YouTube’s Play Something Button For Better Streaming

One of the best streaming platforms, YouTube, is testing a new Play Something floating action button. 9to5 Google reported this button appears with a black background and white text right over the bottom bar. Tapping on the button will start a Shorts video, and it can even play regular content in portrait mode with like, share, dislike, and comment options on the right side of the screen. The Play Something button disappears when the YouTube mini-player is active.

This isn’t the first time YouTube is playing with a Play Something feature. Back in 2023, a Reddit user shared a YouTube banner with the Play Something button on the bottom and the text “Can’t decide what to watch?”. 

It’s yet to be seen when the feature will be available for all users. Google-owned YouTube is refraining from saying anything about the new feature, but Livemint anticipates that this button will consider the content preferences of users. Then, suggest new full-length videos and Shorts accordingly.

Earlier in October 2024, YouTube announced that it would be rolling out several new features and improvements. That included the ability to set thumbnails for playlists, set sleep timers, and a redesigned mini-player. This new feature would eliminate the need to scroll down for specific content, enhancing user experience.