web YouTube removing Annotations! Why is that a problem?

[Jonny Music 3,303]

Because for me as a content creator and video production business owner, it gives us another way for viewers to interact with our content. And I am disappointed that they are even going with this. Sure annotations are not mobile-friendly and can get annoying (thanks to the party-poopers who spam them for no or useless reasons), but they are incredibly useful when used appropriately.

 

I wish YouTube could make an equivalent to this that's mobile-friendly, but this is quite disappointing that YouTube will even be removing this when it isn't broken.

 

 

If you agree with this video I shared above, please share it as far and wide as possible. YouTube needs to at least see that they should make a mobile-friendly version of this (No, Cards and End screens do not provide the functionality annotations allow).

Edited March 19, 2017 by Jonny Music

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,220]

I find this to be a good thing. They can hopefully replace the system with something far better in the future, if they have any sense. Annotations were always irritating for me personally, and did nothing but get in the way. I know people probably have a lot use for them so I won't speak for everyone of course, but I personally find this to be a good.

[Jonny Music 3,303]

I find this to be a good thing. They can hopefully replace the system with something far better in the future, if they have any sense. Annotations were always irritating for me personally, and did nothing but get in the way. I know people probably have a lot use for them so I won't speak for everyone of course, but I personally find this to be a good.

 

I mostly blame those who spam the annotations to make them useless and making the situation worse for those like me who actually use them appropriately when making new corrections, error notes and giving the videos more interactivity, such as skipping an intro at the beginning of a video. Thus making the videos more professional in the long-run because of that interactivity that annotations themselves allow.

 

As I said already, I would hope that YouTube somehow makes a mobile-friendly equivalent of the annotations to allow that kind of interactivity back, since Cards and End screens do not have the functionality that annotations allow.

Edited March 16, 2017 by Jonny Music

[Gamer_KM 90]

This is going to be a pain to link stuff to eachother, also goodbye youtube CYOAs D:

[Rick Sanchez 75]

some (slightly) old foreign stuff is english subbed using annotations. what a shame.

[Jonny Music 3,303]

This is going to be a pain to link stuff to eachother, also goodbye youtube CYOAs D:

 

some (slightly) old foreign stuff is english subbed using annotations. what a shame.

The good news is that existing annotations will stay up, but they will no longer have the ability to be edited or added by May 2nd (but only to delete them). Future videos (after May 2nd) might no longer have the annotation option.

 

To accommodate this predicament, as I said in the OP, YouTube better have a solution to this which is mobile-friendly as well. Cards and End screens will not cut it.

Edited March 16, 2017 by Jonny Music

[Scrubbed user 3,415]

Just another sometimes useful feature Youtube is removing. I bet having a favorites list will be next on the chopping block.

[BlinkZ 1,151]

"you can find the links in the desctionption below" oh yeah..link spam...

But yeah why remove feature that helpful.  bad enough wit the stupid notifafon system. you can't mute one conversation nope you have to MUTE THEM ALL!

[Prospekt 10,984]

Unless they are fixing a typo in the video or providing links to other videos, I've always thought of the annotations as an annoying gimmick. Probably 75% of the time, it's stuff that would fit just fine (if not better) in the description. Another issue that bugs me is that they've never optimized the annotations for mobile viewing. There's no way to turn them off and just relax while watching.

[Trixie Heartstrings 433]

I think a better system would be to limit the amount of annotations allowed on each frame, so those who use them properly can still use them, and those who abuse them can't abuse them to the point where it's almost impossible to pause a video without clicking on a link to a scam site.

[HereComesTom 2,232]

I only use annotations occasionally, but honestly---this isn't the right way for youtube to go!

 

I was also annoyed when they took out the ability to send youtube content creators private messages...

[SparklingSwirls 21,261]

I normally watch Youtube videos on mobile, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but apparently there's a way to permanently disable annotations when you watch videos on your Youtube account. If this is already an option, why do they need to be completely removed for everyone...?

 

But yeah, I also hope that mobile Youtube will get some improvements in the future.

[Jonny Music 3,303]

I normally watch Youtube videos on mobile, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but apparently there's a way to permanently disable annotations when you watch videos on your Youtube account. If this is already an option, why do they need to be completely removed for everyone...?

But yeah, I also hope that mobile Youtube will get some improvements in the future.

I can understand YouTube's mindset for focusing on the mobile viewers, but it's still unfortunate that they are willing enough to make the stupid decision to remove them in the first place (especially knowing how incredibly useful and versatile they are, with the con being that they are not mobile-friendly). Edited March 18, 2017 by Jonny Music

[Nerdy Luigi 2,064]

I don't like this. Annotations can be really important, like say skips for spoilers or error correction. I could see how they could be annoying, but you can just turn them off...

[honk friend 1,966]

So they remove a useful feature that can be disabled for those who don't want to see them, but they don't remove that godawful channel plugging feature that takes up screen space and can't be disabled?

 

Youtube executives are retarded tbh

[Kaneki 1,072]

Youtube is weird. I'm not gonna complain though, since it seems to be the normal to absolutely hate everything YT.

 

Yet we still use it.

[MissDiamond 157]

I never used annotations neither have I clicked on one(if we speak for the ones who are used correctly), but I guess this gon' be a good thing. 

 

They can finally do something about it and improve it to something else that'd be useful in the future. (I am not saying that annotations weren't useful, though).

[ChocolateCrane 155]

Annotations are one of the most annoying things on Youtube. I always turn them off first thing.

[Jonny Music 3,303]

Annotations are one of the most annoying things on Youtube. I always turn them off first thing.

Ok, but what about for the content creators who need them for future error corrections, CYOAs and simply for allowing you to skip parts of videos thanks to that level of interactivity they permit?

 

You only have to blame those who spam them for little to no reason.

 

As a content creator myself, I find this really devastating that YouTube is even going to remove this very useful feature.

Edited March 19, 2017 by Jonny Music