YouTube Shorts apes TikTok with longer videos and more
The unique set of tools is expected to position the platform as a stronger competitor to TikTok.
YouTube is stepping up its game in the battle against TikTok, rolling out a series of updates for its short-form video platform, YouTube Shorts.
As TikTok continues to dominate the short video space with its massive global reach and creative tools, YouTube is introducing new features designed to close the gap and offer creators more flexibility and opportunities to engage with trends.
One of the biggest changes arriving this month is the increase in video length for Shorts. Starting October 15, creators can upload videos of up to three minutes long. While TikTok allows videos up to 10 minutes, YouTube’s new limit strikes a balance, giving creators enough room for more detailed content without stretching too long for short-form audiences.
But YouTube isn’t just focusing on video length—it’s also updating the way viewers experience Shorts. A redesigned player will streamline how users interact with videos, pushing creator content front and centre.
The new layout will shrink the space taken up by interaction buttons, such as comments and shares, and compress creator info at the bottom, freeing up more screen real estate for the video itself.
YouTube is also making it easier for creators to jump on viral trends. A new template feature will allow users to quickly remix and repurpose popular content directly within the Shorts platform. Similar to TikTok's CapCut integration, creators can tap "Remix" on any Short and apply its template to their video.
Another significant addition is a dedicated "Trending" page for Shorts, helping users keep up with popular content in their own country. This is a localized approach, contrasting with TikTok’s more global trend discovery via its For You feed.
Henry Chikwem
To boost social engagement, YouTube will soon allow users to preview comments directly from the Shorts feed, without opening the comment section fully, potentially encouraging more interaction.
Lastly, for viewers looking to customize their experience, YouTube is offering a new “Show fewer Shorts” option, giving them temporary control over how much short-form content they see in their feed.
Separately, YouTube is also testing AI-powered tools through Google DeepMind’s Veo, allowing creators to generate video backgrounds or create AI-driven clips. These features would come with an “AI-generated” label to ensure transparency.
With these updates, YouTube intends to challenge TikTok’s dominance in the short-video world. Having recently surpassed 50 billion daily views, YouTube Shorts is aiming to carve out a bigger chunk in the fast-growing landscape of short-form video.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
