Business is business, and trends can change things.
Tech giants have more resources and experience, and that they're already established in their business with their global presence. But sometimes, a tiny change in the ecosystem that disrupt the industry can force giants to adapt if they don't want to fall.
YouTube is the largest video-streaming platform the internet has ever seen, and TikTok had it worried.
When TikTok popularized short-form video format, its popularity made many others in the industry to follow suit.
YouTube responded by creating YouTube Shorts.
And this is where it began to see an unforeseen consequences.
YouTube Shorts allows creators to create videos that are only up to 60 seconds long, quickly amassed over 2 billion users since its first launch in 2021.
There are a number of reasons for Shorts' popularity.
First, they are quick and easy to consume. People are increasingly looking for ways to kill time on their smartphones, and Shorts are the perfect solution. Second, Shorts are often more engaging than long-form videos. They are typically more visually appealing and can be more easily shared on social media.
It's also a better way of killing time, and that they can also be addictive.
And because they can also provide insightful content in such a way that long-form videos cannot, it didn't take long until Shorts becomes one of YouTube's most-successful feature.
But its significant rise is making YouTube worried.
Reports suggest that internally, the platform is afraid that the short-form content could end up eating the long-form content, which can significantly harm its business.
This is because the format's popularity doesn't translate well to advertisers' demands.
YouTube, which has cemented itself as one of the biggest places for online entertainment, is where long-form content thrive, and that creators know that they can earn a lot by creating videos with long durations.
But Shorts' popularity makes creators create less long-form content to focus on Shorts to better cater to viewers' demand.
There are a few things that YouTube could do to mitigate the threat of Shorts to long-form content.
First, the company could make it easier for creators to make money from Shorts. This could be done by introducing new ad formats or by giving creators a share of the revenue generated from Shorts. Second, YouTube could promote long-form content more prominently in its search results and recommendations.
This would help to ensure that long-form content remains visible to users.
Ultimately, the future of long-form content on YouTube is uncertain, if ever Google failed to properly monetize the content, based on advertisers demand.
Since it is clear that Shorts is a major force that is changing the way people consume video content. YouTube needs to find a way to accommodate both short-form and long-form content if it wants to remain the dominant video platform.
In the meantime, creators who are concerned about the threat of Shorts should focus on creating high-quality long-form content that is visually appealing and engaging. They should also experiment with ways to make their long-form content more easily consumable, such as by creating shorter, more focused episodes.
By taking these steps, creators can help to ensure that long-form content remains a viable format on YouTube.