Good news for youtube channels because now YouTube is making it easier for creators to lead viewers to their channels. The company has announced handles, what??? handles seriously? We already have handles for doors and cars and clothes what type of handles is YouTube going to be selling on Amazon?? no, it’s not like that let me explain.
The company YouTube has announced “handles,” a new way for youtube creators to identify their channel with an @username format. with their viewers across YouTube Shorts, channel pages, video descriptions, comments, and more, and for people to easily find and engage with creators and each other on YouTube. These handles will be made available to everyone on YouTube — you don’t have to be a creator of a particular size or subscriber count to have your unique @handle, Every channel will have a unique handle, which will make it easier for fans to discover content and interact and engage with creators they love. YouTube says.
Handles and @usernames are common across social media, including apps and sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, and others. But YouTube had only offered limited support for the @username format — letting youtube creators mention channels in video titles and descriptions with the @ symbol or mention different users in the YouTube Live chats, for example. But the @username choice was not available in other areas and discussions. Instead, you’d need to respond to another YouTube user’s statement or comment to tag them.
Since YouTube has already expanded into TikTok’s territory with YouTube Shorts, yet, the Youtube company now wants to mimic the method the ByteDance-owned video app TikTok encourages its users to engage in back-and-forth conversations via their short videos and in the resulting discussions and video responses that come about. To work on it, that needs the use of @usernames — or @handles as YouTube calls them.
Youtube says the handles will appear on both channel pages and Shorts, which will make them “instantly and consistently recognizable” across Youtube. After @usernames handles are fully launched, It will be simpler and faster for users to mention each other in the comments, community posts, video descriptions, and elsewhere. For example, creators can be shouted out in a mention in comments or tagged in the title of a recent collab, helping them increase visibility and reach with new audiences, Youtube says.
These handles join channel names as another way to remember a YouTube channel, While these handles would not replace the channel name itself, unlike channel names, handles are very unique to each channel and unique across the YouTube platform letting creators establish a distinct presence for themselves on the platform and their brand on YouTube.
Support for handles will start to roll out slowly, beginning later next week. To protect creators from having their channel name staked by somebody else in what’s sure to be one of the largest username landgrabs on the internet, YouTube notes that channels that already include a personalized URL will notice that becoming their default handle unless they decide to change it.
The Youtube company also told that the timing of the rollout of handles has been developed in a way to confirm that established creators will earn access to the feature first, as YouTube plans to use factors — like the creator’s overall YouTube presence, subscriber total and whether the channel is active or inactive — when choosing when to offer a creator the ability to set up their handle.
When a youtube creator picks their handle, YouTube will also make a matching URL in the format of youtube.com/@handle, which would allow the youtube creators to easily lead people to their content when they’re not on YouTube. If a channel already has a personalized URL, there’s no requirement to update links the URL will automatically redirect to the new handle-based URL instead make a better, more unified presence for youtube creators on YouTube.
Everyone on YouTube will be capable to grab a handle for themselves at some point. YouTube tells creators should look for a notification to arrive over the next month.
I can’t wait for these handles to come out write your thoughts on youtube handles in the comments.
You can read more about handles and commonly asked questions:
Disclaimer*: these are questions and answers by youtube. It’s youtube credit.
Q: Why is YouTube launching handles?
Handles are a new unique identifier (for example @youtubecreators) & ALL YouTube channels will have one. Your unique @handle will help people find & interact with you & your YouTube channel. And because handles are unique (unlike channel names), it’s easy to confirm if you’re engaging with the right person or not!
Your handle will also work as a unique channel URL (example: youtube.com/@youtubecreators). Previously only creators with 100+ subs were eligible for a custom URL – but with this update, all channels will have a unique URL based on their handle! In the coming months, people will be able to use your handle across YouTube in comments, mentions, in Shorts & more. More details at youtube.com/handle.
Q: Which channels are eligible for a handle?
All YouTube channels will have a handle! Reminder: to comment on YouTube, you need to create a YouTube channel – this means even if you primarily use YouTube to watch and comment, you’ll have a handle.
Q: How do I choose a handle?
Once you’re notified (via email & in YouTube Studio) that it’s time to choose a handle, you can visit youtube.com/handle to choose your handle. If you don’t choose a handle by November 14th, we will begin assigning one based on your channel name. You’ll be able to edit your handle from youtube.com/handle if you want to change it!
Q: Will existing URLs continue to work?
Your other URLs will continue to redirect to your channel and your new handle URL.
Q: When can I choose a handle?
Since we have billions of channels on YouTube, we can’t flip a switch and have everyone choose a handle at the same time. Because handles must be unique and every channel on YouTube will have one, we’re rolling them out gradually. The timing of when a creator will get access to the handles selection process depends on several factors, including overall YouTube presence, subscriber count, and whether the channel is active or inactive. Everyone will have the option to choose a handle by November 14 at the latest.
Q: Will I lose my verification badge if I change my handle?
No, your verification badge will not be removed when you choose a handle, or if you change your handle!
Important reminder: If you change your channel name, your verification badge will be removed & you’ll have to reapply – this has always been the case to help avoid impersonation.
Q: Where are all the places where my handle will appear?
We’re rolling out handles gradually to all channels over the next few weeks. Once it has been rolled out to all channels, your handle will begin appearing in a few places across YouTube (and more over time), including the Shorts player, Search results, your channel page, comments & mentions, & more. Full details here.
– Sarah, TeamYouTube
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