Channels are a personal space for everyone with a YouTube account, whether or not they create content. A YouTube channel is required to access some features of the site, A YouTube channel may feature a description, thumbnails of uploaded videos, playlists, including the users liked videos, channel subscribers, and a community section where the user can create posts to interact with their subscribers and channel members.
Advanced features[]
Notification for channels who lose access to special features necessary for one case, including to a required verification process being implemented.
While intermediate features have still been activated by phone number, the change from 2023 has lead to privacy concerns with some of the YouTuber's advanced channel features being affected by a recent verification process rolled out to require channel history, the video of one self or their ID (i.e. driver's licence) in-order to keep/re-gain access to advanced features including to links on video description, higher daily upload limits, pinning community posts, and notably live streams.[1] As part of the impact, daily upload limitations have been put in place, and a YouTuber by email is then notified when their advanced features gets revoked unless any of the new verification options was used.
Channel versions[]
Channels 1.0[]
1.0 channel page of Smosh
Up until 2010, YouTube was using the Channels 1.0 or the original channels. They were really simple and to the point. The left side of the channel contained user's info and information about connecting with that user, and possible subscriptions and subscribers. On the right side of the channel, there was a featured video and below that, a list of other uploaded videos and then the comments section. There was a set of links at the top of the channel. It was easily customizable.
Channels 2.0[]
YouTube introduced a new channel layout in 2010 simply known as Channels 2.0. The layout was slightly different however it still kept all the customization options that the previous version had. It offered more branding for partners, however it got a negative feedback by the community.
Channels 3.5, codename Cosmic Panda[]
On March 7, 2012, YouTube migrated every channel to the new channel design known as Cosmic Panda. It got the version number 3.5, because the version numbers of the four start page designs and three channel designs were synced. However, it is now mostly referred as Channels 3.0. The new change got a lot of negative feedback by the community as the only customization that could be done is to change the background on a regular user's channel, however partners could add a banner at the top, but no color scheme can be changed whatsoever. 80% - 99% of users voted against the new channel layout and openly hated it; however, this long hate stopped when update 4.0 (one channel) was announced.
Channels 4.0, codename One Channel[]
On February 4, 2013, a new design was announced. It instantaneously received criticism because the lack of customization, the too similar layout to the main page, and the change in general. On March 8, 2013, it became available for users, however, users were still able to use the Cosmic Panda layout until around June, when it became mandatory, resulting in users quitting their accounts. This is the design that has been used ever since, with very few changes being made over the years.