YouTube has just introduced some much-needed tweaks to its advanced search features, aiming to make the experience more efficient and user-friendly. The most significant change is that Shorts – those three-minute-or-less videos – are now listed as a distinct content type, allowing users to easily exclude them from their searches.
For many, this update is a long-overdue relief. No longer will they have to trawl through dozens of short clips in search of a specific topic or explanation, only to find themselves lost in a sea of brevity and superficiality. The increased reliance on AI-driven recommendations – including the introduction of Google's Veo 3 engine last year – has made this exclusion option more appealing than ever.
Other updates to the advanced search tool include two renamed features: "Sort By" is now called "Prioritize," while "View Count" has been rebranded as "Popularity." This change allows YouTube's algorithms to consider a broader range of metrics, including watch time, when determining a video's relevance. Conversely, two former filter options have vanished from the menu altogether – users can no longer opt for "Upload Date - Last Hour" or "Sort by Rating."
These changes are likely to be welcomed by both content creators and viewers alike, who can now expect more accurate and relevant results in their searches. By giving users more control over what they see and how they're presented, YouTube is taking a significant step towards improving the overall user experience.
For many, this update is a long-overdue relief. No longer will they have to trawl through dozens of short clips in search of a specific topic or explanation, only to find themselves lost in a sea of brevity and superficiality. The increased reliance on AI-driven recommendations – including the introduction of Google's Veo 3 engine last year – has made this exclusion option more appealing than ever.
Other updates to the advanced search tool include two renamed features: "Sort By" is now called "Prioritize," while "View Count" has been rebranded as "Popularity." This change allows YouTube's algorithms to consider a broader range of metrics, including watch time, when determining a video's relevance. Conversely, two former filter options have vanished from the menu altogether – users can no longer opt for "Upload Date - Last Hour" or "Sort by Rating."
These changes are likely to be welcomed by both content creators and viewers alike, who can now expect more accurate and relevant results in their searches. By giving users more control over what they see and how they're presented, YouTube is taking a significant step towards improving the overall user experience.