YouTube is the largest video platform on the Web, and it's only natural that most users don't know all its features. At the same time, YouTube's interface is not the best, and what should be clear options with quick access remain hidden behind several clicks. Today we'll take a brief tour through some of these "secrets" that may not be so for a few of our readers, but the rest will surely be able to take advantage of.
More than half of YouTube's traffic comes from mobile devices. In fact, some statistics portals report that the number reaches 70 percent, and this is reflected in Google's current strategy. If most users access YouTube with smartphones and tablets, then they are the ones who have priority when receiving new features and interface optimizations. I won't go so far as to say the desktop version of YouTube is "neglected," but I insist it could be a little better. Design changes and other background decisions have made different sections of YouTube less documented than they should be, giving them a certain profile of "tricks" or "secrets." Today we'll share some examples.
YouTube with the keyboard
The cursor arrows move the video forward or backward 5 seconds and change the volume, while the spacebar pauses playback. This is something many users already know... however, you've probably never heard of the "JKLM" group. The K key shares function with the spacebar, the J and L keys advance or rewind 10 seconds instead of 5, and the M key mutes the audio without stopping playback.
YouTube TV, or the 'YouTube-Netflix'
Bored with the traditional interface? Looking for something more spacious and direct, along the lines of services like Netflix? Reports about YouTube's "TV mode" date back to 2012, but it has received many adjustments over the years, and I must confess it doesn't look bad at all. To access it, two options: www.youtube.com/tv or www.youtube.com/leanback. Both work the same.
YouTube Kids
The internet can be a dangerous place for children, and the people at YouTube know it. More than once we've heard about "camouflaged" videos that play inappropriate content. Google does everything possible to moderate and restrict those clips, but it suggests as a starting point that parents install the YouTube Kids edition on mobile devices, which incorporates several parental control parameters, including filters and time limits.
Dark Theme
Another feature that should have much more promotion on YouTube is the Dark Theme. Log in with your profile, click on the avatar and enable the Dark Theme. Unfortunately, the selection applies only to the browser you're using, so it's not a global change integrated into your account...
Watch Later
This playlist appears on the left side of the screen, but the option to save videos there is in my opinion too hidden. One way is to place the cursor next to the video title, click the three dots when they appear, and choose Watch Later. The other is to enter the video, click the icon with the plus sign and the three lines (next to the "Share" button, sometimes it appears as "Add To"), and then click Watch Later.
Custom start times
Some videos are simply too long to watch in one sitting, but we want to share a specific moment with colleagues or friends. The Share button has what we need: besides all the shortcuts compatible with multiple social networks, it also offers the possibility of customizing the start point. Like "Watch Later," this function isn't so obvious, and I think it's worth reviewing.
Royalty-free music and effects
This section is aimed at content creators more than consumers, however, everyone can use it equally. YouTube has a very interesting library of royalty-free effects and songs, available for direct download. If you're looking for the sound of a motorcycle, an ambulance siren, a crying baby, or the growl of a hungry zombie, this database has all that and more. Some songs require attribution due to their CC license.
That's all for now. Many sites recommend tricks like "Use the Force Luke," "/Geek Week" or "Do the Harlem Shake," but they have stopped working because they weren't permanent tricks, but temporary easter eggs. Do you think there should be more on this list? Leave a comment.
