YouTube's New TV App Design: Shorts Take Center Stage, Subscriptions Hidden

David

3 min read

Post on May 13, 2025

4.3

Share

YouTube's New TV App Design: Shorts Take Center Stage, While Subscriptions Get the Backseat

YouTube is rolling out a redesigned TV app, and the changes are significant, sparking both excitement and controversy among users. The most striking alteration? The prominent placement of YouTube Shorts, the platform's short-form video competitor to TikTok. This shift has led to criticism, particularly regarding the less-than-obvious placement of subscription features.

Shorts Dominate the Screen

The new design prioritizes Shorts, making them the default landing page for many users. This strategic move reflects YouTube's aggressive push into the short-form video market, a space currently dominated by TikTok and Instagram Reels. While this may attract new users drawn to bite-sized content, it's also causing frustration amongst existing users who primarily rely on the platform for longer-form videos and subscribed channels.

Finding Your Subscriptions: A Hidden Treasure Hunt?

One of the most significant points of contention revolves around the accessibility of subscriptions. Instead of the readily available subscriptions tab seen in previous iterations, users now have to navigate a less intuitive menu system to access their subscribed channels. This change has been met with widespread criticism, with many users complaining about the increased difficulty in finding their favorite creators' content. Several online forums are buzzing with complaints, highlighting the user experience challenges this design decision presents.

What YouTube Says About the Changes:

YouTube hasn't yet publicly addressed the widespread negative feedback regarding subscription accessibility. However, the company likely views the prominence of Shorts as crucial for growth and user engagement in a competitive market. The emphasis on short-form content aligns with current trends in video consumption and might attract a younger demographic.

Is this a Step Forward or Backward for YouTube TV?

The redesigned app is undoubtedly a bold move, aiming to capture a larger share of the short-form video market. However, the less-than-ideal placement of subscriptions raises serious questions about user experience. Whether this design shift ultimately benefits YouTube remains to be seen. The success will depend on whether YouTube can balance the appeal of Shorts with the needs of its loyal, long-form content viewers. A successful platform needs to cater to both segments effectively.

Key Features of the New Design:

• Prominent Shorts Feed: Shorts are now the default content displayed upon opening the app.
• Hidden Subscriptions: Accessing subscribed channels requires more steps than in the previous design.
• Simplified Interface: While the focus on Shorts is controversial, the overall interface is arguably simpler and cleaner.
• Ongoing Rollout: The update isn't available to all users yet, suggesting a phased rollout approach.

What's Next for YouTube TV Users?

It remains to be seen how YouTube will respond to user feedback. Will they adjust the design based on the overwhelming negative reaction? Will they offer options to personalize the interface, allowing users to prioritize subscriptions or Shorts based on preference? Only time will tell. Keep an eye on YouTube's official blog and social media channels for updates. In the meantime, navigating the new app might require some patience and exploration.

Keywords: YouTube TV, YouTube app, YouTube redesign, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, short-form video, long-form video, YouTube subscriptions, user experience, app update, TV app design, video streaming.