YouTube Play Something Button Preview

YouTube is experimenting with a new floating “Play Something” button, designed to randomly select a video for users. This feature, spotted by 9to5Google in the YouTube app for Android, hovers just above the bottom navigation bar. With a simple tap, it serves up a video tailored to your viewing preferences.

How It Works

Unlike traditional navigation methods, the “Play Something” button leans heavily on the portrait-oriented YouTube Shorts player. This means it plays both vertically formatted Shorts and standard YouTube videos within the same interface. However, there’s hope that future iterations will refine this functionality to better distinguish between content types before a wider rollout.

Similar Features from Competitors

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a feature like this. Netflix introduced a similar “Play Something” shuffle feature back in 2021, rebranded as “Surprise Me,” before retiring it in 2023. YouTube’s version appears to channel that same spirit of simplifying the decision-making process for viewers.

The Evolution of the Feature

Over the past year, YouTube has tested different versions of this concept, including:

• A “Play Something” banner
• A minimalistic black-and-white YouTube logo button

Each iteration reflects YouTube’s commitment to offering a seamless, engaging user experience.

Why This Matters

The feature aligns with YouTube’s broader goal of reducing the paradox of choice, making content discovery more intuitive for its massive user base. It also mirrors trends in the industry, where platforms aim to keep users engaged through random, personalized content.