In 2022, YouTube aims to roll out a number of new features, tools, and products for the company's creators, viewers, and partners, and according to Neal Mohan, the platform's Chief Product Officer, some of the features will also be related to the metaverse, blockchain, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), while looking at how these can be used to ensure greater engagement with the platform's users.
According to Mohan, the platform is currently looking at ways it could make viewing its content more engaging, and deeper integration with metaverse functionality could be part of the solution. The new features could be delivered through YouTube's Partner Program, which allows creators to make money through the use of the platform. In addition, Mohan said that by 2021, the program had reached 2 million participants.
"The first area where you can expect to see an impact is gaming, where we'll be working to bring more interactions to games and make them feel more real. It's still early days, but we're excited to see how we can turn these virtual worlds into a reality for viewers," he said in a recent blog post."
Mohan also suggests that the Google-owned giant could increase its involvement in blockchain and NFTs, benefiting from the decentralization offered by Web 3.
"Web3 also opens up new opportunities for creators. We believe that new technologies like blockchain and NFTs can enable creators to build deeper relationships with their fans. Together, they'll be able to collaborate on new projects and make money in ways that weren't possible before," the CPO said.
For example, Mohan said fans can acquire videos, photos, artwork and other unique products from their favorite creators via YouTube.
Mohan concluded that "there's a lot to consider to make sure we approach these new technologies responsibly, but we think there's also incredible potential."
