YouTube rolls out Shorts feedback tool, expands Premium Lite to 20+ countries

Mumbai: YouTube is rolling out a new “Get Feedback” tool for Shorts creators while expanding its Premium Lite subscription to more than 20 additional countries, CEO Neal Mohan said in a post on X.

The new tool is designed to help creators improve Shorts before they are published. Creators can upload an unlisted draft and receive tailored suggestions on key elements such as the video’s hook, pacing and structure.

The feature shifts some of YouTube’s creator support to the pre-publishing stage, giving users an opportunity to fine-tune their content before it goes live rather than relying solely on performance data after publication.

For Shorts creators, the tool could offer a quicker way to identify potential weaknesses in a video’s opening or overall flow before putting it in front of viewers.

Alongside the Shorts update, YouTube is expanding Premium Lite to more than 20 new countries. The company specifically named Indonesia, the Netherlands and Portugal among the latest markets.

Premium Lite is positioned as a lower-cost subscription option that provides ad-free viewing for most videos, giving users an alternative to the platform’s full YouTube Premium offering.

YouTube had previously said it planned to make Premium Lite available in all markets where YouTube Premium operates, as it looks to broaden its paid subscription base.

The subscription expansion also has implications for creators. Under YouTube’s Partner Programme, Premium Lite generates creator revenue through a dedicated pool, with 60 per cent of net Premium Lite subscription revenue allocated to the pool and distributed based on members’ watch time and views.

The two updates highlight YouTube’s twin focus on its creator ecosystem and subscription business. While the “Get Feedback” tool aims to help creators make better Shorts before publishing, Premium Lite gives the platform another route to expand paid viewing across international markets.