Google is killing a Copied YouTube feature; Stories goes into Google’s failed grave.

YouTube Stories, a feature introduced in 2017, will be discontinued on June 26th, 2023. The platform, resembling Instagram Stories and Snapchat Stories, allowed users to share short-lived videos that disappeared after 24 hours.

Initially available to a select group of creators with over 10,000 subscribers, YouTube later expanded the feature to include those with over 1,000 subscribers. However, Google has now chosen to phase out YouTube Stories, redirecting its focus towards enhancing creator tools like Community posts, Reels, and Shorts.

Community posts empower creators to interact with their audience using various mediums, including text, images, and polls. Meanwhile, Shorts represents YouTube's response to the rising popularity of TikTok, providing users with the ability to create and watch short-form videos.

In an official support post by YouTube¹, it was confirmed that starting from June 26th, 2023, users will no longer have the option to create new YouTube Stories. Existing stories as of that date will automatically expire seven days after their initial sharing.

YouTube has committed to introducing new features for Shorts and Community posts annually. This investment aims to facilitate audience growth across the platform.

YouTube's decision to retire the Stories feature arises from the intensifying competition posed by other social media platforms. Instagram boasts more than 500 million daily active users engaging with its Stories feature², while Snapchat captivates over 280 million daily active users³. TikTok, on the other hand, has experienced explosive growth, surpassing 1 billion monthly active users⁴.

Although YouTube Stories was introduced to retain users and creators by providing a casual and interactive content-sharing experience, it failed to gain significant traction within the YouTube community. Criticisms included difficulties in discovering Stories, limited engagement, and a perceived mismatch with YouTube's long-form video format.

The decision to discontinue YouTube Stories reflects the platform's dedication to focusing on its core strengths and unique features. With over 2 billion monthly active users and over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube remains the dominant platform for online video. It also offers exclusive features like live streaming, monetization options, memberships, and premium content that distinguish it from competing platforms.

YouTube aspires to adapt to evolving user and creator preferences by expanding opportunities for sharing short-form content through Community posts and Shorts. Time will tell whether these initiatives are sufficient to compete effectively with the likes of Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Sources:

¹: Google is killing a stolen YouTube feature - Android Authority

²: Instagram: number of daily active Stories users worldwide 2019 | Statista

³: Snap Inc. Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

⁴: TikTok surpasses 1 billion monthly active users globally - TechCrunch

: YouTube by the Numbers (2021): Stats, Demographics & Fun Facts

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