YouTube Tests ‘Play Something’ Button for Instant Video Discovery on Mobile App

New floating button allows users to effortlessly discover random videos, blending regular content and Shorts for a spontaneous viewing experience.

Washington [US], January 1: YouTube is testing an exciting new feature on its mobile app—a floating “Play Something” button designed to simplify video discovery when users are unsure of what to watch next, according to The Verge.

Instant Video Discovery at Your Fingertips

The “Play Something” button, spotted in the Android version of the YouTube app, offers a one-tap solution for instant entertainment. Positioned conveniently just above the bottom navigation bar, it eliminates the need to scroll through endless recommendations.

Once tapped, the button automatically selects a random video and starts playing it, offering a spontaneous and hassle-free viewing experience.

Optimized for Shorts Player

In its current testing phase, the “Play Something” feature utilizes YouTube’s Shorts player—a vertically-oriented interface optimized for mobile screens. Whether it selects a traditional long-form video or a YouTube Short, the content is played seamlessly in the Shorts player.

While the format works well for short-form videos, users have expressed hope for future updates that would allow full-screen playback for regular videos as well.

Evolving Through Multiple Iterations

YouTube has been experimenting with versions of this feature for over a year, previously trying banner-style prompts and buttons styled like the classic black-and-white YouTube logo. The current floating button design represents the most refined version yet.

Uncertain Rollout Timeline

As the feature remains in its testing phase, there’s no official word from YouTube about a wider rollout or availability across all devices. However, the “Play Something” button has the potential to revolutionize how users discover content on the platform.

This experiment highlights YouTube’s ongoing efforts to enhance user engagement and streamline content discovery, ensuring viewers spend less time searching and more time watching.