YouTube is reportedly looking to launch a shortform video platform by the end of the year.
The Information, has reported YouTube is working on ‘Shorts’ as its answer to TikTok, which has surged in popularity over the last 18 months.
According to the reports, Shorts will allow users to upload short videos onto a feed which sits inside the YouTube mobile app.
Like TikTok, Shorts will look to take advantage of licensed music, with songs from YouTube Music to be used within the videos.
With more than 2 billion active monthly users, YouTube will be hoping to use its massive user base to thwart TikTok’s growth with Shorts.
The story was confirmed by NBC media reporter Dylan Byers, who revealed he had discussed the news with YouTube boss Susan Wojcicki.
This is potentailly big…. And, bonus: YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki and I talked about TikTok in a podcast episode that will air later this month. We’ve got an item coming soon confirming this news, along with a few of her comments on YouTube & short-form video >>> https://t.co/0Pqm6JqVUz
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 1, 2020
With TikTok having recently amassed 842 million first-time downloads, YouTube is not the only tech platform looking for an answer to the popular Chinese app.
Late last year it was revealed Instagram had started testing ‘Reels’ – its answer to TikTok.
It is currently being tested in Brazil, and like TikTok, allows users to ‘remix’ existing videos.
It is unclear whether or not YouTube’s Shorts will enable users to remix existing YouTube videos.
