{"id":911346,"date":"2026-06-08T18:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T23:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/youtube-is-turning-your-tv-into-a-shopping-cart-and-its-exactly-as-bad-as-it-sounds\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T18:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T23:12:23","slug":"youtube-is-turning-your-tv-into-a-shopping-cart-and-its-exactly-as-bad-as-it-sounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/youtube-is-turning-your-tv-into-a-shopping-cart-and-its-exactly-as-bad-as-it-sounds\/","title":{"rendered":"YouTube is turning your TV into a shopping cart, and it&#8217;s exactly as bad as it sounds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<header>\n<div data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/11\/a-smart-tv-running-android-tv-showing-the-youtube-app-logo-on-the-start-screen.JPG\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"\"\"\" data-is-feature-img=\"true\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/11\/a-smart-tv-running-android-tv-showing-the-youtube-app-logo-on-the-start-screen.JPG?q=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=600&#038;h=338&#038;dpr=2\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/11\/a-smart-tv-running-android-tv-showing-the-youtube-app-logo-on-the-start-screen.JPG?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1600&#038;h=900&#038;dpr=1\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" alt=\"A smart TV running Android TV showing the YouTube app logo on the start screen\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/11\/a-smart-tv-running-android-tv-showing-the-youtube-app-logo-on-the-start-screen.JPG?&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1600&#038;h=900\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/11\/a-smart-tv-running-android-tv-showing-the-youtube-app-logo-on-the-start-screen.JPG?&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1600&#038;h=900\">\n        <\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div>\n<div data-nosnippet>\n                                                                                                                                                                                <a href=\"http:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/author\/josh-hawkins\/\">\n                                    <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\"  width=\"36\" height=\"36\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fauthors%2F63e6a67fa8fa2-1516775609204.jfif?fit=crop&#038;w=90&#038;h=90\" alt=\"4\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\">\n                                    <\/picture>\n                                <\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n<div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-05-15T00:12:52Z\"><span>Published<\/span> May 14, 2026, 8:12\u202fPM EDT<\/time>\n                        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-nosnippet>\n<p>Josh Hawkins began his writing career in 2015 with a simple video game walkthrough. Since then, he has expanded to conduct interviews with high-profile game developers, cover emerging tech products like the first VR headsets, and has spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of new operating systems for Android, Apple, and Windows devices.<\/p>\n<p>He is an expert at crafting in-depth how-tos, product reviews, and thought-provoking pieces on the latest tech and has bylines across multiple sites including Lifehacker, Lifewire, and Android Police.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the office, Josh can be found digging into the latest video games, fantasy books, or tinkering with the newest features in Windows.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <a id=\"login-button-article-sidebar\"><\/p>\n<p>Sign in to your <span>MakeUseOf<\/span> account<\/p>\n<p>        <\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<div id=\"custom_block_0\" data-nosnippet>\n<h3>Summary<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n                                        YouTube is adding a new way to purchase items directly from ads on your TV.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        New AI tools will allow for more targeted advertising by brands across the YouTube ecosystem\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Removes buying friction but risks impulse buys and turning TVs into storefronts\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>YouTube is about to make impulse buying from your couch a whole lot easier by allowing you to purchase items you see in advertisements directly from your TV.<\/p>\n<div data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"73aa-4034-8a38ae460374\" data-nosnippet>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/youtube-ai-overviews\/\"><br \/>\n                        <img width=\"440\" height=\"248\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"YouTube Logo on Smartphone resting on a keyboard\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/youtube-logo-on-smartphone-resting-on-a-keyboard.jpg?q=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=220&#038;h=124&#038;dpr=2\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/youtube-logo-on-smartphone-resting-on-a-keyboard.jpg?q=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=220&#038;h=124&#038;dpr=2\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\"><label>Related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"why-search-for-products-when-you-can-just-click\">\n                        Why search for products when you can just click<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"impulse-buying-is-about-to-get-a-big-boost\">\n            Impulse buying is about to get a big boost<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"\"<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.youtube\/news-and-events\/brandcast-2026-highlights\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a>&#8220;&#8221;><\/p>\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg?q=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=500&#038;dpr=2\" ><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=800&#038;dpr=1\" ><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\" ><img width=\"825\" height=\"458\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/buy-with-google-pay-disclaimer.jpg?