YouTube

=== User features ===
==== Comment system {{anchor|User comments}} ====
{{See also|Criticism of Google#YouTube user comments}}

Most videos enable users to leave [[Comments section|comments]], which have attracted attention for the negative aspects of their form and content.{{Specify|date=March 2023}} In 2006, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' praised [[Web 2.0]] for enabling "community and collaboration on a scale never seen before", and added that YouTube "harnesses the stupidity of crowds as well as its wisdom. Some of the comments on YouTube make you weep for the future of humanity just for the spelling alone, never mind the obscenity and the naked hatred".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grossman |first=Lev |date=December 25, 2006 |title=You – Yes, You – Are TIME's Person of the Year |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570810,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304050538/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570810,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2009 described users' comments on YouTube as:<ref>{{cite news |last=Owen |first=Paul |date=November 3, 2009 |title=Our top 10 funniest YouTube comments – what are yours? |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/nov/03/youtube-funniest-comments |access-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311005500/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/nov/03/youtube-funniest-comments |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{blockquote|Juvenile, aggressive, misspelt, [[sexist]], [[homophobic]], swinging from raging at the contents of a video to providing a pointlessly detailed description followed by a [[LOL]], YouTube comments are a hotbed of infantile debate and unashamed ignorance—with the occasional burst of wit shining through.}}

''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' commented in September 2008, that YouTube was "notorious" for "some of the most confrontational and ill-formed comment exchanges on the internet", and reported on YouTube Comment Snob, "a new piece of software that blocks rude and illiterate posts".<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Matthew |date=September 2, 2008 |title=YouTube's worst comments blocked by filter |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2668997/YouTubes-worst-comments-blocked-by-filter.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2668997/YouTubes-worst-comments-blocked-by-filter.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' noted in April 2012 that finding comments on YouTube that appear "[[offensive content|offensive]], stupid and crass" to the "vast majority" of the people is hardly difficult.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rundle |first=Michael |date=April 7, 2012 |title=Policing Racism Online: Liam Stacey, YouTube And The Law Of Big Numbers |newspaper=[[HuffPost]] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/06/policing-racism-online-liam-stacey-fabrice-muamba-abuse-twitter-youtube-facebook_n_1407795.html |access-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-date=May 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528093341/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/06/policing-racism-online-liam-stacey-fabrice-muamba-abuse-twitter-youtube-facebook_n_1407795.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Google subsequently implemented a comment system oriented on Google+ on November 6, 2013, that required all YouTube users to use a [[Google+]] account to comment on videos. The stated motivation for the change was giving creators more power to moderate and block comments, thereby addressing frequent criticisms of their quality and tone.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/07/youtube-comments-trolls-moderation-google "YouTube aims to tame the trolls with changes to its comments section"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209163014/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/07/youtube-comments-trolls-moderation-google |date=February 9, 2017 }}, Stuart Dredge, ''The Guardian'', November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> The new system restored the ability to include [[URL]]s in comments, which had previously been removed due to problems with abuse.<ref>{{cite web |year=2009 |title=No more links in comments? |url=https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/OdxWjrLvzYw |access-date=August 28, 2013 |work=Google product forums |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203081016/https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/OdxWjrLvzYw |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=View and post comments |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171666?hl=en-GB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117041605/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171666 |archive-date=November 17, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |work=Google Support}}</ref> In response, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim posted the question "why the fuck do I need a google+ account to comment on a video?" on his YouTube channel to express his negative opinion of the change.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=November 8, 2013 |title=YouTube co-founder hurls abuse at Google over new YouTube comments |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/youtube-cofounder-why-the-fuck-do-i-need-a-google-account-to-comment |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112023951/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/youtube-cofounder-why-the-fuck-do-i-need-a-google-account-to-comment |url-status=live }}</ref> The official YouTube announcement<ref>{{YouTube|bVGp8Z8Yb28|"Meet the new YouTube comments"|link=no}}, November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> received 20,097 "thumbs down" votes and generated more than 32,000 comments in two days.<ref>[https://www.ibtimes.com/youtube-founder-blasts-new-youtube-comments-jawed-karim-outraged-google-plus-requirement-1462814 "YouTube Founder Blasts New YouTube Comments: Jawed Karim Outraged At Google Plus Requirement"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005165356/https://www.ibtimes.com/youtube-founder-blasts-new-youtube-comments-jawed-karim-outraged-google-plus-requirement-1462814 |date=October 5, 2022 }}, Ryan W. Neal, ''International Business Times'', November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.</ref> Writing in the ''Newsday'' blog Silicon Island, Chase Melvin noted that "Google+ is nowhere near as popular a social media network like [[Facebook]], but it's essentially being forced upon millions of YouTube users who don't want to lose their ability to comment on videos" and added that "Discussion forums across the Internet are already bursting with the outcry against the new comment system". In the same article Melvin goes on to say:<ref>{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Melvin |date=November 20, 2013 |title=YouTube comments require Google+ account, Google faces uproar |newspaper=Newsday |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112195648/http://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}} [https://www.amny.com/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 Alternate link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000813/https://www.amny.com/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |date=December 3, 2013 }}.</ref>

{{blockquote|Perhaps user complaints are justified, but the idea of revamping the old system isn't so bad.

