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3-Minute YouTube Shorts: Everything You Need to Know

What Are 3-Minute YouTube Shorts?

Starting from October 15th, a new update will be rolled out in North America allowing users to upload YouTube Shorts with a length of up to 3 minutes. With this update, videos that are 3 minutes or less and in vertical or square format will be classified as Shorts.

< Supported Aspect Ratios for 3-Minute YouTube Shorts >

This means that while traditional YouTube Shorts required a 9:16 ratio (1080x1920 pixels), you can now upload in a 1:1 ratio (1080x1080) and still have it categorized under the Shorts feed.

This update hasn't been applied to all accounts yet and is being rolled out gradually.

Why Did 3-Minute YouTube Shorts Come Into Existence?

There are several reasons behind YouTube introducing 3-minute Shorts. Primarily, it can be seen as a strategy to enhance the quality of content. The original intention of the Shorts format was to be concise and impactful, aiming to increase users' dwell time.

However, with the influx of low-quality clips and mass-produced content, YouTube Shorts ended up with a lot of subpar material. To address this issue, YouTube seems to be offering a 3-minute window to allow for better storytelling and improved content quality.

If a viewer watches a piece of content that's nearly 3 minutes long to the end, it can be interpreted as high-quality content, which could score higher in the algorithm.

< The Most Important Metric: Average View Duration on YouTube Shorts >

If a reader has watched content that is nearly 3 minutes long to the end, it can be interpreted as high-quality content, and the algorithm might score it higher. 📈

< 3 ways YouTube is redefining the shopping experience, source: Thinkwithgoogle >

Also, YouTube shopping is considered one of the most important future revenue streams for YouTube. The format that will deliver the highest conversion rate once activated is the Shorts feed, and without high-quality content, there could be a significant hitch in realizing sales strategies.

Differences from the traditional 1-minute YouTube Shorts

Compared to the traditional 1-minute Shorts, the 3-minute Shorts don’t differ much in terms of revenue model. Revenue is generated based on views, just like the traditional Shorts.

However, YouTube's copyright monitoring system, Content ID, will be applied the same way as long-form content. This means that while it was possible to upload mash-up videos ignoring copyrights in the traditional Shorts, the moment the Shorts exceed 1 minute and 1 second, they might be flagged by Content ID monitoring.

If copyright infringement occurs, there is no issue with the channel itself, but the content in question will be completely blocked worldwide. This also seems to be a mechanism to encourage more original content (i.e., high-quality content) from creators.

For 3-minute Shorts, genres such as cooking recipes, short-form dramas, and knowledge-sharing content are expected to benefit directly.

< A successful example of a Faceless history knowledge channel >

Listening to stories from existing short-form creators, many felt unfortunate as they had to cut out crucial content or provide only shallow information just to fit under one minute.

Now, instead of having to hit the 3-minute mark, these genre channels can convey more natural and rich stories, as going beyond one minute is perfectly fine.

Suggestions for Videostew Users

For Videostew users, the introduction of 3-minute YouTube Shorts is undoubtedly a positive change.

No More Tied to 'One Minute'

The best part is not having to be tied to the one-minute mark. Feedback from Videostew users indicated that they sometimes had to speed up narration or reluctantly cut slides to fit under one minute. This often resulted in losing the edge of the story and diminishing its fun.

Now, you can share your stories naturally without the pressure of sticking to a one-minute limit.

No Worries About Music Copyrights

Videostew has always aimed to be an AI video editing solution that allows free editing of both long-form and short-form videos.

The music library provided by Videostew is all registered with Content ID, and users' channels are whitelisted to allow free use on your channels.

With the newly introduced 3-minute Shorts, you can't use the Shorts music provided by YouTube. Without the hassle of finding copyright-free music, finish your video editing with Videostew.

The Value of Multi-Platform Distribution Has Risen

Videostew users are already uploading videos not just on YouTube, but also on Reels and TikTok. However, previously, due to YouTube's one-minute limit policy, you had to target other platforms based on YouTube's format. (TikTok allows up to 60 minutes, and Reels up to 10 minutes.)

Now that you can edit videos to be 3 minutes long, you can expect better exposure on other competing platforms.

< Short-form Platform Video Length Limits >

Conclusion

YouTube's 3-minute Shorts update is not just a simple extension of time; it signifies a qualitative shift in the content ecosystem. This aligns perfectly with Videostew's vision of "Creating high-quality content through collaboration between AI and humans."

Now, creators can delve into deeper storytelling and convey richer information. Three minutes is a sufficient length to gauge genuine interest from viewers, which means a conducive environment for high-quality content to truly shine.

< Videostew's Highly Flexible Video Editor >

Videostew is perfectly prepared for this change. It amplifies your creativity and provides an efficient workflow, allowing you to invest more time in content planning. Additionally, with a worry-free music library and support for various platforms, your content can reach a wider audience.

In this new era, it's important not just to fill time but to captivate viewers with valuable content every moment. With Videostew, you can easily transform your creative ideas into an engaging 3-minute story.