The inability to set YouTube Music playlists to a public or unlisted visibility setting, restricting them to only private access, is a frustration experienced by some users. This means playlists created by the user are only visible to that individual and cannot be shared with others or discovered through searches on the platform. As an example, a user meticulously curating a playlist for a specific genre or event finds they are unable to share that playlist directly with friends or publicly promote it.
This limitation impacts the collaborative aspect of music sharing and discovery. Public and unlisted playlists provide a means for individuals to share their musical tastes with a wider audience, discover new music through others’ playlists, and contribute to the platform’s musical ecosystem. Historically, the ability to create public playlists has been a fundamental feature of many music streaming services, fostering community and enabling viral sharing of music selections. The absence of this functionality, or its unexpected restriction, hinders user engagement and diminishes the platform’s social features.
