Hardly anyone uses YouTube's Webcam Capture anymore, and that's why the feature will no longer be available after Jan. 16, 2016.
For those who don't even know what YouTube Webcam Capture is, here's the deal. Shortly after Google grabbed YouTube back in 2006, it launched Webcam Capture as a way to allow users to record video footage using their webcam and have it right up on YouTube, with no additional uploading hassle. The feature relies on Adobe Flash and can be found on YouTube's upload page.
While it may have been useful nearly a decade ago, YouTube's Webcam Capture has been a thing of the past for a good while now, and its dismissal is about to become official.
Google itself acknowledged that YouTube Video Capture is "rarely used" anymore, so the company decided to turn off the feature early in the new year. Accessing the YouTube upload page now still lists Webcam Capture as an option, but selecting the feature now displays a warning message at the top of the screen, notifying users of the imminent shutdown (see image above).
Google also updated its support page to inform users of the upcoming retirement of the YouTube Webcam Capture, explaining its decision.
"Previously, if you had a webcam built in or connected to your computer, you could record a webcam video on YouTube and upload it directly to the site," Google notes. "This feature will be turned off because it is rarely used and is built on technology that is no longer supported."
The company further points out that nowadays users can rely on other options to easily upload content to YouTube, so the dismissal of Webcam Capture should not cause any disruption. Apps such as Photo Booth on Macs or Camera on Windows devices allow users to quickly record webcam videos and upload them on YouTube, for instance. The vast majority of mobile devices now have cameras as well, also enabling users to record video footage and upload it via the YouTube app.
All in all, turning off the YouTube Webcam Capture feature seems like a natural step now, especially since most YouTubers have long forsaken it.
