YouTube experimenting with Reddit-style comments for premium subscribers

In a bid to enhance user engagement and improve the reading experience, YouTube is currently testing a new comments section design inspired by Reddit. This experimental feature, which aims to improve readability and user comprehension of comment threads, is now available exclusively to YouTube Premium subscribers.

The test, which began earlier this year, is being conducted on both Android and iOS devices. The new comments section design is threaded, meaning replies to the initial comments are organised in a hierarchical manner, creating a more structured conversation flow. Replies to these initial replies are also threaded, further promoting a more orderly discussion.

YouTube has gathered initial feedback on the functionality of the new comment section during the preliminary phase. The company has decided to broaden the scope of this experimental feature, with the test continuing until August 14. It is worth noting that the name of the group of users currently testing the new YouTube comment section user interface is not specified in the available search results.

The new comments section design is inspired by Reddit's design, offering a more organised and easy-to-follow conversation. The threaded comment feature in the new comments section design now directly threads the main comment to all subsequent replies, making it simpler to follow the flow of the conversation.

The expanded availability of the comment threading experiment is exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers. This enhancement is currently limited to Android and iOS operating systems, excluding other platforms from participation. However, should the test prove successful, it is possible that the feature may be rolled out to a wider audience and across multiple platforms in the future.

YouTube's decision to adopt a Reddit-style comments section is part of the company's ongoing efforts to improve the user experience on its platform. As the test continues, it will be interesting to see how users respond to this new feature and whether it encourages more meaningful and organized discussions on YouTube.