YouTube Updates: iOS Join Button, Multi-Format Live Streams & Analytics Fix

YouTube Updates: iOS Memberships, Ad Metrics, and Multi-Format Streaming

YouTube is introducing several updates that impact how creators monetize their content, track performance, and deliver live experiences. From resolving long-standing visibility issues on iOS to leaking a glimpse of the future of live streaming, these changes affect different segments of the creator community.

The Return of the Memberships Join Button on iOS

For some time, there has been inconsistency regarding the visibility of the memberships join button for viewers using iOS devices. While some users could see the option to join a channel, others found it completely missing from their interface.

This inconsistency stemmed from disagreements between YouTube and Apple regarding payment infrastructure. However, this is changing: the join button will now be visible to all iOS users through the end of September.

The Impact on Creator Revenue

While increased visibility generally leads to more memberships, there is a significant financial caveat for creators. When a viewer purchases a membership through the Apple ecosystem on an iOS device, Apple takes a 30% cut of the transaction. This substantially reduces the revenue share that actually reaches the creator.

To optimize your earnings during this period of increased visibility, it is practical to guide your audience toward more cost-effective payment methods. You can encourage your iOS viewers to complete their membership purchase via a laptop or Mac using a credit card or PayPal directly through the web browser. By bypassing the in-app purchase system, you avoid the “Apple tax” and maximize your take-home revenue.

Refined Metrics for Advertising Views

There is also an update regarding how views are tracked within YouTube Analytics, though this change only applies to a specific subset of creators. If you use your videos as advertisements, you will notice a shift in your reporting.

YouTube has replaced the traditional view metric with a new “engaged view” metric for advertising views. This is intended to provide a more accurate representation of how viewers are interacting with ad-driven content rather than simply counting a passive impression. Because most creators do not use their videos as paid ads, this update will only impact a very small fraction of the community.

New Side-by-Side Ad Formats on Mobile

Starting next week, YouTube will begin rolling out “side-by-side” ads on mobile devices. This new format changes the viewer experience by allowing the content to remain visible alongside the advertisement.

While the stream is muted during the ad playback, the viewer can still see what is happening on screen. This approach aims to reduce the friction of traditional interruptions by keeping the viewer connected to the broadcast even while an ad is serving.

The Future of Live Streaming: Multi-Format Streaming (MFS)

One of the most significant reveals is a leak regarding a new YouTube Live dashboard setup. This upcoming feature, known as Multi-Format Streaming (MFS), will allow creators to run horizontal and vertical streams simultaneously.

A Unified Dashboard

The leaked MFS setup suggests a streamlined experience for the creator, featuring combined metrics across both formats. This includes:

• Combined chat feeds
• Total views
• Aggregate watch time
• Concurrent Viewers (CCV)

By unifying these metrics and the chat, creators can manage their community more effectively without having to toggle between different stream versions.

Timeline and Unknowns

The expected launch window for Multi-Format Streaming is Q4 2025, though YouTube has not yet announced specific dates. While the potential for higher engagement is clear—especially since vertical streams often attract a more active audience—there are still some unanswered questions regarding the post-stream experience:

1. Archives: It remains unclear if the vertical version of the stream will be removed once the broadcast ends or if both formats will remain as archives.
2. Metric Separation: It is not yet known if views and watch time will stay combined or be separated into horizontal and vertical categories after the dual livestream concludes.

Despite these unknowns, MFS represents a positive step forward in how creators can reach different audience segments simultaneously through a single broadcast event.

Original transcript

Transcript

Let’s talk about YouTube updates, specifically the memberships button on iOS. For some viewers, it was already visible, while others didn’t see it. The change is that it will be visible to all iOS users until the end of September. This is due to some Apple payment infrastructure issues; YouTube and Apple had disagreements, resulting in inconsistent availability across markets.

From now until September, every iOS user will see the memberships join button. This could lead to more people purchasing memberships. However, if a viewer buys a membership through Apple’s payment system, Apple takes a 30% cut, reducing your revenue share. To maximize revenue, encourage iOS viewers to pay via credit card or PayPal directly on a laptop or Mac, avoiding Apple’s fee.

Another update concerns views and engaged metrics in YouTube Analytics, but this only affects those using their videos as ads. The old view metric has been replaced with the new engaged view metric for advertising views. This change impacts a very small fraction of creators.

Additionally, side-by-side ads will start rolling out on mobile devices next week. If you’ve seen these ads, please share your thoughts. As a YouTube Premium member, I don’t see ads, but I believe this format allows viewers to still watch the stream alongside the ad, albeit muted.

Regarding live streaming, there’s been a leak of a new YouTube Live dashboard setup featuring horizontal and vertical streams. This is called multiformat streaming (MFS) and includes combined chat, views, watch time, and concurrent viewers (CCV). The launch window is Q4 2025, with specific dates yet to be announced. It’s unclear if the vertical archive will be removed post-stream or if views and watch time will be separated once the dual livestream ends. I believe this is a positive step as vertical streams can attract more engaging audiences, especially with combined chat.

Have you tried vertical streaming on YouTube? If so, how did it go? If not, why not? It’s an interesting experiment.

I have more to share, but we can discuss that later. If you have questions about today’s topics, leave them in the comments or feel free to message me on Discord. See you next time!

Confused about YouTube's recent changes? From iOS membership buttons to multiformat live streams, we've got you covered. Learn more about these updates and how they might affect your channel on our Creator Services, or contact our expert below.