YouTube has announced a new tool that makes it easier for creators to turn regular videos into Shorts without additional editing. If you have any of your own videos loaded up, you’ll see a new tool under “Create” called “Edit into a Short” right inside the main app. It lets you select up to 60 seconds of the video and bring it directly into the Shorts editor, where you can add text filters, or additional video, then upload it as a Short.
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The Short created from your original video will then automatically link to the longer form version, which can be navigated to via the via “Created from” link at the bottom of the video. It is a new tool that allows creators to easily use a Short as promotional content for the long-form version. The latter are more lucrative, both for YouTube and its creators. It can serve up more ads, promotions and sponsorships. The tool only works on your own content, unlike Cut, which lets you remix content from any video.
TikTok has taken the world by storm and all social media and content platforms are scrambling to tap into that market with similar content ideas. Interestingly, Instagram has recently backpedalled on that decision, as it realised its users aren’t after that kind of content. Features it recently launched like full-screen feed and recommended posts saw backlash from a large proportion of the community.
YouTube is arguably less threatened by TikTok as it offers longer-form content that draws a different audience. The new tool shows that it can have its cake and eat it too, though, by letting creators offer Shorts as a form of publicity for their primary content. YouTube has reported continued growth in revenue and profits, unlike many of its other contemporary platforms.