YouTube’s First-Ever Year in Review: Your Watch History Recap
▼ Summary
– YouTube has launched a new “YouTube Recap” feature for videos watched on its main service, separate from its existing YouTube Music recap.
– The Recap provides up to 12 personalized cards highlighting a user’s top channels, viewing habits, and a personality-type assignment based on their preferences.
– It is available starting in North America with a global rollout this week, accessible via the YouTube homepage or the “You” tab on mobile and desktop.
– Alongside the Recap, YouTube released trend charts naming MrBeast as the top creator and “The Joe Rogan Experience” as the top podcast for the year.
– The launch coincides with similar year-end recaps from Apple Music and Amazon Music, as platforms compete for social media attention before Spotify Wrapped.
The annual tradition of personalized year-end summaries has expanded to a major new player. YouTube has officially launched its first-ever “YouTube Recap,” a dedicated feature that compiles users’ video watching habits on the main platform. This move goes beyond the existing YouTube Music recap, offering a distinct look at the content that defined your year on the world’s largest video site.
This new experience generates up to twelve personalized cards for each user. These cards highlight your most-watched channels, key interests, and how your viewing patterns have shifted over the months. A particularly engaging element is the assignment of a personality type based on your watching preferences. For example, if you spent time learning new skills, you might be labeled a “Skill Builder.” Those who favored uplifting content could become “Sunshiners,” while viewers seeking groundbreaking videos may earn the “Trailblazer” title. Other categories include “Wonder Seeker,” “Connector,” and “Dreamer.”
While the main Recap will show your top artists and songs, the platform notes that deeper musical insights are still found within the separate YouTube Music Recap, which began appearing for users last week. The primary video Recap started its rollout in North America and is expanding globally throughout the week. You can find your personalized summary directly on the YouTube homepage or within the “You” tab, accessible on both mobile devices and desktop computers.
According to YouTube, this feature was a direct response to user requests. The company conducted more than fifty different concept tests before finalizing the product that is now available. The launch coincides with the release of YouTube’s annual trend charts, which list the year’s top creators, podcasts, and songs. MrBeast secured the number one creator spot for the sixth consecutive year, “The Joe Rogan Experience” was the top podcast, and the song “Die with a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga claimed the top song position.
The timing of YouTube’s Recap is strategic, arriving on the same day as Apple Music’s Replay and Amazon Music’s 2025 Delivered features. With Spotify’s renowned Wrapped summary still awaited, it’s clear platforms are competing to be the first source of shareable year-end nostalgia for their users.
(Source: TechCrunch)
