Watch out, YouTube; Instagram goes from short-form to 90-minute videos

As Instagram rolls out long form videos of up to 90 minutes, the platform has an opportunity to challenge YouTube if it plays its cards right.

YouTube’s next big upgrade could make videos use 30% less data

YouTube plans to introduce AV2 streaming in early 2027. The new codec promises around 30% better compression than AV1, potentially improving video quality and reducing data use.

YouTube is reworking the Home page with Custom Feeds and quicker access to Subscriptions

YouTube is changing how its Home page works, giving viewers more control over what shows up there and making some of the app’s most-used sections easier to reach. Custom Feeds are now replacing the existing topic chips for eligible users, while YouTube…

YouTube says it isn’t testing hiding the dislike button
YouTube says it isn’t testing hiding the dislike button

On Tuesday, I published a story about how YouTube appeared to be testing hiding the dislike button on videos, with at least two users on X sharing screenshots of the dislike button moved into the three-dot menu. But a YouTube spokesperson, in a Wednesday statement to The Verge, confirmed that YouTube is “not testing hiding […]

YouTube is making the dislike button harder to find on regular videos

Some YouTube users are seeing the dislike button tucked away in a menu, raising questions about whether the platform is limiting how easily viewers can express negative feedback.

YouTube might be testing hiding the dislike button
YouTube might be testing hiding the dislike button

YouTube appears to be testing hiding the dislike button on videos, as reported by 9to5Google. At least two users on X have recently shared screenshots of the dislike button now being placed in the three-dots submenu, and a user on Reddit also shared an image of the dislike button being absent for them. Right now, […]

YouTube Music launches new labels as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms

The label will appear on the player page and include songs entirely generated by AI or partially, such as involved in composition and vocals.

YouTube sticks new labels on AI-generated songs
YouTube sticks new labels on AI-generated songs

YouTube is adding a “Made with AI” label to tracks that were “altered or fully generated” using AI, with a similar approach to its existing process for applying AI labels to videos. It doesn’t sound like this will apply to any and all use of AI tools in making music, but according to YouTube, it […]

YouTube, Meta, and Twitch won’t say if they’ll allow the US government to livestream an execution
YouTube, Meta, and Twitch won’t say if they’ll allow the US government to livestream an execution

YouTube, Twitch, Meta, and X aren’t saying whether they’ll allow the US government to livestream an execution on their platforms. The four companies didn’t respond to The Verge’s requests for comment after an unnamed Pentagon official said yesterday that the execution of Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of a mass shooting at a Texas military […]

Meta and YouTube say they will run ads for ‘Musk’ documentary after all

Two companies now say they will accept advertising for director Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary about Elon Musk, following earlier reporting that a number of social media platforms had rejected the ads.