“Like, comment and subscribe” is the catchphrase of most YouTubers. YouTube is working on emphasizing the “subscribe” aspect of a video sharing platform with a new visual flourish.
YouTube is testing a new feature that makes the subscribe button glow whenever it’s mentioned in the video, according to 9to5Google. In a short animation clip, the Subscribe button briefly flashes rainbow colors before returning to normal. The feature didn’t appear to be available yet on my laptop or phone.
Getting people to subscriber to a channel is the lifeblood of a YouTube, so the glowing button may provide an extra nudge to viewers. A creator might mention subscribing a few times over the course of a video, so the glow may draw your eyes to that button.
The reported change to the Subscribe button comes on the heels of several updates YouTube has been working on as part of a larger redesign it announced last year. So far we’ve heard YouTube is testing a smaller “Skip Ads” button and rounded edges, a refreshed “Now Playing” interface with comments on YouTube Music, and fewer, but longer, ad breaks.
All of these changes point towards the larger goal of driving engagement and viewership. And it’s certainly not in vain, according to findings from Precise TV and research agency Giraffe Insights. YouTube is the go-to platform for more than 80% of Gen Z teens. The data also shows this puts YouTube in a prime spot to drive purchase power with teens watching — and remembering — more ads on the site.
YouTube wasn’t immediately available for comment.