YouTube is apparently testing a new homepage that does not display view count or upload date information. When the report first appeared online, users expressed dissatisfaction with the claimed update.
Some people appreciated the elimination of the view count along with the thumbnails, but the majority of them felt that deleting the upload date information would be a disservice, particularly for news updates. YouTube has not directly rejected the claims, but has stated that it will investigate the situation if necessary, and that third-party browser extensions could be to blame.
According to X post by user vidIQ (@vidIQ), YouTube is testing a new homepage layout that does not include view count or upload date information. The videos on the site display merely the channel name and title of the video, paired with a thumbnail image.
🚨BREAKING🚨
YouTube is testing a homepage without view counts and dates. pic.twitter.com/UQEobxSVaR
— vidIQ (@vidIQ) October 28, 2024
Most users claimed in the comments section of the X post that the reported removal of view count will likely have little impact on their consumption habits or experience, and some said it may help up-and-coming YouTube creators get more views, as people do not always click on videos with a low view count.
The majority of complaints focused on the alleged removal of upload date information. If this claim is true, some people feel it will have an impact on content consumption on YouTube, as details about any issue evolve with time. It is most likely to have an impact on political and other news coverage, as well as content related to current concerns.
Also Read:
The Alphabet-owned video streaming service has replied to these claims. The company has not yet directly denied claims that a new site sans the previously mentioned functionalities is being tested. In an X post, YouTube confirmed that “certain browser extensions” may prevent some users from seeing the view count and upload date information on their homepage.
@Dexerto Jumping in here to clarify that this may happen if viewers are watching YouTube with certain browser extensions enabled. If they disable extensions and still encounter this homepage experience, they can submit a report here & we’ll investigate: https://t.co/7ygPcy5PyM
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) October 29, 2024
If users continue to not see this information on their homepage despite no external browser extension interventions, they should file a report with the company. YouTube will then look at the matter.
