YouTube is testing a streamlined way to buy items that are used or mentioned on your favorite channels. The service says that creators who are part of the pilot can include certain products in their videos. If you click or tap on a shopping bag icon in the bottom left of the screen, YouTube will display a list of the featured items.
You’ll be able to check out more information about those products, watch related videos or buy the items. Only US users who access YouTube through Android, iOS and the web will see the shopping bag icon.
Creators have been able to sell merchandise through a shopping hub on their channel for the last couple of years, and this latest experiment looks like another way for them (and YouTube) to generate revenue.
Reports have swirled for quite some time that YouTube has been exploring a feature along these lines. A number of platforms are incorporating more shopping features, including Instagram and WhatsApp, so it’s not too surprising that Google is doing the same on YouTube. After all, Google Shopping ads started showing up under YouTube videos back in 2015.