Think of the crude, [[misogynistic]] and racially-charged mudslinging that has transpired over the last eight years on YouTube without any discernible moderation. Isn't any attempt to curb unidentified libelers worth a shot? The system is far from perfect, but Google should be lauded for trying to alleviate some of the damage caused by irate YouTubers hiding behind animosity and anonymity.}}

Later, on July 27, 2015, Google announced in a blog post that it would be removing the requirement to sign up to a Google+ account to post comments to YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 28, 2015 |title=Google unlinking Google+ from YouTube |work=BBC News |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33687110 |access-date=July 29, 2015 |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728115333/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33687110 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 3, 2016, YouTube announced a trial scheme which allows the creators of videos to decide whether to approve, hide or report the comments posted on videos based on an [[algorithm]] that detects potentially offensive comments.<ref>{{cite web |last=E. Solsman |first=Joan |date=November 3, 2016 |title=YouTube helps creators blast trolls from comments |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-comments-new-tools-algorithmic-pinned-hearts-usernames/ |access-date=March 25, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212192412/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-comments-new-tools-algorithmic-pinned-hearts-usernames/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Creators may also choose to keep or delete comments with links or hashtags in order to combat spam. They can also allow other users to moderate their comments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jotham |first1=Immanuel |date=July 24, 2017 |title=New YouTube feature allows creators to automatically block spam |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-youtube-feature-allows-creators-automatically-block-spam-1631665 |access-date=September 17, 2017 |website=International Business Times UK |language=en |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917123752/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-youtube-feature-allows-creators-automatically-block-spam-1631665 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2020, it was reported that YouTube would launch a new feature that will warn users who post a comment that "may be offensive to others."<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=December 3, 2020 |title=YouTube will ask commenters to rethink posting if their message seems offensive |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/22150197/youtube-comments-posting-hurtful-hate-videos-discrimination-monetization-search |access-date=December 9, 2020 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208170536/https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/22150197/youtube-comments-posting-hurtful-hate-videos-discrimination-monetization-search |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube introduces new feature to address toxic comments |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/03/youtube-introduces-new-features-to-address-toxic-comments/ |last=Perez |first=Sarah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205083858/https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/03/youtube-introduces-new-features-to-address-toxic-comments/ <!--stable--> |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=December 3, 2020 |language=en-US }}</ref>

==== Community ====
On September 13, 2016, YouTube launched a [[public beta]] of Community, a [[social media]]-based feature that allows users to post text, images (including [[GIF]]s), live videos and others in a separate "Community" tab on their channel.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=YouTube gets its own social network with the launch of YouTube Community |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/youtube-gets-its-own-social-network-with-the-launch-of-youtube-community/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305062851/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/youtube-gets-its-own-social-network-with-the-launch-of-youtube-community/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the release, several creators had been consulted to suggest tools Community could incorporate that they would find useful; these [[YouTuber]]s included [[Vlogbrothers]], [[AsapScience]], [[Lilly Singh]], [[MatPat|The Game Theorists]], [[Karmin]], [[The Key of Awesome]], The Kloons, [[Peter Hollens]], [[Rosianna Halse Rojas]], [[Sam Tsui]], [[Threadbanger]] and [[Jake Roper|Vsauce3]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Kiley |last=McEvoy |title=YouTube Community goes beyond video |url=https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2016/09/youtube-community-goes-beyond-video.html |website=YouTube Creators Blog |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614232155/https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2016/09/youtube-community-goes-beyond-video.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

After the feature has been officially released, the ''community post'' feature gets activated automatically for every channel that passes a specific threshold of subscriber counts or already has more subscribers. This threshold was lowered over time,{{when|date=September 2019}} from 10,000 subscribers <!-- was it the first threshold? --> to 1500 subscribers, to 1000 subscribers,<ref name="community-activate">{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124474?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en |title=Create a Community post – Computer – YouTube Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301043946/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124474?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}} to 500 subscribers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |title=YouTube halves the number of subscribers you need to unlock Community posting |website=The Verge |date=September 9, 2021 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22664973/youtube-community-posts-subscribers-halves |access-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117143836/https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22664973/youtube-community-posts-subscribers-halves |url-status=live }}</ref>

Channels that the community tab becomes enabled for, get their channel discussions (previously known as channel comments) permanently erased, instead of co-existing or migrating.<ref name="community-help">{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124175?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop |title=Engage with creators on Community posts – Computer – YouTube Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224202448/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7124175?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

==== TestTube ====
Experimental features of YouTube could be accessed in an area of the site formerly named ''TestTube''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hidden features of Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube and more |url=https://www.gadgetsnow.com/slideshows/hidden-features-of-facebook-whatsapp-youtube-and-more/youtube-testtube/photolist/57616832.cms |website=Gadgets Now |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413154208/https://www.gadgetsnow.com/slideshows/hidden-features-of-facebook-whatsapp-youtube-and-more/youtube-testtube/photolist/57616832.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube's Test Tube: What Is It? |url=https://goldengridsystem.com/youtubes-test-tube-what-is-it/ |website=Golden Grid System |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205142110/https://goldengridsystem.com/youtubes-test-tube-what-is-it/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
For example, in October 2009, a ''comment search'' feature accessible under <code>/comment_search</code> was implemented as part of this program. The feature was removed later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Testing Comment Search On YouTube |url=https://searchengineland.com/google-testing-youtube-comment-search-27900 |website=Search Engine Land |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209151338/https://searchengineland.com/google-testing-youtube-comment-search-27900 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later the same year, ''YouTube Feather'' was introduced as a "lightweight" alternative website for countries with limited internet speeds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slow YouTube? Try Feather, Made for India |url=https://www.gtricks.com/youtube/slow-youtube-feather-india/ |website=Gtricks |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213032953/https://www.gtricks.com/youtube/slow-youtube-feather-india/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the transition to the Polymer layout, TestTube was disabled, and the URL redirects to video playback settings. TestTube was replaced by a new system that requires users to be premium members to enable or disable experiments.