Google is injecting web search results in the YouTube search UI on Android for some users
by Abhay Venkatesh
Google is testing a way to serve up web search results inside the search UI on YouTube for Android when users search for content within the app. The feature seems to be a limited test currently. A user on Reddit (spotted by XDA-Developers) posted a screenshot of the change in their app which places a ‘Results from the web’ section below the video results.
The section provides Google search results and links to related topics just like on the web. Thankfully, the section is placed below YouTube search results. Interestingly, one user responded on the thread claiming to have been invited for feedback on the feature a month ago. Other reactions to this addition on Reddit are majorly negative.
It seems unusual for the company to serve web results on the app since most users that search on YouTube are not specifically looking for web searches and would prefer to use the Google app or search on the web. It is also not clear if the firm will use the section to show sponsored search ads based on the keywords. The company already syncs user searches across YouTube and Google.
YouTube recently also announced YouTube Select, a global content solution to help advertisers on the platform reach new audiences. It is possible that the company wants to increase monetization through the addition of sponsored Google search results on YouTube, at least for users in the free tier. As for consumer-facing features. the video platform recently added a bedtime reminder feature.