YouTube rolls out video remixes and a web version for its TikTok competitor YouTube Shorts

One of the main features that helped make TikTok a success is now coming to YouTube’s own short-form video platform YouTube Shorts.

On Thursday, YouTube announced that it’s beginning to roll out a video “remixing” feature on YouTube Shorts. The feature allows YouTube Shorts creators to easily cut a one to five-second video clip out of any eligible YouTube video, including other Shorts, and include it in their new original Shorts video creation. If users are familiar with TikTok, they’ll know how similar features like stitching have aided in the creation of popular reaction videos and collaborations between creators.

Just tap the “Create” button on any eligible video to begin remixing.
Credit: YouTube

To get started once the video remixing feature rolls out to your account, creators just need to tap “Create” on any eligible YouTube video while using the YouTube mobile app.

Next, tap “Cut” from the remix options that show up. Simply pick the segment you want to cut into the video. As previously mentioned, creators can also cut segments from other Shorts videos. Users will find those remix options after tapping on the three dot menu on a Shorts video.

Tap on the “Cut” feature to grab your 1-5 second segment.
Credit: YouTube

Shorts videos that feature remixed segments from other users’ contents will provide attribution to the original video. So, if a Shorts creator uses your content for a remix, YouTube automatically links back to your clip which can help grow your audience.

Here’s how the YouTube Shorts attribution back to the original content looks.
Credit: YouTube

YouTube already allowed users to remix audio content from other videos. With the video remix feature rolling out, the company is continuing to cement itself as a player in the short-form video space, which is currently dominated by TikTok. Interestingly, TikTok recently expanded the length of videos on its platform to 10-minutes long, showing that the app views the longform leader as a major competitor as well.

Speaking of longform YouTube content, YouTubers who do not want their videos used in remixes can simply opt out of the feature in their YouTube Studio dashboard. Note that other YouTube Shorts videos cannot be opted out of the Shorts sampling feature.

Shorts creators will find the video remixing feature in their account some time over the next few weeks.

In addition to the video remixing feature, YouTube also announced bringing YouTube Shorts to even more YouTube platforms. Previously only available within the YouTube mobile app, viewers can now watch YouTube Shorts how they’re meant to be watched — in its specific video player on desktop, mobile web, and tablets. Users will be able to swipe to watch the next Shorts video on all these platforms. The Shorts shelf on a user’s YouTube Home page and the Shorts tab will also be available on these devices, making it easier to find new Shorts content outside of the mobile app.

With trillions of views, YouTube seems happy with how Shorts is turning out. But the company is still not ubiquitous with short-form video content like TikTok. These new features will probably not change that. But, they’ll certainly help move things further in YouTube’s direction. And most importantly, they’ll give YouTube Shorts makers more ways to create and get their content seen.