YouTube now includes an ‘Incognito Mode’ for videos

YouTube has rolled-out an Incognito mode for Android app users, which omits any videos from your viewing history, similar to the feature offered in Google Chrome.

By default, Google will track everything you search and view on the video streaming platform in order to personalise video suggestions and improve targeted adverts.

However, there are times when you might not want a particular video search to be logged by the Mountain View-based company.

Incognito mode will shutdown tracking by Google, although, enabling the feature does not stop Internet Service Providers (ISPs) seeing all of your activities.

 

When turning on the feature, Google warns users: 'When you turn off Incognito or become inactive, your activity from this session will be cleared and you’ll return to the account last used

To activate Incognito mode, YouTube users need to tap the avatar in the top right-hand corner of the app and select the option ‘Turn On Incognito’ in the main menu

Incognito mode on YouTube is available to Android today.

The feature, which was first spotted in early testing back in May, has rolled-out as part of YouTube version 13.25.56, which is already available in the Google Play Store. 

To activate Incognito mode in YouTube, tap your account avatar on the top right-hand corner of the smartphone or tablet app to open the main menu.

If you’re running the latest version of the software, the option to ‘Turn on Incognito’ will be found in the middle of the menu, below the option to ‘Switch account’. 

Activating the feature disables the ability to check your subscriptions, message inbox, notifications, and library of uploaded videos.

Tapping on these shortcuts will load a blank screen with a warning that you’ll need to switch off Incognito mode to access these features again.

When Incognito mode is on, a small logo of a hat and sunglasses (which represents the same feature in Google’s Chrome web browser) is displayed in the top-right corner and a banner reading ‘You’re Incognito’ runs along the bottom of the app.

Incognito will automatically turn off after a period of inactivity, or you can manually disable the feature by tapping the avatar in the top-right corner. 

Although the new mode prevents Google from keeping tabs on your searches and viewing history within the streaming app, it does not stop ISPs or outside administrators from monitoring your activity in the app.

When turning on the feature, Google warns users: ‘When you turn off Incognito or become inactive, your activity from this session will be cleared and you’ll return to the account last used.

‘Your activity might still be visible to your employer, school, or internet service provider.’

YouTube is reportedly testing an Incognito mode for users of its Android app, similar to the feature offered on Google Chrome. The update is not yet available to all users

YouTube is reportedly testing an Incognito mode for users of its Android app, similar to the feature offered on Google Chrome. The update is not yet available to all users

HOW DO YOU TURN ON INCOGNITO MODE IN YOUTUBE?

Incognito mode is now available to all YouTube users on Android.

The new feature, which is similar to existing functionality in the Google Chrome web browser, omits all videos and searches from your history.

The feature is available in YouTube version 13.25.56, which is available to download in the Google Play Store.

To activate Incognito mode in YouTube, tap your account avatar on the top right-hand corner of the smartphone or tablet app to open the main menu.

Activating the feature turns off the ability to check your subscriptions, message inbox and library of uploaded videos

Activating the feature turns off the ability to check your subscriptions, message inbox and library of uploaded videos

If you’re running the latest version of the app, the option to ‘Turn on Incognito’ will be found in the middle of the menu, below the option to ‘Switch account’.

Activating the feature turns off the ability to check your subscriptions, message inbox and library of uploaded videos.

Tapping on these shortcuts will load a blank screen with a warning that you’ll need to switch off Incognito mode to access these features again. 

Incognito will automatically turn off after a period of inactivity, or you can manually disable the feature by tapping the avatar in the top-right corner 

It’s unclear whether Google will bring its Incognito feature to its iOS app.

The launch of Incognito mode comes after a spate of controversy around YouTube’s recommendation algorithms.

YouTube’s recommendation algorithm has landed the company in hot water in recent months.

Last year, the algorithm was recommending ‘creepy’ videos in its YouTube Kids section and failing to filter out disturbing content.

Some of the recommendations included Peppa Pig being tortured by a dentist, one of a burning airplane from the cartoon Paw Patrol and footage explaining how to sharpen a knife. 

In April, YouTube announced that is overhauling its kids-focused app to give parents more control over what their children can watch. 

The new features will allow parents to filter content on the app so it only displays channels that have been reviewed by humans rather than algorithms.

In March, a disturbing Peppa Pig fake, found by journalist Laura June, shows a dentist with a huge syringe pulling out the character's teeth as she screams in distress. This image shows a Peppa Pig fake that depict the character being attacked by zombies

In March, a disturbing Peppa Pig fake, found by journalist Laura June, shows a dentist with a huge syringe pulling out the character’s teeth as she screams in distress. This image shows a Peppa Pig fake that depict the character being attacked by zombies

An update scheduled for release later this year will also allow parents to configure which videos and channels, specifically, can be viewed.

Both the grown-up video service and the YouTube Kids app have been criticised by child advocates for their commercialism and for the failures of a screening system that relies on artificial intelligence.

The app is engineered to automatically exclude content that’s not appropriate for kids, and recommend videos based on what children have watched before.

That hasn’t always worked to parents’ liking – especially when videos with profanity, violence or sexual themes slip through the filters.

In February, YouTube apologised after disturbing videos surfaced on its YouTube Kids app.

HOW IS YOUTUBE MAKING ITS KIDS APP SAFER?

YouTube is finally rolling out changes to the privacy settings on it Kids app. 

After several issues with the service were reported, it is now rolling out updates this week. 

The new features will allow parents to filter content on the app so it only displays channels that have been reviewed by humans rather than algorithms. 

 Later this year there will be three further updates. 

Collections by trusted partners and YouTube Kids staff

YouTube Kids staff will offer collections of trusted channels on a variety of subjects.

This can be done from in the Profile Settings and parents can select from collections such as Sesame Workshop and PBS KIDS. 

YouTube will continue to add more partners over time. 

Parent approved content

YouTube is rolling out a feature later this year that will allow parents to specifically handpick every video and channel available to their child in the Kids app.

Improved search-off control

Starting this week, turning search off will limit the YouTube Kids experience to channels that have been verified by the YouTube Kids team.    



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