In only a few short weeks, YouTube has decided it will be closing the curtains on its Stories feature. This viewing option was released back in 2018 and will conclude on June 26th, 2023 as the platform shifts its focus to YouTube Shorts.
An announcement YouTube released earlier today states:
“Starting on 6/26/2023 the option to create a new YouTube Story will no longer be available. Stories that are already live on that date will expire 7 days after they were originally shared. While Stories are going away, we’ve seen that both Community posts and YouTube Shorts are great alternatives that can deliver valuable audience connections and conversations.”
YouTube Stories works similarly to story features on social media apps like Snapchat, only they don’t disappear after a single day. Users could upload a story that would expire after seven days. Viewers could comment like any other YouTube video. It was YouTube’s attempt to attract new members and audiences in the dawning era of short video obsessions sweeping the nation.
There are still a few weeks left to get your last YouTube Stories fix. Any video posted before the final day will still be visible for the traditional seven-day period, but users won’t be able to upload any new content.
Instead, users can utilize a number of other features still included on YouTube, such as Community posts that work somewhat close to Stories but with its own unique flare.
Now, YouTube turns to its attention to developing more with YouTube Shorts. The company says this feature helps drive up more channel subscription numbers and views than Stories.
YouTube Shorts allows creators to add text and filters in addition to “remixing” popular content and has detailed instructions to optimize your content. It also allows content creators to reply to comments with a Short.’