YouTube Audio

Always wondered the reason behind YouTube not letting users listen to audio in the phone lock mode.

A few years back, videos were meant to be seen at home in computers and not on mobile devices on the go.

Today, YouTube is the leading video streaming service. It reached the position owing to the formation of behavior among its users- watch videos anytime and anyplace with good quality.

Was traveling in metro and realized that if YouTube had added the feature-audio in the lock mode, I would have listened rather than watching the content.

Gradually, I might get used to the idea of using YouTube as an audio service.

Advertisements are a vital revenue source and made to please visually, even if it's for a few seconds. It is a lost purpose for YouTube if I use it in lock mode.

YouTube music has been introduced recently, but audio streaming is a crowded segment with the likes of Spotify, Apple music, etc. Tough to garner high market share. No notable threat in video streaming.

The slightest risk of hurting the behavior of users and having to compete in a crowded segment(audio streaming) with a feature(audio) that is not it's strongest may be the reason YouTube never wanted us to hear just the audio.

Orginally published on LinkedIn