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| (Image Source: Rappler/YouTube) |
The beta version of YouTube Shorts, YouTube's new short-form video experience that enables users to create short, catchy videos from mobile phones, has arrived in the Philippines. While short form videos are already viewable on the platform, users will now able to access Shorts' creation tools which include a multi-segment camera to string multiple video clips together, the ability to record with music, control speed settings and more.
YouTube will also be adding new features such as adding text to specific points in videos, automatically adding captions in Shorts, recording up to 60 seconds with the Shorts camera, adding clips from a phone's gallery to add to recordings made with the Shorts camera and adding basic filters to color correct Shorts with more effects to come in the future. The new features also include the ability to sample audio not only from other Shorts but also from the billions of videos available on YouTube, unlocking a playground of creativity like never before. This means that users can get their own creative spin on the content they love to watch and help find it a new audience. From reacting to favorite jokes, trying a hand at a creator's latest recipe, or re-enacting comedic skills, creators will be in control and will be able to opt out if they don't want their long form video remixed.
Helping people find Shorts to enjoy and creators get discovered is a key component of the product experience. Prior to the announcement of the Shorts creation tools, YouTube introduced a row on its homepage especially for shorts and launched a new watch experience that enables viewers to swipe vertically from one video to the next. Soon, a Shorts tab on mobile will be included that will make it easier for people to watch Shorts with a single tap. Shorts will be integrated to the YouTube experience people know and love. If they hear a snippet of a song on Shorts, they can easily find the full song, watch the video and learn more about the artist. Since its launch, the YouTube Shorts Player has generated more than 6.5 billion daily views globally.
Through the years, YouTube has helped an entire generation of creators turn their creativity into a business and eventually become next generation media and entertainment companies. Over the last three years, the platform has paid over US$30 billion to creators, artists and media companies. With Shorts being a new way to watch and create on YouTube, the company has been looking for various ways to monetize Shorts and reward creators for their content including the recently announced YouTube Shorts Fund, amounting to over US$100 million to be distributed over the course of 2021 and 2022. YouTube Shorts Global Product Manager Todd Sherman said, “We want to make it easy and fun to create Shorts. As we continue to build Shorts alongside our creators and artists, we’ll be adding more features for people to try. We know that it will take us time to get this right, and we’re just getting started. We can’t wait for you to try Shorts and help us build a first-class, short-form video experience right on YouTube." The beta version of YouTube Shorts is now in 26 countries including the Philippines and is set to roll out towards other countries in the coming months.
