remarking on the "culture" of the internet users that if you introduce a new button they may not click it out of ignorance.

I really wish YouTube would quit trying to make shorts happen.
- I like them. I watch a lot of long videos (30 - 90 minutes) so it's nice to just watch really short stuff from time to time.
  
  I don't mind videos that are exactly as long as they need to be, they can be 1 minute or 1 hour or whatever. But personally I don't need skinny portrait mode and no seeking.

The Pirate Bay did this with the "I'm feeling lucky" button, how many years ago?
- I thought Google started the I'm feeling lucky button 8n 2001. Does the pirate Bay one predate that?
  
  No, The Pirate Bay didn't exist until 2003
  
  Wouldn't surprise me!

As someone with my watch history off, it’ll be interesting if this button even shows.
I have no subscriptions, no history, and no tracking of any kind enabled. If this shows a recommendation related to my watch history, that’d shine a light on what those privacy controls really do.
- If you see it you'll have to report back!
  
  Is there any to get notified about comments like this without commenting?
- It will probably be something from trending that has great ad value

Random? Yeah, I don't think so. I've seen the absolute garbage YT's algorithm tries to smear in front of my eyes - I enter YT through a bookmark so I can avoid having to see that crap.

Fail #1, you downloaded the YouTube App.
Choose a different front end or use a desktop.
- People don't usually download the YouTube apps, the most common way to get it is by forgetting to degoogle a phone.
- Just started using invidious. Is it common for subscriptions to be out of date for a couple of days?
  There’s a video posted nov 2 and just showed up today in subscription menu. It did show up when I clicked on the channel.
  
  Not sure about that. I use NewPipe on Android and the regular YouTube site on Desktop with Firefox/uBlock Origin.

49 comments