Google challenges TikTok: how YouTube Shorts works

Google launches YouTube Shorts and challenges TikTok: short videos, a new section on the Home Page and a special camera

Google is preparing to challenge TikTok and launches the beta version of YouTube Shorts. Users will be able to make short videos, lasting up to 15 seconds, and customize them by adding music, changing the playback speed and adding a title. All directly from the YouTube app.

The beta version of the new YouTube feature is already being tested in India. Once testing is complete YouTube Shorts will be launched globally. Google is also offering its potential creators a new tool, the Shorts camera, which allows from the app to create video clips, even multiple ones totaling up to 60 seconds, and customize content directly in the app. The Shorts camera also offers a timer to automatically stop recording, allowing you to shoot movies while keeping your hands free. The new Shorts format will be visible in a special section on YouTube's Home Page where it will have high visibility.

YouTube Shorts, how to create short videos

The new YouTube Shorts feature, along with the dedicated camera tool, allows you to create short videos lasting up to 60 seconds by combining four 15-second clips. It's a feature available only for the mobile version of the YouTube app, which allows you to both upload and edit clips you've already filmed, and record a new video directly in the app, starting from scratch.

To create a short video on YouTube after opening the app, just tap Create and then Video > Create Short Video. Pressing and releasing the record button captures clips, whose segment duration can be controlled by the progress bar. With the Undo button you remove the clips, while with Repeat you add the deleted ones. The use of YouTube Shorts, therefore, promises to be very simple, intuitive and fast.

After customizing the video with music or with slowing down or speeding up effects, the user will be able to add a title up to 100 characters long by tapping on Next. Finally, you can choose the target audience, for example whether it is suitable for children or not. To complete the operation, it will be enough to click on Upload.

YouTube Shorts, where to find short videos

Uploaded videos will be visible in the special Shorts section available in the beta version of YouTube Home page. Also, they can be found in the "What to watch next" section, in the Subscriptions feed or even in YouTube's internal search. The advice for users who want to have fun creating the new YouTube short videos is to include the hashtag #Shorts in the title of the uploaded clips and in the description, so that it will be shown in the Shorts section and will be easier to find among YouTube internal search results.

YouTube Shorts, where it's available

At the moment, the beta version of YouTube Shorts and the camera tool is only available for users in India, but Google has let it be known that the developers are working on improving its functionality before a release in other countries as well. In addition, those who want to upload short videos will already be able to do so in the classic version of the app, by entering the hashtag #Shorts, which will automatically insert the videos in the new section.

The goal is to make the new feature a tool within reach of users around the world, encouraging creators to produce new content for their fans. A project that appears to be a challenge to TikTok, just now that the Chinese app is facing security issues that have led to a ban on its use in several countries, including India and the United States. This move follows that of a couple of years ago, when Google brought the equivalent of Instagram stories to YouTube.