YouTube continues down the TikTok-ification rabbit hole, but this time it could be a good thing. Google’s video platform introduces “handles,” a not-so-new, new way for creators on the site to uniquely identify.
Each channel will soon have its own @handle that can be tagged in comments, video descriptions, and community posts. These handles will also appear on users’ channel pages and on Shorts posts (again, similar to how TikTok handles currently appear on videos), according to the company’s announcement on Monday.
“Unlike channel names, handles are unique to each channel,” the company said in a video explaining the change. This means that handles can become a quick way to verify the identity of an account on the platform more easily and avoid videos from scam, deceitful and rogue channels. Currently, multiple YouTube channels can share the same name.
Handles on YouTube
The company will roll out the handles in such a way that certain, more prominent YouTubers get the first blows. Platform presence, subscriber count, and recent activity level are all included in the order in which users receive their handle invite. Creators will be notified when it’s their turn to create a handle, and everyone will be able to pick their own @ by Nov. 14, according to Google’s FAQ on the subject.
A user’s selected handle then becomes part of a custom URL, which can be used to direct viewers to their channel. Previously, custom URLs were only available to accounts with more than 100 subscribers, but now YouTube says every channel has one. If an account already had an existing custom URL, that name is automatically reserved for that account as a possible entry, but creators can opt for a new entry if they want to once they receive a notification from YouTube Studio. .
Handles also become an abbreviated way to communicate across the platform through comments, posts, and tags. “Handles will replace channel names in the comments section – in the event that both the author of the comment and someone are mentioned in a comment, they will both be identified by their handle,” YouTube spokesperson Jess Gibby said in an email. mail to Gizmodo.
It’s worth noting that previously comments on YouTube have been displayed under people’s Google account name, often just a person’s full name. Last year, the company made it easier to separate YouTube channels from Google accounts, but the move to handles will likely also make it easier to maintain the privacy of your comment section.
The move to @handles is also certainly a way to move content creators further away from TikTok and towards Shorts. Last month, YouTube announced new ways for Shorts creators to monetize their videos through ad revenue, unlike TikTok where users don’t get any money from the ads played before or after their videos.