YouTube is bidding farewell to its Accounts feature, a transient post format, starting in June. As of June 26th, users will no longer be able to create Stories, and any existing posts will automatically expire after seven days.
Introduced in 2017 as Reels and initially available only to users with over 10,000 subscribers, YouTube’s Accounts resembled similar features on Instagram and Snapchat. They provided creators with a platform to share updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content to promote their channels. However, examining the YouTube landscape today reveals that Accounts failed to gain significant traction. Limited accessibility and a lack of regular usage by creators resulted in minimal development of the feature, even by YouTube itself.
In light of this, YouTube is encouraging creators to explore alternative avenues for content sharing on the platform. Two prominent options include Community Posts and Shorts. Recently, YouTube expanded access to Community Posts, allowing creators to share text-based updates that can be set to expire after a specified period. In addition to text, creators can use Community Posts to share polls, quizzes, images, and videos, all presented in a dedicated tab on their channels.
Furthermore, YouTube has been actively embracing the popularity of short-form videos with its own TikTok competitor, known as Shorts. The platform has already urged traditional long-form video creators to venture into producing shorter content. In February, YouTube revamped its monetization plan, enabling creators to earn ad revenue from Shorts.
While many online entertainment platforms have embraced the story format popularized by Snapchat, YouTube is not keen on maintaining its own version. One might recall Twitter’s Fleets, the ephemeral posts that vanished quickly.
As YouTube bids farewell to Stories, its focus shifts towards enhancing alternative content sharing options for creators, such as Community Posts and Shorts. By embracing these features, creators can continue to engage their audience and share compelling content on the platform.
