Not so short, YouTube Shorts announces 3-minute videos

Denim shorts aren't the only shorts getting longer. On Oct. 15 YouTube will allow users to upload three-minute Shorts, an increase from the previous 60-second limit.

According to a press release, longer Shorts were "a top requested feature by creators," likely because it will make it easier to cross-post content across TikTok and Shorts. TikTok launched three-minute videos in 2021 and now has a 10-minute limit, while its other competitor Instagram Reels currently has a 90-second limit.

TikTok's expansion to 10-minute-long video was seen as a move to compete with YouTube's longer videos and now YouTube is tailoring its Shorts even closer to TikTok. Social media platforms' circular battle for dominance leads us to a group of platforms that all want to be each other.

YouTube announced longer Shorts alongside "templates," a trends page on mobile, and the option to show fewer Shorts. Templates offers a shortcut to recreating a trend — Reels launched templates last year. To use the feature, select "Remix" on a Short you'd like to emulate and then "Use this template." You'll also be able to incorporate clips from other Shorts and YouTube videos into your Shorts directly in the app. Additionally, in the YouTube app you'll be able to select "Show fewer Shorts" to customize your experience.