Report: YouTube Is Working on a TikTok Rival Called Shorts
While you’re passing the time learning TikTok dances, YouTube is reportedly working on a competitor to the mega-popular social network.
According to The Information, which cited two people “familiar with the matter,” YouTube aims to release a TikTok rival “by the end of the year.”
The feature, known as Shorts, will be included with the YouTube mobile app and take advantage of its existing catalog of licensed music to serve as the soundtrack for user-created videos. As an added bonus, folks won’t have to download yet another app to their phone. YouTubers with an established following, meanwhile, can dive right into making new content for fans.
There are no further details just yet, and YouTube remains tight-lipped about the reports. “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation,” a company spokesperson told Business Insider. Neither YouTube nor TikTok immediately responded to PCMag’s request for comment.
In a recent episode of NBC News’ Byers Market podcast, set to air later this month, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki admitted the firm is eyeing short-form video features. “Really, really short-form video, like 15 seconds,” Wojcicki said. “That is a place that is certainly interesting to look at, and for us to think about.”
“We actually have introduced stories on YouTube and we’ve actually seen our creators really engage with the stories,” she continued. “That would be an example of really short-form content. So we will definitely continue to innovate in all the different format sizes, including really short-form video.”
A pair of U.S. senators last month introduced legislation banning all federal employees from using TikTok on official devices—citing cybersecurity concerns and possible spying by the Chinese regime. If passed, the bill would prohibit certain individuals from downloading or using TikTok on any device issued by the United States or a government corporation. The Transportation Security Administration recently forbid employees from creating social media posts on the app.
