Google adds intrusive Lens feature to YouTube Shorts, users complain

Google has begun rolling out a new version of its Lens feature inside the YouTube Shorts feed on Android, and users are already calling it intrusive. The update, which started appearing in the app last week, adds a small Lens icon to each short and automatically pops up a “Tap to identify” overlay when the video plays. When users tap, the app pauses the short and opens a Lens window that tries to match objects in the video with product listings, shopping links or related web results. The change is live for a subset of users in the United States and Europe, and it is being tested on both the main YouTube app and the Shorts-only version.

YouTube launched Shorts in 2020 to take on TikTok and Instagram Reels, and the format now accounts for more than half of the platform’s daily watch time. Google has been pushing Lens as a way to turn visual content into searchable data, first adding it to Google Photos and the Android camera in 2022. By embedding Lens in Shorts, the company hopes to boost shopping revenue and keep users inside its ecosystem longer. The move also follows a broader trend of “visual commerce” where brands try to convert a glimpse of a product into an instant purchase. For creators, however, the overlay interrupts the flow of short‑form video that they rely on to retain viewers.

The reaction has been swift. On Reddit and the Android Authority forums, users describe the Lens pop‑ups as “spammy” and “a distraction from the content.” Some have reported that the overlay appears even when the video does not contain a recognizable object, forcing them to close the Lens window repeatedly. Google has not issued an official comment, but its product blog notes that the feature is “in beta” and will be refined based on feedback. Analysts say the experiment could either open a new revenue stream for YouTube or push viewers back to competing platforms if the annoyance outweighs the convenience. The next few weeks will likely determine whether Lens stays, is toned down, or is pulled entirely, as Google balances monetisation goals with user experience.