The behavior in question refers to instances where the YouTube application, or the YouTube website in a browser, directly navigates to the “Shorts” feed upon launch or after a period of inactivity, bypassing the standard homepage or a user’s last viewed content. This involves an unexpected redirection to short-form video content upon accessing the platform.
This automatic redirection presents both potential advantages and drawbacks. On one hand, it may serve to increase user engagement with short-form video content, highlighting creators and trends within this format. Historically, platforms have adjusted user interfaces and navigation to promote specific content types deemed strategically important, and this could be a similar instance. However, such automated behavior may also disrupt a user’s intended viewing experience, particularly if they primarily consume longer-form videos or use YouTube for other purposes such as music listening or educational content.