The button, featuring white text and a play icon on a black background, launches videos directly in the Shorts player interface when tapped. Interestingly, it’s not limited to Shorts content—it also plays regular videos in the same portrait layout, complete with large controls for liking, disliking, commenting, and sharing, along with a timeline scrubber at the bottom.
When the app’s miniplayer is active, the “Play Something” button disappears, suggesting it’s meant for seamless content initiation from the main interface.
Spotted in version 19.50 for Android, the feature has been in development since at least last year. Reports trace its first public appearance to May 2023, when a Reddit user highlighted it.
The button bears a resemblance to Netflix’s “Play Something” feature, introduced in 2021, which offers viewers randomised shows and movies based on their preferences. YouTube’s iteration seems poised to offer a similarly effortless browsing experience tailored to individual viewing habits.
While still in testing, the “Play Something” button could mark a significant step in how users discover and consume content on YouTube.
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