YouTube tests adding TikTok’s swipe-up gesture to full-length videos

1 week ago 2

“Swipe up” is the new habit for users following the smash hit that has been TikTok and its clones in YouTube and Instagram. Now, the YouTube app appears to be testing a new swipe-up gesture in the standard video player that moves to a new video.

First used by TikTok and since also implemented by YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels (among other apps), the swipe-up gesture is a quick and easy way to move through a series of short vertical videos. But, generally speaking, it’s only used for vertical videos.

YouTube is now testing, as spotted by Digital Trends contributor Tushar Mehta on Twitter/X (h/t Android Authority), a new fullscreen video player behavior where a swipe-up results in a new video being played.

This behavior, which appears to only be available in a limited test, so far only being spotted on Android, would be quite a drastic change. Currently, the swipe-up gesture can be used to leave fullscreen mode. Swiping from either side (on Android) still lets you leave fullscreen mode, as does the arrow button in the top left corner.

It’s unclear if Google plans to roll this out widely, but user reception may play a role in that decision. YouTube has yet to comment on the change so far.

Let us know what you think of this potential change in the comments below!