One of the features of Instagram is the Explore section on the app where users can find posts that are either popular or that Instagram thinks they might like based on accounts they follow. This is a good way of discovering new posts. Now it looks like YouTube could be taking a page out of Instagram’s book.Announced on the Google Product Forums, YouTube has revealed that they will be testing out a new Explore tab on its iOS app. However YouTube notes that this will be a very small test group so don’t be surprised if you’re not part of it. YouTube also makes it clear that this will not be replacing the Trending tab and that the Explore tab will exist alongside of it.
According to YouTube, “With more videos coming to YouTube every minute we’re always experimenting with ways to make it easier for people to find, watch and share the videos that matter most to them. One thing we’ll be testing on iOS over the new few weeks is a new ‘Explore’ tab, which will help you discover more videos, topics and channels that you might not otherwise see. We also hope Explore will be a space where creators of all sizes, including emerging creators, can have their content discovered.”
At the moment YouTube on the desktop already offers up Recommended videos on the front page, so we imagine that this Explore tab should have similar functionality. It is unclear if YouTube plans on making this a mainstay so we guess we’ll just have to wait and see.