Google Phasing Out Old YouTube Accounts
Remember the days of YouTube before they got sucked up by Google? Were you part of the early adopting group who created a YouTube account that had nothing to do with Google?
Well, be prepared to have that user name and account phased out.
Existing YouTube users are now required to associate their YouTube accounts with Google’s cross-site account system. While new users are required to do so, Google is trying to phase out the pre-Google account system that’s left over from the early days.
The company announced the policy change in a recent blog post:
In May 2009, we started requiring all new YouTube usernames to be powered by Google Accounts.Now, we’re gradually asking all remaining pre-May 2009 users still using the older YouTube account system to connect a Google Account to their YouTube username. For now, it’s an optional step, but eventually it’ll be required in order to continue using your YouTube username.
Before users get freaked out, however, you should note that:
- YouTube usernames themselves aren’t going anywhere. No matter when you signed up for YouTube, or if you’re currently associated with a Google Account, you’ll still have your screen name.
- A Google Account is not necessarily a Gmail account. You can create a Google Account with any email address through many different Google products, just like you can create a Twitter or Facebook account with any email address. Of course, you can choose to use Gmail as the email address for your Google Account.
- Connecting your existing YouTube username to an existing Google Account doesn’t start sharing your YouTube activity to your Buzz followers; it’s only an account connection behind the scenes, and it’s still up to you to decide whether or not to bring YouTube into the rest of your Google life.
The two biggest reasons why Google is making the move is that it'll provide users with improved account security as well as a single account system.
If you have an older YouTube account that you want to link to a new or existing Google Account today, visit this page and choose to link to an existing Google Account or a brand new one.
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