YouTube Shorts is not merchandise. It is a new way to express your creativity in a short video. Sounds familiar? You might be wondering if it is similar to TikTok, Instagram stories and etc.
Based on the information, I am thinking it is very similar to TikTok. Here is the official explanation of YouTube Shorts.
What is Shorts?
Shorts is a new way to express yourself in 15 seconds or less, and our team is focused on building its foundation across three main areas:
- Create: Creation is at the core of short-form video, and we want to make it easy and fun to create Shorts. We’re starting to test just a few new tools for creators and artists with our early beta in India:
- A multi-segment camera to string multiple video clips together,
- The option to record with music from a large library of songs that will continue to grow,
- Speed controls that give you the flexibility to be creative in your performance,
- And a timer and countdown to easily record, hands-free.
Currently, YouTube Shorts is only available in India (in beta) since December 2020 and will be available in the US from March 2021.
You might be wondering why only India and US and not other markets. Well, this is my opinion. As you may or may not know, TikTok is banned in India and is considered to be banned under the Trump Administration last year (unless it is sold to a US company).
I believe YouTube is an opportunist. With the two big markets that either banning TikTok or consider to ban TikTok, it is just the right time to introduce an alternative. Therefore YouTube Shorts seems like a good replacement for these countries.
From the official information, since the beginning of December, the number of Indian channels using Shorts creation tools has more than tripled, and the YouTube Shorts player is now receiving more than 3.5 billion daily views globally.
With the results, I am sure YouTube is confident that it will be well-received in the US.
What is your thoughts on it. Have you seen a YouTube Shorts on YouTube mobile?