For a while now, the YouTube team has been experimenting with some changes in an effort to improve the experience or keep users engaged longer. As is often the case with changes to things established for a long time, initial reactions are negative, or at least divided. Now, YouTube is testing removing the view count and upload date of videos from the homescreen.
Currently, the YouTube homescreen recommendations show the name of the video, the name of the channel, the number of views, and the upload date. This is true for both the web version and the mobile app of YouTube. However, the dev team may be looking for a more minimalist UI with their latest test.
Latest YouTube’s UI test removes view counts and upload dates on videos from the feed
Some YouTube users are getting the new UI on the website. The tweak affects the main feed or homescreen, hiding the view count and upload date of suggested videos. Only the names of the videos and channels remain visible. That said, the company isn’t removing such data from the video player. It will be accessible when you click on a feed recommendation.
X/Twitter user @vidIQ shared a screenshot showing what the YouTube UI looks like after the changes.
YouTube could be looking for both a more minimalist UI and a change in users’ perception of videos. For example, hiding the number of views on the homescreen could add some “equality” between content creators, whether big or small. After all, many people use the number of views as a metric that makes a recommendation more attractive.
However, hiding the video’s upload date is more difficult to understand. Users primarily focus their backlash against the UI changes on this aspect. In many cases, it is useful to know if a video is old or current before playing it.
A limited scope UI test
The scope of the new YouTube UI being tested seems quite limited. Only a few users have reported receiving it in their accounts. Only time will tell if YouTube decides to implement the new UI as it is for everyone or if it considers user feedback to make changes.
