Observed Signal · Jul 18, 2023 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
YouTube Tests 2x Playback via Long Press
YouTube is running a test to double video playback speed on mobile by long-pressing the video. The feature would simplify speed adjustments, reducing the current multi-step flow to a single gesture for YouTube Premium subscribers, according to 9to5Google and social media expert Jonah Manzano. In the test, a long-press on the video player automatically sets playback to 2x. The trial is reportedly available through August 13. The article notes that YouTube appears to have copied the idea from TikTok, which already offers multiple playback speeds on ByteDance's platform. It also references earlier speed options on WhatsApp for voice messages (1.5x to 2x since 2022) and mentions that other platforms have experimented with speed controls in recent months. This update illustrates how major platforms continue to experiment with UX to enable faster content consumption.
Major platform feature test (YouTube) with potential UX impact
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- YouTube is testing a long-press gesture to set video playback speed to 2x on mobile.
- The test reduces the speed-change flow to a single action for YouTube Premium subscribers.
- The test is available until August 13, according to 9to5Google.
- TikTok (ByteDance) already offers multiple playback speeds, inspiring YouTube's test.
- WhatsApp has offered 1.5x and 2x speed for voice messages since March 2022; Twitter added a content speed adjustment feature in Feb 2022.
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YouTube tests Auto-Speed and On the Go
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OK Future's AI 'Pressure Cooker' Campaign for Goodwipes
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