how the feature works
when an end screen appears in a video, users will now see a “hide” button in the upper-right corner of the video player. clicking it will remove the pop-ups from the current video only, without affecting other videos on the platform. if the user wants to bring them back, a “show” button will appear in the same spot.
why youtube is making this change
the company explained that the update comes in response to user feedback requesting fewer distractions while watching videos. in many cases, end screens overlap with important parts of the video’s final moments, making it harder for viewers to see the content. the new option is designed to provide a smoother and more focused viewing experience.
additional updates
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removal of the floating subscribe button: youtube will also remove the floating subscribe button that appeared when hovering over a video watermark. the company noted that a permanent subscribe button already exists below the video player, making the floating version unnecessary.
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minimal impact on creators: youtube emphasized that these changes will have little effect on channel performance. in tests, allowing users to hide end screens resulted in less than a 1.5% drop in views from them. similarly, subscriptions from the watermark’s floating button accounted for less than 0.05% of total subscriptions.
overall, these updates highlight youtube’s commitment to improving the viewing experience while giving users more control.