YouTube Web App Review: Powerhouse With Room to Improve

App Reviewed: YouTube (Web Version)

As someone who uses YouTube daily—for research, music, tutorials, and pure entertainment—I’ve spent a lot of time exploring its web interface. It’s one of the most visited websites globally for a reason, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.


Usability

YouTube’s interface is polished and easy to use. The sidebar makes navigation simple, giving you direct access to your Home, Shorts, Subscriptions, and Library. The top bar offers fast search with autocomplete, plus quick links for uploads and settings. However, it favors algorithm-based recommendations over channels I’ve actually subscribed to. That’s frustrating when I want to stay caught up with my favorite creators. Also, there’s no way to pin priority channels or hide less-used features like Shorts or Trending.


Design

YouTube balances function and form with a responsive layout and a clean, modern aesthetic. Dark mode is a standout feature for night users. Thumbnails are clear, and metadata (like views and channel name) is easy to scan. Still, ads and trending videos clutter the home screen, and the right-side “recommended” panel while watching a video can feel overwhelming and distract from what you’re currently viewing.


Functionality

Playback is seamless, whether it’s live streaming or 4K content. Features like picture-in-picture, subtitles, speed control, and playback memory are all solid. But for non-premium users, ads are a real pain—sometimes two or three back-to-back, and not always skippable. I’ve also experienced delays with comment loading and occasional video resets when browser extensions are running.


Recommendations

  1. Customizable Home Feed
  2. Users should be able to pin favorite channels, hide Shorts/Trending, and prioritize subscriptions in their feed.
  3. Balanced Ad Options
  4. Let non-premium users opt for interactive ads or fewer unskippable ones to improve the overall experience.
  5. Enhanced Channel Management
  6. Introduce a “favorites” tab in the sidebar so key channels are always one click away.

 

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