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\">\n        <\/picture><small>Credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.youtube\/news-and-events\/brandcast-2026-highlights\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a><\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> During its Brandcast 2026 event this week, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.youtube\/news-and-events\/brandcast-2026-highlights\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube revealed <\/a>several new features focused around this new functionality, including a slew of brand-related changes that will let advertisers get their paws on more of our screens. This includes new functionality like custom sponsorships, which the company says will allow brands to use AI to surface videos that are tailored to fit the brand\u2019s current ad. On top of that, a new \u201cBuy with Google Pay\u201d button will now be visible on some ads, allowing yout to purchase items with just two clicks, according to YouTube.<\/p>\n<p>The goal here appears to be removing the friction of spotting something cool in an ad and then having to search for it on your phone. The feature will launch for the YouTube app on smart TVs and streaming devices, and it\u2019s clearly aimed at turning television into a more interactive shopping experience. Now, whether you think that\u2019s a good or bad thing is another story altogether. Truth be told, along with all the new AI video features that the company is pushing out, like Reimagine and its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/youtubes-ai-avatar-rolling-out-now\/\" target=\"_blank\">weird AI YouTube avatars<\/a>, it\u2019s starting to feel a lot like <em>Running Man<\/em> out here.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"convenience-or-annoyance\">\n                        Convenience or annoyance<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"one-more-reason-to-avoid-youtube\">\n            One more reason to avoid YouTube<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"\"\"\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png?q=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=500&#038;dpr=2\" ><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=800&#038;dpr=1\" ><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\" ><img width=\"825\" height=\"429\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"YouTube Premium Lite Static Ads\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/static0.makeuseofimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/02-youtube-premium-lite-static-ads.png?q=70&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=825&#038;dpr=1\">\n        <\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> It seems pretty clear YouTube wants consumers to feel like this is a more convenient move. And there\u2019s no doubt that you\u2019ve likely seen something in an ad at one point or another and looked it up on your phone. However, while being able to buy items directly from ads on YouTube might sound convenient, it also comes with a lot of negatives, beyond just the annoyance factor.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, there\u2019s the whole fact that usually you\u2019ll want to research something before you buy it. For example, if you\u2019re going to buy a new phone, then you\u2019ll probably look up lists of the best smartphones of 2026 to get an idea of what\u2019s doing well right now and what other people are recommending. With the convenience of what is essentially a \u201cbuy now\u201d button, YouTube is removing that possibility for extra research, and instead asking the consumer to just trust what they\u2019re seeing in the ad is true.<\/p>\n<p>However, that\u2019s a problem on its own, as AI has continued to saturate just about everything we see on the internet in some way.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, it\u2019s likely there are some people who will love the convenience of being able to instantly buy products they discover while watching videos from their favorite creators. Others, though, may see it for the dystopian horror that it is \u2014 yet another attempt to turn every screen in their home into a storefront. Either way, YouTube seems convinced that the future of TV isn\u2019t just watching content anymore \u2014 it\u2019s shopping through it. As if you needed one more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/reasons-not-to-watch-youtube-on-tv-or-phone\/\" target=\"_blank\">reason not to watch YouTube on your TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/youtubes-buy-from-tv-ads-feature\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Published May 14, 2026, 8:12\u202fPM EDT Josh Hawkins began his writing career in 2015 with a simple video game walkthrough. Since then, he has expanded to conduct interviews with high-profile game developers, cover emerging tech products like the first VR headsets, and has spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of new operating systems [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":911347,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1458,49,104640],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-911346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-turning","category-youtube","category-youtube-videos"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911346\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/911347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}