YouTube Shorts Gets a Big Update
YouTube is rolling out some updates to Shorts, and starting October 15, 2024, creators will be able to upload Shorts up to three minutes long. This is a response to requests from creators who wanted more flexibility to tell their stories.
What’s New for Shorts?
Here’s a quick rundown of the key updates:
- 3-Minute Time Limit: Creators can now upload Shorts that are up to three minutes long, giving a bit more room for storytelling.
- Streamlined Shorts Player: More space is now given to the content with outlined icons and compressed descriptions.
- Templates for Remixing: YouTube is adding a template feature that allows you to easily remix and recreate popular Shorts. Just hit the “Remix” button on a Short and select “Use this template” to jump on trends quickly.
- Remix YouTube Content: Soon, you’ll be able to pull clips from across YouTube directly into your Shorts, including music videos and other creators’ content.
These updates are aimed at making Shorts more creator-friendly. The longer time limit offers some flexibility, but it’s still a far cry from TikTok’s 10-minute option. The remixing tools will help creators hop on trends faster, but they’re similar to what TikTok and Instagram Reels already offer.
How This Works With Twitch’s Latest Update
If you’re a streamer, these updates can work hand-in-hand with Twitch’s recent improvements to its clip editor. Twitch now allows creators to easily convert clips into vertical format and export them directly to platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. This means you can take those epic moments from your stream and share them across platforms with just a click.
For streamers who are active on both Twitch and YouTube, this integration makes it easier to repurpose content and reach a wider audience without much extra effort.
More Control Over Shorts?
YouTube is also adding a “Show fewer Shorts” option, temporarily reducing the number of Shorts videos in your home feed. However, for users who aren’t fans of vertical video or shortform content, there’s still no option to disable Shorts altogether. YouTube is clearly still pushing hard to compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Final Thoughts
For creators already juggling multiple platforms, the real value lies in how these tools can work alongside updates from Twitch and other platforms, allowing for easier cross-promotion of content.
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