YouTube Handles, Community and Twitch Guest Star (Beta)

In this week’s Video and Livestreaming News, Sam Proof and John Lacey discuss:

• YouTube Handles
• YouTube Community Features being rolled out to more users
• Twitch’s new Guest Star (Beta) Feature

YouTube Handles

YouTube Handles are a new “URL mechanic” that will let you:

• tag channels with their handle in video descriptions and comments (such as @JohnLacey or @SamProof or @LearnLivestreaming)
• use your handle within a custom URL, such as:
  • https://www.youtube.com/@JohnLacey
  • https://www.youtube.com/@SamProof
  • https://www.youtube.com/@LearnLivestreaming

Handles Overview — YouTube

YouTube Community Features roll out

YouTube Community Features are being rolled out to more users (including a brand new account John had, that had 0 videos and 0 subscribers).

Community features allow you to share more with your YouTube audience, including:

• Text posts
• Image posts
• Image and Text polls
• Videos —your own or other users’ videos

Learn about Community posts — YouTube

Twitch’s new Guest Star (Beta) Feature

Guest Star is “a new tool that lets you easily bring up to 5 other Twitch users on stream, including other creators or viewers.” Learn more about Twitch’s Guest Star Feature.

Garrin Perkins on LinkedIn made John aware of a similar product from some former Twitch developers, Ping.gg.