YouTube's New TV App Design: Subscriptions Hidden Behind Shorts Feed

David

3 min read

Post on May 13, 2025

4.4

Share

YouTube's New TV App Design: Subscriptions Hidden, Shorts Take Center Stage – User Frustration Mounts

YouTube's recent redesign of its TV app has sparked significant user backlash, primarily due to the less-than-intuitive placement of the subscriptions feed. Instead of the readily accessible subscriptions tab users are accustomed to, the new design prioritizes the Shorts feed, burying subscribed channels behind an extra click. This change, while possibly aimed at boosting Shorts viewership, has left many users feeling frustrated and disoriented.

A Major Shift in User Experience

The updated interface places the Shorts feed front and center, demanding attention upon launching the app. While YouTube Shorts has seen substantial growth, the decision to prioritize it over subscribed content has angered many loyal users. The previous design offered immediate access to a user's subscribed channels, allowing for effortless browsing of preferred content creators. This streamlined experience has been replaced with a design that requires navigating through the Shorts feed first – a significant change that some users deem needlessly cumbersome.

The Backlash Begins: Social Media Erupts

The change hasn't gone unnoticed. Social media platforms are ablaze with complaints from frustrated users expressing their disappointment with the new layout. Many users are reporting increased difficulty in accessing their favorite channels, leading to lost viewing time and overall dissatisfaction. The overwhelming sentiment is that the design prioritizes algorithm-driven content over user-selected subscriptions, a shift many feel is detrimental to the overall user experience. Search terms like "YouTube TV app redesign," "YouTube subscriptions hidden," and "YouTube Shorts forced viewing" are trending, highlighting the widespread nature of this complaint.

Why the Change? YouTube's Perspective (Likely)

While YouTube hasn't publicly addressed the widespread criticism in detail, the move likely stems from a strategic push to increase Shorts engagement. Shorts, YouTube's answer to TikTok, is a key area of focus for the platform's growth. By placing it prominently in the TV app, YouTube aims to expose more users to this short-form video content. However, this approach, at the expense of user convenience, has backfired spectacularly, generating negative publicity and potentially driving users away.

What's Next for YouTube TV?

The future of the YouTube TV app design remains uncertain. Given the intensity of the negative feedback, it's highly likely YouTube will reconsider its approach. Whether this means a complete reversal of the design changes, or a compromise that balances Shorts promotion with user accessibility to subscriptions, remains to be seen. The company may need to prioritize user feedback and adapt its strategy to prevent further alienation of its existing user base. We’ll be keeping a close eye on any official announcements from YouTube regarding this controversial update.

Tips for Navigating the New Design:

• Be aware of the new layout: The Shorts feed is now the default landing page.
• Look for the subscriptions icon: It's still there, but less prominent.
• Provide feedback: Let YouTube know your thoughts through their feedback channels.

This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of user-centric design in app development. Prioritizing user experience over aggressive content promotion is crucial for maintaining a loyal user base and long-term success. Will YouTube listen to its users? Only time will tell.