YouTube is testing out a voice reply feature in order to help its creators make ‘meaningful relationships’ and it has left people divided.
There are always new updates to social media platforms that prove to be controversial at first before everyone forgets what life was like before.
However, this latest innovation from YouTube is seriously ruffling some feathers.
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The platform, which is owned by Google, has unveiled a new feature that is aimed and helping content creators to form a better connection with their audiences.
And it turns out that is by using a voice reply in the comment section.
On the website, it read: “We’re experimenting with a feature that enables creators to reply to comments with their voice.
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“If you’re a creator in the test group, you can click the sound wave icon when responding to a comment > record a voice reply > then post it as a comment.
While we gather feedback in the experiment phase, voice replies can only be left by creators on their own channel via the YouTube app on iOS, but all viewers and creators can engage with these comments.
“This test is rolling out to a small number of creators in the US. We hope that the voice reply experiment enables more meaningful relationships between creators and their audiences.”
Viewers will also be able to click on the audio recording of a reply from a content creator to view a transcription.
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This will only work on mobile devices though as, on desktop, viewers will only be able to see the comment written out.
Users took to social media to share their reactions to the news.
On Reddit, one user wrote: “I see this being used as a way to earn some more money. ‘I'll reply to Patreon subscribers' comments in voice’ etc.”
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Another wrote: “YouTube on their way to add another useless change and remove another core part of the site.”
A third person commented: “It will be another trendy thing that will be fun at first. Then forgotten about after 2 months. Then YouTube will quietly drop it & it will be totally forgotten about. Same as video replies.”
And a fourth added: “I just hope it won't take eternity for those voice replies to start playing.”
Google hasn’t yet revealed whether this new feature will be extended to viewers too and we also don’t know yet if creators will only be able to respond to videos that are on their own channels.