Following years of user frustration over final-second distractions, YouTube is rolling out a small but highly significant quality-of-life update: a dedicated "Hide" button for end-screen pop-ups. The new feature gives viewers control over the recommended videos and promotional elements that often clutter the last five to twenty seconds of a clip.
The change, which has moved from an extended experiment to a broad rollout, is a direct response to widespread community feedback. Many viewers complained that the on-screen graphics and video suggestions broke immersion, particularly during educational or highly cinematic content.
How the New 'Hide' Button Works
Using the new feature is straightforward: when the end-screen elements begin to appear on a video, users will see a new "Hide" button in the top-right corner of the video player. Tapping this button will instantly dismiss all pop-ups, allowing the viewer to finish watching the video cleanly.
It is important to note that this is a per-video control, not a global setting. If a user wishes to hide the end screen on a subsequent video, they will need to tap the "Hide" button again. YouTube stated this design choice offers control without completely undermining a creator's promotional strategy.
Minimal Impact on Creators, Major Win for Users
YouTube claims that its internal testing showed the introduction of the hide option resulted in a negligible dip in engagement, with less than a 1.5% decrease in views derived from end-screen clicks. This minimal impact allowed the platform to prioritize viewer experience over strict engagement metrics.
In an additional cleanup effort, YouTube is also simplifying the desktop interface by removing the redundant "Subscribe" button that previously appeared when hovering over a video’s channel watermark. These changes reflect a growing effort by the platform to streamline the viewing process and reduce UI friction.
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