YouTube Extends Shorts to 3 Minutes and Adds New Features

YouTube Extends Shorts to 3 Minutes and Adds New Features

Starting October 15, YouTube Shorts will allow creators to upload videos up to 3 minutes in length. This update comes in response to high demand from users seeking more flexibility in content creation.

Until now, YouTube Shorts were capped at 60 seconds, but the longer format will give creators more room for storytelling and engagement.

The new length applies to videos with a square or taller aspect ratio, and YouTube is focusing on enhancing recommendations for longer Shorts in the coming months. The company aims to improve the viewer experience by ensuring that users are shown more relevant content in their feeds, based on their interests.

Additionally, YouTube is introducing templates for Shorts. To access this feature, users can tap the “Remix” button on any Short and choose “Use this template.” In the near future, YouTube will allow creators to remix clips from their favorite videos, even pulling together multiple clips from across the platform.

A new “Shorts Trends” page is also rolling out on mobile devices, helping creators stay up-to-date with trending content. Furthermore, YouTube will soon provide a preview of popular comments within the Shorts feed, making it easier for users to engage with trending discussions.

For those who aren’t fans of Shorts, YouTube is offering an option to reduce their visibility. Users can tap the three dots in the upper right corner of any Shorts grid on the Home feed and choose to see fewer Shorts. While this change is temporary, it provides some relief to those looking for more traditional content.

With these updates, YouTube continues to evolve its platform, blending short-form and long-form content to meet the changing demands of its creators and users.

YouTube’s expansion of Shorts to 3 minutes and the introduction of new features like templates, remixing options, and a dedicated Trends page are significant steps towards enhancing user experience and creativity on the platform. These updates provide more flexibility for creators while improving content discovery and engagement.

For users who prefer less exposure to Shorts, the option to reduce their visibility offers some customization. YouTube’s ongoing innovation ensures that it remains competitive in the short-form video space while catering to a diverse range of content preferences.