Technology
YouTube reportedly testing new homepage without view count and upload date; company responds
YouTube responded to the claims by saying that some browser extensions may be causing this issue.
YouTube is reportedly testing a new homepage without view count and upload date information. When the claim surfaced online, users expressed their dissatisfaction over the alleged update. Some people appreciated the removal of view count along with thumbnails, but most people claimed that removing the upload date information would be an injustice, especially in the case of news updates. YouTube has not directly denied the claims but said that they will investigate the matter if necessary and that third-party browser extensions may be responsible for it.
YouTube testing new homepage
According to a X post by user vidIQ (@vidIQ), YouTube is testing a new homepage layout without any view count and upload date information. The videos on the homepage only appear with the channel name and the title of the video along with a thumbnail image.
In the comments section of the post, most users claimed that the reported removal of view counts would not change their consumption habits or experience much and some said that it could help emerging creators on YouTube get more views, as sometimes people do not click on videos with low view counts.
Most of the complaints were about the alleged removal of upload date information. If this claim is true, some users believe that it will affect content consumption on YouTube, as details about any topic keep changing over time. This is most likely to affect political and other news coverage or any content around current issues.
YouTube’s response
The Alphabet-owned video streaming platform has responded to these claims. The company is yet to completely deny reports that a new homepage without the above-mentioned features is being tested. In an X post, YouTube has clarified that some users may be unable to see view count and upload date information on their homepage if “certain browser extensions” are enabled.
YouTube said that if viewers do not see these information on their homepage despite external browser extension interference, submit a report to the company. YouTube will then investigate the matter.
