Why YouTube is pink has puzzled fans in recent weeks, as the video platform’s usual red progress bar has shifted to a rosy gradient. This subtle color change began catching users’ attention as early as June-July 2024. While not yet a universal shift across all devices, many have speculated that this pink hue is part of a larger design update that YouTube may fully roll out soon.
Here’s what we know about why YouTube is pink now.
Why did YouTube switch to pink color for its progress bar?
While the exact purpose for the color shift remains unknown, it aligns with the trend of visual rebranding seen across social media platforms recently.
The gradual transition from red to pink in the YouTube progress bar reflects the platform’s ongoing visual evolution. When playing a video, the progress bar now showcases a gradient tone that starts with YouTube’s traditional red and fades to a lighter pink tone, adding a modernized look. For instance, Disney+ rebranded to a turquoise gradient color earlier this year, and Instagram’s Notes briefly turned gold.
Such changes could be an effort to keep the YouTube color change aligned with current aesthetic trends and ensure the brand remains visually engaging to its users. Although YouTube has undergone several small updates since its last major redesign in 2019, fans haven’t seen any significant change to its overall look until now. This shift may even signal a broader redesign, marking the longest period since YouTube has updated its visual identity.
Despite the small scale of this YouTube color change, it’s generated significant buzz online, with fans divided over the change. Some welcome the fresh look, while others prefer the classic red that’s been part of YouTube’s identity for nearly two decades.
With other platforms making similar changes, many wonder if YouTube’s pink progress bar is just the beginning of perhaps a bigger update to come. For now, YouTube users can expect to see this pink progress bar on both mobile and desktop, with the full rollout expected to reach all users in the coming weeks.
