YouTube is known for its video streaming and for offering a platform for content creators and businesses to connect with their audiences. It has not only helped in advertising various services and products but has turned unknown strangers into overnight sensations.
Since other social networks have also stepped into the game, YouTube has stepped up by introducing five new features.
The company’s official channel, Creator Insider posted a video showcasing five brand-new features. These include Go Live Together, Live Rings, Cross Channel Live Redirects, Full-Screen Mode, and Live Q&A. These features are specifically related to livestreams as the platform was initially created for this very reason. However, many of you might have noticed similar features on other social media platforms.
GO LIVE TOGETHER
Influencers often seem to collaborate with other artists around the globe. Instead of making individual videos, and going through the hassle of editing for hours, they can now take advantage of this option and Go Live Together! YouTube allows you to invite others to join you through their mobile stream by simply sending out a link.
Now, this must sound familiar, right? Of course! Instagram and TikTok both have this feature where they let one join another on a live stream, but YouTube has its own platform, unlike a third-party platform. The Livestream host can also monetize the stream exactly how the video content is monetized.
This feature is currently being tested in a small pilot program.
LIVE RINGS
YouTube is soon joining platforms like Instagram and TikTok with the live ring feature, which notifies users that their favourite artist is live. The forum will be adding a red ring very soon to the profiles, and every time a user is live, the red circle will appear on their channel profile picture.
This feature will be tested out on mobile devices first to see the performance and soon will be accessible to the whole platform.
CROSS CHANNEL LIVE REDIRECT
Like how Twitch’s raid option works? YouTube is soon introducing a feature that would redirect its users to another channel’s Livestream. The platform already allowed its users to shift to other videos or live streams, but this feature will now be able to redirect users to a new channel.
Although it was noted that Twitch’s users started misusing this feature by redirecting their users to harass other creators, YouTube would keep it restricted. It would only redirect users to channels they have subscribed to.
FULL-SCREEN MODE
YouTube is also working on a new feature that will allow users to enjoy a live stream in full-screen mode. The feature has a split-screen view, enabling people to watch a video and livestream on the side.
This feature will be offering two options; first, the ‘lean in mode’ in which you can get the video on the left side of your mobile screen, and on your right side would be the live chat. The second option would be the ‘lean back’ mode, in which the video will cover up your whole screen. The viewer count of the live stream would pop up on your right-hand side, allowing users the previews of chats and can access it by tapping on it.
LIVE Q/A
It has become easier to interact with your favourite streamer through YouTube’s new feature, Live Q/A. This feature will allow users to talk to the streamer when they are live and get their questions answered on the spot. Since the trend of influencers has increased, people rely heavily on them for information. As we could see on Instagram, where followers wait for their favourite artist to come live and help them in their query, this feature on YouTube would probably be the best since it is the biggest video platform!
Let us know in the comments, which feature are you looking out for?
