It is reported that the first streaming giant to take on TikTok and its rising popularity is YouTube. Sources claim that the virtual TV network is working on a new feature called ‘Shorts” which will challenge the ByteDance-owned app.
What is TikTok?
Those of you who aren’t sure of what new app craze has taken over the world will be interested to know about TikTok, a video-sharing social media platform owned by a Chinese tech company ByteDance.
What makes TikTok unique is its formula of short, punchy dance, lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos users can share on other platforms.
As reported by My Broadband, there currently isn’t any data on South Africa’s market but based on the #tiktoksouthafrica hashtag in the app, the region has contributed more than 400 million views.
What we know about YouTube Shorts
While the social media app is enjoying a lot of popularity, it will be wary of the competition that lurks ahead. This is especially true after The Information reported that YouTube is developing a feature called ‘Shorts’.
Sources claim that the feature will be rolled out on the mobile version of the streaming app and will allow users to create short, punchy videos using the same principles as TikTok.
YouTube’s music license dwarfs any social media platform so users will have a wider choice of songs than they currently enjoy on the ByteDance-owned platform.
Of course, all of this is speculation at this point since YouTube has not come forth to confirm nor deny the reports.
For TikTok, it is a matter of sticking to what works best and staying true to its lane. It remains to be seen how YouTubers will receive this ‘Shorts’ update if, indeed, it is coming.
The streaming giant will hopefully learn from the recent failures in implementing ‘Stories’ to its mobile interface, a feature that has remained in the exclusive use of celebrities and influencers.