What you need to know
YouTube is currently experimenting with a notable shift in its mobile gesture controls, a change that has not been well-received by some users. Reports indicate that this new functionality allows users to scroll through recommended long-form content while in full-screen mode, rather than providing the option to enter Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode or revert to portrait orientation.
This alteration appears to be in a testing phase, as only a select group of users has encountered these new gestures. The intention behind this adjustment seems to align with YouTube’s broader strategy to enhance viewer engagement, reminiscent of the “jump ahead” feature introduced earlier this year. This AI-driven tool was designed to identify and highlight the most compelling segments of videos, enabling users to skip directly to the content that piqued their interest.
While the integration of these features may seem beneficial in theory, the current gesture modifications have sparked dissatisfaction among users who are accustomed to the previous functionality. The “jump ahead” feature, which was primarily available to Premium subscribers, reflects YouTube’s ongoing efforts to streamline the viewing experience and keep audiences captivated. As the platform continues to explore these changes, it remains to be seen how they will ultimately impact user satisfaction and engagement levels.
