YouTube is implementing a minor but crucial change that could see some of your videos on the platform being unavailable to the general public. The change affects all Unlisted videos uploaded to the platform prior to its 2017 security update. YouTube says it will make all such videos Private unless their owners take action. The company announced the change recently on its official blog and said that it will directly notify you if your video will be impacted.
In this post, we will cover more details about the change, highlighting the following areas:
- What are Unlisted videos?
- Why is this happening?
- What does the change mean for your videos?
- What can you do?
What are Unlisted videos?
Unlisted videos and playlists on Youtube are those that anyone with a link to can view and share, even if the person does not have a Google account. The videos do not appear during a normal Youtube search or in other tabs, such as the "Videos" tab of your channel's "Homepage." However, if someone adds such videos to a public playlist, they will appear in Youtube search results.
The Unlisted setting is one of the three video settings found on Youtube, with the others being "Public" and "Private." For public videos, anyone can see and share them with anyone. They typically appear in the "Videos" tab of your channel's "Homepage" and as part of search results. Private videos, on the other hand, are only visible to you and the select people you choose. They never show up in Youtube search results or in the "Videos" tab of your channel's "Homepage." Additionally, it is impossible to comment on Private videos. You have to change the setting of a Private video to "Unlisted" to allow comments on it.
Now, YouTube seeks to make all videos uploaded before January 1, 2017, Private. This means that if you own such videos and fail to take action, their total reach will reduce significantly.
Why is this happening?
According to a Google Support answer, the change is due to new YouTube security enhancements. In 2017, the company rolled out an update to the system that generates links for new Unlisted videos. The security enhancements that were part of the update made it harder for someone to discover the links to your Unlisted videos if you had not sent the links to them.
The new change will ensure that even the videos uploaded before the update will get the security enhancements. Google says the change will come into effect on July 23, 2021.
Here is how to check if some of your videos are affected:
Click this link to check the videos you uploaded before January 1, 2017. Alternatively, you can sign into YouTube Studio and do the following:
- Select "Content" from the menu on the left-hand side
- Click "Filter,'" then "Visibility," then "Unlisted," and finally "Apply"
- Choose to sort by upload date by clicking "Date"
What does the change mean for your videos?
The Unlisted videos you uploaded before January 2017 will automatically appear under the Private settings. This means that you have to do nothing if you want them to become Private. The videos will not appear during normal search results, nor will they be visible in the "Videos" tab of your channel's homepage.
The following will also apply:
- Once your Unlisted videos become Private, the people who previously had a link to any of them will no longer be able to view or share them
- Any video that you embedded in a website or app will cease being viewable
- You will only be able to share the Private videos to no more than 50 email addresses. The people you share the videos with have to own a Google account to view them
- The comments made when the video was Unlisted will no longer be available when the video becomes Private. However, they will not be deleted and will return when you make the video Public or Unlisted.
What can you do?
If any of your video content is affected by this change, it could negatively impact your business. From tutorials or product release videos, current and potential customers and partners could miss out on a lot of content. However, all is not lost. There are several steps you can take as listed below:
- Do nothing. If you take no action, Youtube will go ahead and make the video Private, starting July 23, 2021. This action will mean that only you and your selected group of viewers will be able to access and view the video. It will cease to work on any websites or apps where you have embedded it. However, even after the change takes place, you can continue and change the video's privacy settings at Youtube Studio whenever you want to.
- Opt out of the change. You can opt out if you want your Unlisted video to remain with the same privacy settings it currently has. To opt out your channel, ensure that you have filled this form before July 23, 2021, and keep your video in its Unlisted state. This is advisable if you use your Unlisted videos as you would the Public ones, such as by sharing them on social media or implanting them on third-party sites. When you opt out, your videos will not enjoy the benefits of the new security update, but the links will continue functioning as they do currently.
- Make your unlisted video public. Anyone who can access YouTube will be able to view the video, either in your channel homepage's "Videos" list or as part of search results.
- Re-upload the Unlisted video as a new Unlisted video. This action allows you to benefit from the new security update and still retain your video as Unlisted. To do this, download the video that you want to retain as Unlisted under the new YouTube settings and then re-upload it. The only downside that comes with this alternative is that data linked to the original upload such as likes, views, and comments, won't feature in the new upload. You will also have to upload any links you have used to embed the video on an app, third-party site, or social media to direct towards the re-uploaded video.
Coleman Technologies can help!
When you are running a business, it could be difficult to have a lot of focus on supporting aspects like digital marketing. This could make you miss out on important updates, such as the YouTube change highlighted in this post. Ultimately, this could have a negative impact which can include even losing money in the form of potential clients and partners. This is why you should rely on a strategic technology partner like Coleman Technologies.
We are a wholesome IT support company that can offer dedicated services that fit your industry's unique needs. Contact us today to learn how partnering with us can help with all your information technology, not just servers, routers, and firewalls. We can help with all your business IT needs.
