YouTube is killing Stories

YouTube has announced the discontinuation of its Stories feature. This was a popular tool used by creators since its inception in 2017. In an effort to shift focus towards Community posts and Shorts, YouTube is bidding farewell to Stories. According to Google, June 26, 2023 is with the last day for creators to post new Stories.

The Demise of YouTube Stories

In a blog post, YouTube announced that YouTube Stories is getting killed off. According to the company, users will no longer be able to post a Story on June 26th. The feature will officially shut down seven days after that date. So, if you want to get something ephemeral out on the platform, now is the time to do it.

Why YouTube Stories been killed

The company says that it is killing Stories because other features like Shorts, Live, and Community already give creators on the platform the tools they need to engage with their audiences. That’s a nice way of saying it. However, Stories are likely shutting down because they are not gaining traction on the platform. Honestly, I forgot that you could even post a Story to YouTube. While it’s one of those things you expect to see on Instagram, it definitely isn’t as expected on something like YouTube.

The Birth of YouTube Stories

YouTube Stories was a feature introduced in 2017. It was as a response to the growing popularity of short, ephemeral content on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. The feature allowed creators to engage with their audience by posting short videos or photos. The Shorts would then vanish after seven days. Limited to mobile devices, YouTube Stories aimed to offer a more casual and personal connection between creators and their viewers.

Upcoming Announcements and Features

As the company does away with Stories, the platform plans to introduce new features and updates for both Community posts and Shorts throughout the year. While specific details have not been disclosed, creators can expect a continued investment in tools and resources to help them succeed on the platform.

Conclusion

The discontinuation of YouTube Stories marks the end of an era. However, creators still have a couple of features to engage with their audience and grow their presence. Creators can continue to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of online content creation. They can do this by adapting their content strategies and experimenting with new formats.

Did you ever post Stories on YouTube? Do let us know in the comments section below.