Long-form videos will now be easier for viewers to go through thanks to a new feature that YouTube is introducing called “Video Chapters.” Timestamps that creators can add to their YouTube films will be used by the new functionality. Viewers will be able to simply go to the sections of the video they want to watch thanks to video chapters. The Video Chapters feature of the video platform was spotted being tested in April 2020, but it has now been officially launched and is available to YouTubers on desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.
Details of YouTube’s Video Chapters
The bottom of the video player will display the new YouTube video functionality. It is optional and will only be visible if the creator decides to include it. To produce chapters, creators don’t need to use any specific tools. Simply provide the pertinent timestamps in the video’s description. The video must have at least three chapters and the starting timestamp must be at 0:00. Every chapter must last at least 10 seconds. The Chapters will be automatically selected once the timestamps have been added to the description and the modifications have been saved.
Now, a YouTube video maker only has to begin the description of their video with any timecode other than 0:00 if they don’t want to use the Video Chapters feature but still want to specify certain time codes.
YouTube has started to offer haptic feedback to make it simpler for users to browse the new Video Chapters. The use of haptic feedback alerts viewers to the beginning of a new chapter. However, this function is only accessible via a mobile device.
Chapters for YouTube Videos: Pros and Cons
Viewers will find it simpler to scroll through long-form content thanks to YouTube’s new feature. Additionally, this feature might improve user interest. On the other hand, it can result in less people watching the entire film because they might stop after finishing a certain segment.
Some YouTubers were already stating the timestamp of significant points they had covered in their video descriptions prior to the release of this functionality. In other instances, viewers had to skip forward and search through the films to find the material they wanted to see. Viewers will find it simpler to skip to a certain section of a video thanks to video chapters. It is a straightforward feature that has the potential to fundamentally alter how viewers and YouTube creators produce and consume content.
