TikTok changed vertical videos by catching users’ attention all across the world. Platforms like YouTube have been attempting to capitalize on this trend in reaction to its increasing popularity. YouTube Shorts is currently undergoing a revolutionary evolution and is more similar to TikTok than before. Meta’s apps Facebook and Instagram have both onboarded Reels to take on this feature and have seen huge numbers using these features, In fact, Meta’s last earnings report, they attributed the strong ads revenue partly to strong Reels numbers. YouTube seeing this trend first announced Shorts back in 2020 but actually rolled it out globally in 2021. YouTube shorts now sees about 15 billion views per day with two billion logged in users per month.
The creation and viewing of Shorts will be improved by a number of new capabilities that YouTube recently released. It’s interesting how similar many of these new features are to those seen on TikTok and Instagram.
Let’s see some of these changes:
1. Collab Feature: YouTube introduces “Collab,” akin to TikTok’s Duet feature. This enables users to react to videos in a side-by-side split-screen format, adding their unique flair to the original content. The feature is currently rolling out to iOS creators, with a broader release planned in the coming weeks.
2. Live Vertical Videos: Embracing a feature popularized by TikTok and Instagram, YouTube Shorts now supports live vertical videos. Creators can engage their followers through live streaming in the vertical format, fostering real-time interaction.
3. Interactive Live Feature: YouTube’s version of live streaming comes with a twist. Fans can support their favourite creators by sending funds during the live stream with a simple tap. A visual representation of gifted amounts, along with viewer profiles, enhances the experience.
4. Engaging Effects and Stickers: YouTube is infusing new life into Shorts with fresh effects and stickers. Among them is a Q&A feature, mirroring those on TikTok and Instagram. Creators can pose questions to their audience, watching as responses flood the comments section.
5. Seamless Interaction: In a nod to TikTok’s capabilities, creators can now respond to comments with additional Shorts. Moreover, the Remix button allows them to recreate and put their spin on existing Shorts, fostering a culture of collaboration.
6. Playlists for Shorts: A novel feature that sets YouTube apart is the ability to save Shorts to personalized playlists. This mirrors an existing function for horizontal videos, enabling users to curate collections of their favourite short-form content.
7. Recomposition Tool: YouTube introduces a game-changer — a recomposition tool. Creators can effortlessly transform their horizontal videos into Shorts. This tool offers flexibility to adjust segments, zoom, and crop clips to fit the Shorts format, opening new creative possibilities.
As YouTube adapts and innovates, these updates promise to make the Shorts experience more engaging and dynamic. The platform continues to bridge the gap between creators and their audience, providing a canvas for imagination to flourish. Stay tuned for further revelations about the recomposition tool as YouTube continues its journey of transformation.