On Thursday, the company said it is expanding the beta program for its short video offering, called Shorts, to the United States now and in the coming weeks. Previously, it only tested the product in India. Users worldwide have been able to view shorts, but not create.
YouTube says this feature allows social media creators to “create short, catchy videos using just their cell phones.” It provides a way to string multiple clips together, add music, and use a timer and countdown to record hands-free videos, all features currently available on TikTok.
On Thursday, YouTube teased a few new tools that it hopes will stand out from the crowd: users will be able to sample and ‘remix’ audio from other Shorts videos into your own creation. Creators can also add text to specific points of the video.
YouTube also plans to tap into its wider ecosystem by launching the ability to use audio from videos across the platform. “This means that you can put your own creative spin on the content you love to watch on YouTube and find new audiences, whether it’s responding to your favorite jokes, trying out the latest recipe from a video maker, or trying out the reenactment of comedic skits, ”the company said in a blog post. YouTube added that creators can opt out of other people using their long videos. (On TikTok, it is a popular practice to “duet” someone else’s video. The videos appear side by side and users can recreate or comment on the original video).
YouTube Shorts Product Leader Todd Sherman said the company is trying to “lower barriers to creation” and help the next generation of aspiring influencers find an audience. Producing a traditional YouTube video can be time consuming and costly: professional YouTubers often have expensive camera equipment, editing software and other tools to make their long videos stand out.
“YouTube enabled an entire generation of people using cameras, computers and video editing software to practice their craft and build an audience,” Sherman told CNN Business. “That story is very similar to what we’re doing with Shorts again, but now it’s all based on the phone and what you can put in a phone.”
