YouTube Shorts are changing in 5 unique ways, and I love the new creative freedom

YouTube will soon roll out a major update to its popular Shorts video format that could upend the way creators and viewers engage with content. The update will introduce extra features and give channels new tools to spruce up clips. Users will also have additional ways to discover or hide YouTube Shorts.

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To keep things concise, I will highlight five of the (potentially) most impactful changes coming to YouTube Shorts. 

1. Longer runtimes

YouTube is seemingly taking a page out of TikTok's playbook by extending the runtime of its Shorts. Starting on Oct. 15, content creators can begin uploading YouTube Shorts up to three minutes in length. According to the platform, creators highly requested this change. YouTube states that the change only "applies to videos that are square or taller in aspect ratio." Videos from before Oct. 15 won't be affected.

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Extending the length of short-form content may seem antithetical, but it seems to have worked for TikTok. The company claims TikTok users spend 50% of their time watching longer content. On YouTube, channel editors can use longer content to shoot engaging videos for their audience and help foster a diverse platform. 

2. Easy remixing

To encourage creativity, YouTube is simplifying the process of remixing Shorts. First, the company will introduce pre-made templates, allowing people to remake their bite-sized clips by adding flair. Templates can be accessed by tapping "Remix" within a Short and selecting "Use this template". Over the coming months, remixing on YouTube will expand, offering access to other content. Users, for example, could "pull from multiple clips" when creating a new Short.

3. AI backgrounds

In mid-September, YouTube announced it would introduce Google's generative AI tool Veo to the platform. The model will create detailed backgrounds and standalone video clips for creators to use anytime. In September, it was unknown when Veo would be introduced. The company still hasn't given an exact date, but confirmed the AI will come out by the end of 2024.

4. Following the trends

Fans of YouTube Shorts are gaining new ways to discover what's hot. A Trends page is being added to the YouTube mobile app where users can find the most popular clips in their country. 

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Additionally, you no longer have to jump into the comments section to see what people say because a preview feed will display comments on the Short. Details are scarce but it sounds similar to an Instagram Live chat feed.

5. Say no to Shorts

Conversely, if you don't like YouTube Shorts or want to see less of them, the platform is introducing the option to "Show fewer Shorts". The announcement states that if you tap the three dots menu above a Shorts grid on mobile, you'll receive the option to lessen the content's frequency temporarily.