YouTube launches stories for creators with over 10,000 subscribers
YouTube has rolled out stories worldwide following a successful test on a small number of users over the past year. The feature will be available to creators with over 10,000 subscribers.
The video sharing platform is one of the last big social media channels to adopt the feature, which first became popular on Snapchat before being adopted by Instagram in August 2016 and Facebook in 2017. The stories feature sees creators able to share short videos which expire.
YouTube stories will be available in the mobile app for seven days, and may show up to subscribers on the subscriptions tab, and non-subscribers on the home page and in the up next list below videos.
Creators Colin and Samir were involved in the beta test
Unlike Instagram’s version of the feature, users and creators will be able to comment publicly on stories.
In a post on the YouTube blog, Todd Sherman, product lead for YouTube stories, said creators are always looking to strengthen their relationship with their audience.
“Through testing the stories format with a small group of you over the past year, we’ve seen you do just that, from FashionbyAlly giving updates on what’s coming next, to Colin and Samir bringing their fans into the creative process,” he wrote.
“We applied feedback that we got from you to build a product specifically designed with you, the YouTube creator, in mind.”
The launch is the latest in a long line of copycat features shared by the big social media giants.
Over the past year, Instagram and Facebook have both attempted to move into YouTube’s long-form video territory with the launch of IGTV and Facebook Watch respectively.
Instagram routinely replicates features originally launched by Snapchat, such as stories, face filters and disappearing messages.
