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> When YouTube first started giving out names, they used Google+. When YouTube first started giving out names, Google+ didn't exist. Then there was the merger
by TazeTSchnitzel 7y ago
> When YouTube first started giving out names, they used Google+.
When YouTube first started giving out names, Google+ didn't exist.
Then there was the merger of Google accounts with YouTube, then there was the merger of Google+ profiles and posts with YouTube profiles and comments to inflate G+'s stats and force people to use it. Despite all that churn, I don't think old YouTube usernames from 2006 ever stopped working.
- edent 7y agoAh, that may be my confusion. I obviously got the ability to add a name at around the same time as G+ did its weird merger. I'll correct the post. Thanks!
- TazeTSchnitzel 7y agoMm, I think perhaps usernames died with Google Accounts and then they added a new feature to choose a short URL for Google+ or something.
- woodrowbarlow 7y agonope! i have a youtube account that i never migrated. still shows my original username everywhere.
- TazeTSchnitzel 7y agoI don't mean that usernames were removed, just that you couldn't create new ones for a time (also, I don't know if the new system is technically a username or not). Just to clarify.
- SoReadyToHelp 7y agoRegarding the original YouTube channel name system. Google used to redirect from YouTube.com/name to YouTube.com/channel/name. So, naturally, creators started printing merch with the short form. Then Google gave several of those short URLs to marketing brands, and claiming that the creators were at fault for using the short URLs (which had been stable for more than five years at that point). Pretty lousy.
- JOnAgain 7y agoThey did not. You really had to jump through hoops to keep it - they really tried to force you to merge your accounts — but it was possible. Source: I never converted.