The YouTube team are testing out a new layout for the desktop version of the platform that is meant to improve user experience.
If you have noticed that the desktop version of the YouTube platform looks slightly different, you have probably received a new test-layout update.
Why YouTube keeps changing its layout
A handful of YouTube users, seemingly from all over the globe, have logged onto the web-based version of the video streaming platform to find that the entire platform suddenly looks very different to how it did a few days ago.
Fortunately, this sudden change was not caused by a bug in the system or some other kind of nefarious outside force. It is simply a test-run being conducted by the company.
The YouTube Support Team has announced that they are testing new and different layouts across a small group of seemingly randomly-selected users’ profiles.
These new layouts may play around with the position of features like comments, the video description, and recommended videos, in order to ascertain what users like and what they do not like when it comes to their desktop-watching YouTube experience.
The benefits of the new layout
It is definitely not unheard of for social media platforms to change around their layouts. In fact, Instagram recently announced that it would be doing away with its “Shop” tab and would be replacing it with a brand-new “Reels” tab in August of 2023.
And while long-time users may not be adjusting to the new YouTube layout as quickly as the YouTube team likely hoped they would – the team maintains that this new layout is meant to enhance the YouTube experience.
In the eyes of the YouTube team, this new layout should make it even easier to find related videos and engage with comments while you are scrolling the platform.
How to make your voice heard
Since YouTube has explained that this new layout is simply a test-run, there is still time to give your two cents about the update.
If you were included in the small group of users who had their YouTube layout adjusted since February 20, you can share your love for the new update, or any suggestions or criticism that you may have, with the YouTube team on the Community Help page.
How to get around the layout change
Unfortunately, there is no way to opt out of being randomly selected to test out this new YouTube layout and there is no way to revert back to the old layout once your layout has been updated.
However, if you are dead-set on getting your old YouTube layout reinstated, you can always get around the new update by using an extension like YouTube Redux.
