YouTube is testing a feature designed to provide users with short video previews before they click on a recommendation.
This initiative aims to offer a clearer representation of video content, potentially impacting creator strategies that currently rely heavily on thumbnail optimization for view counts.
YouTube stated in a March 19 support update that the “Discover videos with Previews” feature will show 5-10 short, engaging moments from recommended videos after clicking an entry card on the homepage. Users can then opt to watch the full video or add it to a “watch later” list.
The system will generate a highlights package to offer potential viewers more context regarding a video’s content.
Some creators, such as MrBeast, employ teams to optimize thumbnail images. Jimmy Donaldson of MrBeast stated he pays approximately $10,000 per thumbnail image through this optimization process.
YouTube specified that this is a small-scale experiment. The highlights feature is currently available to a limited percentage of users on the Android mobile application.
