Creator news: YouTube Shorts; Google Search Wayback Machine Links, Bluesky Videos, and more.

Introduction

Welcome creators! Here are the latest updates for YouTube, Twitch, Google Search, AdSense, BlueSky, and more as of September 15, 2024.

YouTube Updates

Channel Handles

YouTube is rolling out a feature allowing creators to create channel handles in one of 75 different languages. This feature has been in development for a few months, but the recent article highlights its application. Notably, handles can now incorporate two different languages, providing an example of a handle that uses both Japanese and English. It’s important to remember that your handle appears when you leave comments and should be easily recognizable and memorable, rather than a random string of characters.

Add Yours Sticker for Shorts

A new feature added to the YouTube Shorts editor allows creators to use an "Add Yours" sticker in their videos. This encourages engagement by allowing viewers to share their own videos related to the theme presented, such as “show your favorite breakfast dish.” The "Add Yours" button lets viewers see all the submissions, fostering community interaction.

Video Promotions

YouTube has added a new goal to its promotion tab within YouTube Studio: website visits. This option enables creators to promote their videos to drive more traffic to external sites, such as merchandise stores or ticket sales. Although the promotion setup is a simplified version of Google Ads, creators should use it thoughtfully—without a clear purpose, funding such promotions may not yield a significant return, especially regarding watch hours necessary for the YouTube Partner Program. Views gained through promotions do not count towards eligibility for the program.

Twitch Update

Twitch's DJ program allows streamers to legally stream popular music during their broadcasts. This program is intended for monetization, with a revenue share model in place. However, it’s important to note that Twitch will soon phase out its initial subsidy for these costs. In crowdsourced insights from Twitch expert Zach Buoy, the revenue cut for music licensing stands at approximately 30%, which is a pivotal factor for creators considering participation. The DJ program also lacks the option to have on-demand viewing after streaming, a limitation many must remember.

Google Search Update

Google Search has reinstated a feature that allows users to access the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to view previous versions of websites. This feature was removed earlier in the year but is now accessible through a few clicks in the "more about this page" menu. However, the Wayback Machine does not capture every web page or maintain up-to-date archives, which may limit research capabilities.

AdSense Update

As online privacy regulations in the U.S. vary by state, Google AdSense has expanded its privacy settings to include messaging for Montana, Oregon, and Texas. Website owners should check their AdSense privacy and messaging settings to ensure compliance if they’re currently set for other states like California and Colorado.

BlueSky Update

BlueSky, a Twitter alternative, has seen a surge in users, especially from Brazil after X was banned there. This platform recently launched native video upload options, enabling users to share videos up to 60 seconds long. Users can upload and attach subtitles to their videos, enhancing engagement on the platform.

Meta's AI Content Labeling Efforts

Meta is currently refining how it labels AI-generated content on its platforms. They’re working on a distinction between minor edits done with AI and completely AI-created content. Though they’ve improved the prominence of AI labels, the labeling system remains flawed, and more adjustments are likely needed to address entirely fabricated content that lacks appropriate labels.

Google Meet and Team Viewer Integration

Google Meet now integrates with Team Viewer, allowing remote access for tech support directly within video calling. This functionality is available for both free and paid Google Meet accounts.

Notebook LM Update

Google’s Notebook LM tool has added audio overviews for uploaded documents. The feature generates an AI-driven audio discussion that summarizes the material and can be downloaded. This innovative functionality could allow creators to produce podcast-like content directly from their documents.

Keywords

• YouTube Handles
• Add Yours Sticker
• YouTube Promotions
• Twitch DJ Program
• Google Search Wayback Machine
• AdSense Privacy Settings
• BlueSky Video Uploads
• Meta AI Labels
• Google Meet Team Viewer
• Notebook LM Audio Overview

FAQ

1. What is the new YouTube handle feature? The new YouTube feature allows creators to create handles in 75 different languages for better channel recognition.

2. What is the "Add Yours" sticker in YouTube Shorts? The "Add Yours" sticker encourages viewer engagement by prompting users to contribute their own related videos.

3. How do YouTube promotions work? Promotions allow creators to raise visibility for their videos and drive website traffic, but views from promotions do not count towards the YouTube Partner Program watch hours.

4. What does the Twitch DJ program offer? The DJ program allows streamers to legally use popular music during live streams, but it comes with a revenue-sharing model and restrictions on video on demand.

5. How can I view previous website versions on Google Search? You can access archived versions of web pages by clicking on the three-dot menu next to search results and selecting "see previous versions" that invokes the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.

6. What recent updates did BlueSky introduce? BlueSky has introduced video upload capabilities, allowing users to share videos up to 60 seconds long, significantly enhancing user experience.

7. What improvements are Meta making to their AI content labeling? Meta is refining their AI content labeling system to better distinguish between minor edits and entire AI-generated content, but this remains a work in progress.

8. What is Notebook LM? Notebook LM is a Google tool for uploading documents that allows AI summarization and now includes an audio overview feature that generates discussions based on the documents.