YouTube is aggressively pushing its short-form video format, Shorts, onto users across all platforms, and the latest frontier in this expansion is the living room. The YouTube app for TVs is undergoing a significant update, the centerpiece of which is a dedicated Shorts feed prominently displayed at the top of the subscriptions page. This move, while intended to streamline access to Shorts from subscribed channels, is proving to be a controversial change, drawing mixed reactions from users who are grappling with its implications for their viewing experience.
For the uninitiated, Shorts are YouTube’s answer to TikTok and Instagram Reels – bite-sized, vertically oriented videos designed for quick consumption. YouTube has invested heavily in promoting Shorts, offering creators financial incentives and integrating the format into various corners of the platform. This push has been evident on mobile devices and the web, but the introduction of a dedicated Shorts feed on the TV app marks a notable escalation in YouTube’s commitment to making Shorts a central part of the viewing experience, regardless of the device being used.
The new Shorts feed appears immediately upon navigating to the subscriptions page within the YouTube TV app. It’s positioned at the very top, taking up a considerable portion of the screen real estate. This prominent placement ensures that Shorts are the first thing users see when they visit their subscriptions, effectively prioritizing them over traditional long-form videos from subscribed channels. The feed continuously refreshes with new content from the channels a user follows, ensuring a constant stream of short-form entertainment.
YouTube initially announced this feature in late April, and the rollout has been widespread, reaching a variety of devices. Reports have surfaced from users with Google TV, Apple TV, and various smart TV platforms, all confirming the presence of the new Shorts feed. This suggests a deliberate and comprehensive effort by YouTube to integrate Shorts into its TV app across a broad range of devices.
However, the reception to this change has been far from universally positive. While some users appreciate the dedicated space for Shorts, others are expressing frustration with its intrusiveness and lack of customizability. One of the most common complaints is the amount of screen space the Shorts feed occupies. The feed can take up over half of the available display area, obscuring video titles and partially covering thumbnails of other content from subscribed channels. This forces users to scroll down to access their usual subscriptions, adding an extra step to their viewing routine.
Another major point of contention is the inability to disable the Shorts feed. Unlike other features within the YouTube app, there is currently no option to hide or remove the dedicated Shorts section. This lack of control is particularly frustrating for users who are not interested in Shorts and prefer to focus on long-form content. They are essentially forced to contend with a feature they don’t want, which disrupts their preferred viewing experience.
The dedicated Shorts feed is a double-edged sword, as some users have pointed out. While it does segregate Shorts content from the regular subscriptions feed, potentially cleaning up the browsing experience for those who prefer long-form videos, it simultaneously forces Shorts onto users in a highly visible and unavoidable manner. This design choice seems to prioritize YouTube’s agenda of promoting Shorts over user preferences and control.
The arguments against the dedicated Shorts feed on TVs center on several key points. Users value control over their viewing experience and resent being forced to consume content they are not interested in. The prominent placement and inability to disable the feed are seen as intrusive and disrespectful of user preferences. Moreover, the excessive screen space occupied by the feed detracts from the usability of the subscriptions page, making it more difficult to find and access desired content.
Conversely, proponents of the new Shorts feed argue that it provides a convenient way to discover and consume short-form content from subscribed channels. They may appreciate the separation of Shorts from long-form videos, as it allows them to focus on each type of content separately. Some users may also find the constant stream of new Shorts engaging and entertaining, especially if they are already fans of the format.
Beyond the Shorts feed, the YouTube app for TVs is also rolling out other changes, including a “From your top channels” shelf. This shelf presumably highlights videos from the channels a user interacts with most frequently, offering another way to discover content. While the details of this feature are still emerging, it suggests that YouTube is experimenting with different ways to surface content and personalize the viewing experience.
The introduction of the dedicated Shorts feed on the YouTube TV app is a significant change that reflects YouTube’s broader strategy of promoting short-form video. While the move may be welcomed by some users, it has also generated considerable backlash from those who value control over their viewing experience and resent being forced to consume content they are not interested in. The controversy surrounding the new feature highlights the delicate balance between platform promotion and user preferences, and it remains to be seen whether YouTube will address the concerns raised by its users.
The future of the YouTube TV app and its integration of Shorts remains uncertain. YouTube may choose to listen to user feedback and introduce options for customizing or disabling the Shorts feed. Alternatively, the platform may continue to prioritize Shorts, even if it means alienating some users. Ultimately, the success of this strategy will depend on YouTube’s ability to strike a balance between promoting its own agenda and respecting the needs and preferences of its viewers. The ongoing debate over the dedicated Shorts feed serves as a reminder that even seemingly small changes to a platform can have a significant impact on the user experience and spark passionate reactions.
