YouTube Tests Instagram-Like Creator Collaboration Feature to Boost Visibility

YouTube is testing a new creator collaboration tool designed to enhance visibility, cross-promotion, and audience engagement for content creators. This feature, inspired by Instagram’s collaboration feature, allows YouTubers to tag other creators directly in their videos, making it easier for viewers to discover collaborators and subscribe to their channels.

According to an official post on YouTube Help, the platform is currently rolling out this tool to a small group of trusted creators as part of its experimental phase. The new collaboration feature aims to strengthen content discovery and foster community building within the YouTube ecosystem. One of the first public examples of this feature in action is a MrBeast video featuring popular creators such as Mark Rober, Ben Azelart, and the Stoke Twins, where all collaborators are visibly tagged.

When the feature is fully rolled out, viewers will be able to tap the primary creator’s name on a video and see a pop-up listing all tagged collaborators, each accompanied by a Subscribe button for easy channel follow-through. On mobile, the display will be optimized with a “..and more” option to accommodate multiple tagged creators.

Importantly, mutual consent is required for tagging. The uploader must invite collaborators, and those invited must approve before their names appear publicly, ensuring creators retain full control and preventing unauthorized tagging.

While YouTube has not confirmed whether collaborators will gain access to backend analytics or other performance insights, the platform has stated that feedback from early testers will shape the final rollout of this tool.

This update comes as YouTube intensifies efforts to compete with Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms, giving creators more tools to grow their audience and monetize content effectively. With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, YouTube continues to evolve as a key hub for video creators, offering innovative features like YouTube Shorts, monetization updates, and AI-driven content recommendations.

If successfully implemented, this YouTube collaboration feature could transform how creators network, collaborate, and grow their channels, making the platform even more competitive in the digital content creation space.