YouTube is exploring the cyclical nature of content creation by testing a new approach with its Shorts feature. Originally designed for short videos similar to TikTok, YouTube is now experimenting with using the Shorts tab to feature longer videos.
This experiment, confirmed on YouTube’s support page, is currently available to a limited group of users. The aim is to help viewers discover a wider range of content by including long-form videos in the Shorts section and introducing new feeds specifically for watching these longer videos.
Although still in the experimental phase, this strategy reflects YouTube’s effort to adapt to mobile usage patterns, where users might spend more time on the Shorts tab than on the standard video feed.
For content creators, the impact of this test is minimal for now. It offers another avenue to display their content, with the potential for YouTube to provide audience metrics for videos viewed in the Shorts tab. However, details on how the new feeds for long-form videos will function are still forthcoming.
TikTok also shows longer videos.
TikTok, the biggest competitor to YouTube Shorts, shifted its approach by embracing longer videos and introducing horizontal video formats earlier this year. The platform even experimented with allowing uploads of files up to an hour long during the first half of the year.
Currently, TikTok supports videos up to 10 minutes in length for public accounts. For playlists restricted to subscribers, this limit is extended to 20 minutes.
