YouTube Trials New “Play Something” Feature to Simplify Content Discovery

YouTube is testing a new feature called “Play Something,” aimed at making it easier for users to discover video content based on their preferences. Currently being rolled out in the beta version of the YouTube app for Android devices, this feature will provide a floating button for users, which will automatically select a video based on their viewing history and past preferences.

When users click on the “Play Something” button, YouTube will play a video without the need to search, allowing users to quickly enjoy new content. The feature will appear when a user minimizes a video, with the selected content playing in portrait mode, similar to YouTube Shorts. Regular YouTube videos will also be included, and standard controls like “Like,” “Dislike,” comments, and share options will be located on the right side of the screen.

YouTube hopes this feature will significantly increase user engagement by reducing the time spent searching for content. It is expected to be especially helpful for those who enjoy discovering new videos but don’t want to spend time scrolling.

Currently, “Play Something” is only available to a limited group of users as part of a trial phase. There is no official timeline for when the feature will be rolled out to all users.