YouTube is rolling out its new “handles” features — a way of mentioning and referencing channels all over the platform. As journalists, it is important to take full advantage of this new feature.
As the official YouTube announcement put it:
Handles will appear on channel pages and Shorts, so they’ll be instantly and consistently recognizable. It’ll soon be simpler and faster to mention each other in comments, community posts, video descriptions and more.
So what are YouTube Handles?
YouTube descibes handles as a way to “find and connect with creators”. Similar to platforms such as Twitter and TikTok, your handle is in the form @handle. They are each a unique string of 3-30 characters – letters, numbers, and the special characters ‘.’, ‘-’, and ‘_’.
How do I get mine?
YouTube will send you a notification in the coming weeks when you are able to choose a handle. You will then be able to select your handle.
- Once you’ve been notified you can select your handle in the YouTube app or on the webpage.
- Select “Chose Handle” or “Change Handle”. If you already have a personalised URL it will be reserved for your, however you are able to change it should you want to.
- Type in your handle and confirm. Assuming it has not been reserved by someone else, and follows YouTube’s guidelines (e.g. no offensive language), it’s yours.
If you haven’t done this by 14 November you will be automatically allocated a handle.
How can I use my YouTube Handle?
Your YouTube handle can used in a similar way to how you use handles on other platforms. For instance, you can tag others (and they can tag you) in comments, community posts, and videos. This can help you build a personal brand, get noticed, and build connections on the platform. You will also be able to tag collaborators such as co-authors or interviewees.
Reserve your handle here: https://youtube.com/handle