YouTube is testing a new UI for its Home and Subscription feeds in its mobile app, in an effort to improve accessibility and make it easier for users to find the most relevant content.
The live test, which is only available to some users, will switch the placement of the feeds within the app. YouTube is hoping this will offer a more intuitive way to access content.
What’s Changing
| Aspect | Current Layout | Test Layout |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions Feed Placement | Bottom navigation bar | Top of the screen |
| Feed Switching | Separate tabs | Swipeable Home and Subscriptions feed tabs |
| Explore Menu Access | Via separate tab | Visible by pulling to refresh or scrolling up |
As explained by YouTube: “Specifically, we’re testing a shift in the placement of the Subscriptions feed, moving it from the bottom navigation bar to the top of your screen as part of a new, swipeable Subscriptions and Home feed tab experience.”
YouTube may also test moving other content feeds, like Movies & TV, to this top navigation area to help users access paid content in one place.
The Goal
| Objective | Details |
|---|---|
| Improved Accessibility | Easier for users to find relevant content |
| Streamlined Navigation | Simplify switching between feeds |
| More Direct Access | Users can access each feed in a more direct manner |
The idea is that this will streamline the process for switching between each listing, and will therefore allow users to access each feed in a more direct manner.
Potential User Impact
| Aspect | Potential Response |
|---|---|
| Positive | Improved user experience, more engagement within each content feed |
| Negative | May be frustrating; could disrupt habitual behaviors |
It could be an interesting experiment, though it might also be frustrating to find that YouTube has switched things up, because it might mess with habitual behaviors. But YouTube seems confident this will lead to an improved user experience.
Availability
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Status | Testing with small percentage of viewers |
| Platforms | Android and iOS (globally) |
| Next Step | Expanded launch decision based on test results |
YouTube said it’s currently testing these updated access options with a small percentage of viewers on Android and iOS globally. The platform plans to make a decision on an expanded launch based on the results of this testing.
