YouTube is testing creator collabs similar to Instagram, TikTok

The social media ouroboros continues, and this time, YouTube is taking a bite out of Instagram and TikTok. According to a Google employee posting on YouTube Help, the platform is currently testing a new feature that allows creators to tag collaborators directly in videos, making it easier for viewers to discover and follow them.

The move mirrors similar collaboration tools already standard on TikTok and Instagram, where joint posts and tags boost visibility for everyone involved.

For now, the feature is being rolled out to a small group of trusted creators, but YouTube reportedly plans to expand it more broadly. As of now, the only known video we've seen using the feature is a recently posted upload from MrBeast in collaboration with creators Mark Rober, Ben Azelart, and the Stoke Twins.

The feature appears to function much like its counterparts on Instagram and TikTok: clicking on the main creator’s name opens a pop-up showing all tagged collaborators, each with a subscribe button next to their name. And, just like those platforms, it’s unlikely creators will be able to tag anyone at will — collaborators will probably need to accept an invite before being officially co-authored on the video.