How one hidden playback speed feature makes watching YouTube videos significantly better

A hidden YouTube playback speed feature has significantly improved how I watch videos, and I can't imagine watching without it now. I track my screen time closely and have found that fast-forwarding through videos helps me manage my excessive YouTube consumption. YouTube is my primary source of entertainment, and I adjust my settings based on the type of content I'm watching.

When it's an informative video, I set the playback speed to 2x to quickly skim through the material. Last week, I discovered a hidden feature that makes this process even easier and more efficient.

By tapping and holding anywhere on the video playback screen, YouTube automatically plays the video at 2x speed until I lift my finger. This works in Incognito mode as well. I use this feature daily to watch portions of videos at double speed, but I avoid holding my finger on the playback screen for the entire video to avoid disrupting the viewing experience. Initially, I would double-tap to skip the intro, but the tap-and-hold gesture allows me to skim the intro without missing any critical information.

While the tap-and-hold gesture is incredibly useful, there are a few improvements I'd like to see. First, it would be helpful if the feature could keep the video at 2x speed until I choose to change it. Additionally, introducing a 1.5x speed option would make the gesture more inclusive for those who struggle to comprehend at 2x speed.

Lastly, I'd love to see the ability to fast-forward backward at this speed, with the right side of the screen designated for fast-forward and the left for rewinding. This feature has transformed the way I watch YouTube videos, allowing me to quickly skip over boring parts and never worry about missing important details again.