Here’s YouTube’s Secret Plan to Get More Social

Do you consider YouTube a social network? Though when most people think social networks, they think about sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest. YouTube is often forgotten.
If rumors are true, YouTube is looking to change that, according to VentureBeat. The video-sharing site is working on a new feature called Backstage, which would make YouTube more than a place where its billion users comment on the millions of hours of video they’re watching.

YouTube Backstage: Coming Soon?

YouTube is reportedly going to unveil several new social features that are more like those you’re familiar with from Facebook and Twitter. Backstage will let users share the following with their subscribers:

• Photos.
• Polls.
• Links.
• Text posts.
• Exclusive videos.

“YouTube hopes to spur new types of conversation with Backstage, and will eventually allow subscribers to reply to posts in myriad ways – with photos, videos, and other types of comments – a feature the company is calling ‘rich replies’ internally,” VentureBeat reported.
Initially it will only be available to a few popular YouTube accounts. It will get its own tab alongside Home and Videos.

When Might We See YouTube Backstage?

At some point this year, possibly as early as fall, according to VentureBeat. Google had no comment because Backstage falls into the “rumor and speculation” category.
When it comes to social networks, Google doesn’t have the best track record. Orkut, Google Buzz, and Google+ are among the highlights of Google’s social media lowlights. So it will be interesting to see if the company can get YouTube Backstage right.
What do you think about YouTube Backstage?