Weekly Prompt: YouTube’s new Shorts features and other news

YouTube introduces suite of new features for Shorts

YouTube has announced a suite of new features for its short-form video product, YouTube Shorts, designed to enhance creativity and usability for creators. These features, some already available and others rolling out soon, aim to help YouTube Shorts compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels.

One notable addition is the auto layout tool, initially for Android users. This feature allows creators to convert longer videos into Shorts by automatically tracking and focusing on the main subject. The auto layout dynamically pans, zooms, and crops the video, optimising it for the vertical format of Shorts.

YouTube has also added a Text to Speech option, which provides an additional way for users to express themselves and engage their audience. Creators can now have text on their Shorts narrated by one of four available voices, similar to a popular feature on TikTok.

Auto-generated captions, which can be customised with different fonts and colours, are another enhancement. This feature allows creators to add visually appealing text to their videos, making them more accessible and engaging for viewers.

In addition, YouTube now allows creators to remix already remixed Shorts clips. This enables users to add their own twist to existing content, fostering more interactive and collaborative videos. Another new tool is the “Add Yours” sticker, inspired by a similar feature on Instagram. This sticker prompts users to create and share content in response to specific themes or challenges posed by other creators, enhancing community engagement and sparking a chain reaction of user-generated content.

To celebrate Minecraft’s 15th anniversary, YouTube has introduced two new Minecraft-themed effects. The Minecraft Spring effect allows users to film videos within the Minecraft world, while the Minecraft Rush effect includes a mini-game that can be played directly in the Shorts player.

These updates are part of YouTube's broader strategy to compete in the short-form video market. With Shorts now generating over 70 billion daily views according to YouTube, the company aims to provide creators with more tools to enhance their content and engage their audience.

Sources: Engadget, Social Media Today, TechCrunch

Additional prompts

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Facebook is experimenting with a new “Clear Mode” for uncluttered Reels viewing in the app after testing it out with IG Reels. This option, not yet released, would let users hide the description and UI buttons on Reels clips, for a cleaner viewing experience. Meta has been experimenting with the same on Instagram for the last few months, though the functionality hasn’t had a broader release so far. Read more

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