YouTube announced on Wednesday, Feb. 17 that it would be launching YouTube Shorts soon. So that might leave you wondering: what exactly is YouTube Shorts? Here’s what you need to know about the short-video platform that’s launching in March.
Come March, YouTube will launch a beta version of the tool that allows users to edit, record, and share clips that are up to 15 seconds long on the YouTube app from their mobile devices. All U.S. users will have access to beta Shorts when it launches. Similar to TikTok, the beta version of Shorts will allow users to put together multiple clips up to 60 seconds, add segments of music to videos, and explore other Shorts and subscribe to different users. There will be different features to help you customize your filming and editing process, such as speed control, timer, and countdown. YouTube also wants to roll out additional “creation features in the coming months.” However, the company didn’t share what those will be.
YouTube first announced back in September 2020 that it would be launching its own TikTok alternative. The beta version was initially tested in India. Chief production officer of YouTube, Neal Mohan, shared in a YouTube blog post on Feb. 17 that the beta version was extremely popular in India. In the post, he said that the YouTube Shorts player is getting more than 3.5 billion views daily. He also said the number of Indian creators using the feature has more than tripled since the beginning of December 2020.
Mohan told Fast Company in a Feb. 17 that he sees YouTube Shorts going head to head with TikTok when it’s released. However, it does have one fundamental difference. Like Instagram Reels, Shorts will be housed in the YouTube app. When Shorts launches, you can find it by tapping the Create button.
“I view this as another tool in [a creator’s] toolbox, if you will,” Mohan said. “Another prop on the stage to engage with their audience, build their audience, and because their core audience is already on YouTube.”
Stay on the lookout for when this new feature launches. The short-video platform looks like a great alternative option for fans of TikTok and Instagram Reels to try.
