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YouTube Users Report Unexpected Autoplay Feature

In a surprising turn of events, several users have reported that videos begin to autoplay as soon as they open the YouTube app, even when the autoplay function is disabled in their settings. This phenomenon has raised concerns and confusion among the platform’s audience, leading many to wonder if it is a technical glitch or an intentional change by YouTube.

Autoplay has long been a contentious feature for users who prefer control over their viewing experience. While YouTube users can opt-out of autoplay through their settings, reports suggest that for a growing number of individuals, disabling this feature is not having the intended effect. One user shared their experience on Reddit, saying, “I opened my YouTube app on my Samsung phone today, and it immediately started playing a video. I checked that autoplay was disabled and restarted the app, and that didn’t fix anything.” Another commenter expressed frustration, stating, “It’s screwing with my algorithm,” referring to the personalized recommendation system that the platform employs.

In response to these concerns, it appears that the situation may be related to a new experimental feature rather than a bug. A Reddit user reported they contacted YouTube Help and were informed by a support representative that this autoplay behavior is indeed part of an experimental rollout. The representative encouraged users to share their feedback through YouTube’s feedback tool and provided links for more information about ongoing experiments.

However, skepticism exists around this claim, particularly since the feature has not been documented in YouTube’s publicly available tests and experiments tracker. In light of this uncertainty, efforts have been made to reach out to Google for confirmation regarding the nature of this feature and whether it will become a permanent aspect of the user experience.

Despite the company’s perspective on the matter, feedback from users has largely been negative. Many find the unexpected autoplay disruptive to their viewing habits. Fortunately, some users have discovered potential workarounds to mitigate this issue. One option includes uninstalling the most recent updates to the YouTube app, while another approach involves clearing the app’s data and cache, which has reportedly worked for some.

Conclusion

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how YouTube will respond to user frustrations regarding this autoplay feature. Given the mixed reactions and varying experiences reported by users, it’s clear that many are keen on maintaining control over their content consumption. Users are encouraged to remain vigilant and share their feedback with YouTube to help shaped future developments.

Source
www.androidauthority.com