YouTube is currently conducting a test of a new feature aimed at preventing accidental disruptions while watching videos. The feature, known as “Lock Screen,” disables touch input to avoid unintended pauses, skips, or video selections. Premium subscribers on Android and iOS devices have been selected to participate in this experiment.
To enable the Lock Screen feature, eligible users can tap on the gear icon located in the top left corner of the screen. The experiment was initially noticed by Cord Cutters News, who reported on its availability. YouTube has set a trial period until July 30, during which users can check if they have received an invitation to participate by visiting the YouTube home page.
This lock screen functionality resembles a similar feature introduced by Netflix in 2020. Netflix’s mobile app introduced a screen lock option, allowing subscribers to disable buttons like play and pause to prevent accidental interruptions or the enabling of subtitles.
Alongside this lock screen test, YouTube is also running other experiments. One of them involves warning users about the usage of ad blockers, notifying them that the video player will be blocked after three videos unless the ad blocker is disabled. Additionally, there are reports of YouTube considering an online gaming offering, where users would be able to play games directly through the YouTube website or app.
