YouTube is reportedly working on a new app called Shorts, to compete directly with the fast-growing influence of TikTok.
YouTube is no stranger to success. After all the platform is by far the leader for online video. But the fast-growing influence of TikTok and its short-form user-generated video content is starting to worry the Google-owned video giant.
Reports from The Information, are showing that YouTube could be working on a TikTok competitor called “Shorts.”
Shorts will work much like TikTok as it will allow users to upload short-format videos mixed with licensed music that YouTube Music already has in its catalog. For YouTube, this does not seem like a crazy move. After all, video and music are what made the platform and it is easy to foresee how Shorts could quickly become a strong competitor to TikTok.
Related | Houseparty Offers $1 Million Bounty To Whoever Proves It’s Being Sabotaged
TikTok, however, has the cool factor playing for it. The app saw more than 125% in growth over the last two years and now counts hundreds of millions of users across the planet. yes, TikTok is more than an app, it’s a cultural force and it will not be easy to beat. Of course, YouTube can count on its massive user base (over 2 billion monthly active users) and its appeal to Creators (thanks to a well-established monetization program) and, of course, its existing music licensing.
YouTube would not be the first of the “giants” to try and take on TikTok. In November 2018, Facebook launched its own version, Lasso, in Brazil. A test for which the results are yet to be known.
You might also like
More from YouTube
Smaller Creators Can Now Access YouTube Partner Program
The YouTube Partner Program will now be open to creators once they reach 500 subscribers, allowing smaller creator to monetize …
YouTube Brings Unskippable 30-Second Ads To TV
YouTube is bringing longer unskippable ads to its TV app, unless you're paying for the platform's premium subscription YouTube says these …
YouTube Brings Shopping Features To Shorts
YouTube is testing affiliate marketing and in-app shopping features on Shorts, less than a week after TikTok began testing similar …
Get Ready To Choose Your YouTube Handle
YouTube is introducing handles to make it easier for members to find and connect with each other. Your handle will be …
YouTube Now Lets You Add A Voiceover To Your Shorts
YouTube is adding one of its most-requested features to Shorts; the ability to add a voiceover, like narration and original …
YouTube Starts Adding Watermarks To Downloaded Shorts Clips
YouTube has started adding watermarks to downloaded Shorts clips to stop users from cross-posting them to other platforms.
YouTube Expands Offense Warnings To Desktop, Updates Payments System
New updates for creators! A dedicated payments account within AdSense, and warnings on potentially offensive text detected by AI.
YouTube Offering Podcast Networks Up To $300k To Film Episodes
YouTube is offering financial incentives to podcasting networks to adapt their shows to a video format and share them on …
YouTube Adds Guided Support For Community Guideline Violations
YouTube has updated its review process to provide creators with specifics about the reportedly violative video and facilitate a resolution.
