Limitless Engagement: Why YouTube Videos in Articles Fail To Deliver The Expected Results

YouTube’s Latest Move: A Step Back in User Experience?

TL;DR: YouTube has changed the way it embeds videos, removing the ability to click on the title link to open the video on YouTube or the app. But why?

The Issue at Hand

If you’ve been watching videos embedded on a website recently, you may have noticed that clicking on the title link no longer opens the video in YouTube or the app. Don’t worry, you’re not alone – this change has been affecting many users. But what’s behind this sudden shift?

YouTube’s Protecting Its Turf

According to a report by The Verge, the issue lies in the type of player used by websites to embed videos. There’s the standard player and the YouTube Player for Publishers (PfP), which has been around since 2016. While they may look and function similarly, they have key differences. The PfP allows websites to sell their own ads at higher rates, while the standard player cedes control to YouTube.

YouTube’s Shift to Protect Its Partners and Advertisers

As of the beginning of the year, YouTube made a change to the PfP, removing its branding and the link back to YouTube. This decision aims to "protect" its partners and advertisers. In a statement, YouTube’s spokesperson, Mariana De Felice, explained:

"News publishers can choose between the standard YouTube embedded player or a version designed specifically for them, which gives greater control over the ads experience, but removes YouTube branding and links back to YouTube. This version provides publishers greater control over the ads running on their videos, but YouTube doesn’t have visibility into which ads are served. In order to protect our advertisers and partners, we’ve removed our branding and links back to YouTube from the player."

Consequences for Users

While this change may benefit YouTube’s partners and advertisers, it affects users who want to have an embedded video open on YouTube. Reasons for this include using the "Watch later" feature or accessing the video’s comments section. Unfortunately, this functionality is only available in the standard player, not in the PfP.

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Join the Discussion

Share your thoughts on this change and its impact on user experience in the comments below!