Everyone knows it: quickly searching for a song, following your favorite vlogger, or watching a livestream you don't want to miss. YouTube is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of new features and improvements that users and businesses will notice right away. From personalized radio stations to revamped comments: the updates make the platform more versatile and user-friendly than ever.
YouTube has been around for 20 years: what’s new?
In twenty years, YouTube has evolved from a 19-second video to a platform with over 20 billion videos. To celebrate this anniversary, YouTube is introducing personalized radio stations, playback speeds of up to 4x, improved TV navigation, and new interactive elements for livestreams. Also new: searching for music simply by humming a tune.
Additionally, YouTube TV members can create their own multiview screens. Creators will have more options to respond to comments via voice messages. Parents can better determine which content their children can access within YouTube Kids.
Impact on businesses and organizations
For businesses and creators, the updates open new opportunities to increase visibility and engagement. The enhanced response options and the ability to link Shorts directly to related videos encourage interaction. With customizable music stations and smoother navigation, users remain active for longer, helping businesses to expand their reach.
The improvements in the TV experience make YouTube even more appealing for brands looking to enhance their visibility on large screens.
Solutions that enhance the user experience
Tools like Song Search and Ask Music lower the barrier to finding music. YouTube Kids gives parents more control over the content choices available to their children. For creators, new comments and enhanced Shorts features make it easier to connect with their audience. The new keyboard shortcuts on desktop allow users to find their favorite content even faster.
With these improvements, YouTube demonstrates that small adjustments can provide significant benefits for usability and engagement.