A new way of identifying yourself will soon be available for all users of the video sharing website. The company announced today that the name handles will be used across the platform, a departure from the norm on the internet.
Every user on the platform will have a unique handle that applies to all of them. Users can use a handle to mention others in comments, video descriptions, titles, and more.
While giving viewers the confidence that they are interacting with their favorite creators, YouTube wants to make sure creators can craft an identity as unique as their content. The creators will still have a channel name, but handles will be unique, which could cut down on fake accounts.
When it's their turn to pick a handle, some people will get to claim theirs first, while others will be left out. If a user has already created a personalized URL for their channel, they will have the option to change it once they are done.
Factors like overall presence on the platform, subscriber count, and whether the channel is active will be used to calculate notifications. Users typically need 100 or more subscribers to create a custom URL in order to claim a handle, so it is important for creators who aren't on the platform to claim a handle.
The company doubled down on its investment into shorts with the addition of handles. Last month, it was announced that creators would be able to keep 45% of the ad revenue on shorts. Over the last few months, it has added tools to use longer videos in short-form clips, as it takes on TikTok.
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