YouTube Shorts Get an Upgrade: Now Up to 3 Minutes Long

On October 1, 2024, YouTube unveiled an exciting update that aimed to enhance creative possibilities for Shorts creators. The platform announced that starting October 15, creators would be able to upload Shorts up to 3 minutes in length, expanding the previous 60-second limit. While this extension was highly anticipated and welcomed, the phased rollout left many creators with questions and uncertainty. YouTube Liaison took to Twitter to address these concerns, providing essential clarifications as the new feature began rolling out..


What YouTube Announced

YouTube's official announcement confirmed that Shorts would be extended from 60 seconds to a maximum of 3 minutes, starting on October 15. This much-requested feature aimed to give creators more flexibility in storytelling and content creation.

"Starting on October 15, you can upload Shorts up to 3 minutes long. This was a top requested feature by creators, so we’re excited to give you more flexibility to tell your story." - YouTube’s Announcement

This update only applied to square or vertical videos, with no retroactive changes to videos uploaded before October 15.

YouTube also mentioned upcoming improvements to the Shorts player and the inclusion of new tools like templates and a trends page to enhance the creative experience.


Clarifications from YouTube Liaison After the Announcement

Post announcement the excitement in creators led to the questions about the specifics of the update. YouTube Liaison responded to several key concerns through Twitter:

  • Aspect Ratio and Time Limits: One creator asked if videos just over 60 seconds or in wider aspect ratios would qualify as Shorts. YouTube Liaison clarified:

    • "Anything wider than a square (e.g., 4:3, 16:9) or longer than 180 seconds won’t be eligible for the Shorts feed!"

  • Square Videos: A youtuber asked if square videos (1:1) would still count as Shorts under the new rules. YouTube Liaison responded:

    • "Square to vertical (e.g., 1:1, 9:16) qualify as Shorts, correct!"

  • No Retroactive Application: Another video creator wondered if the new rules would apply to previously uploaded vertical videos. YouTube Liaison replied:

    • "No, only new square to vertical videos uploaded once the feature launches on October 15, 2024."

  • Custom Thumbnails: Some users wanted to know if they could use custom thumbnails for Shorts. YouTube Liaison explained that this feature wasn't available yet but encouraged feedback:

    • "Not yet! But keep that feedback coming! (for now you can still select a custom frame to show as your thumbnail during upload on mobile)."

These responses provided clarity on how the new 3-minute Shorts format would work and addressed creator concerns ahead of the launch.


Launch and YouTube Liaison’s Update on October 15

When the feature officially launched on October 15, YouTube Liaison tweeted updates about how the rollout would proceed. The system would take time to recognize 3-minute Shorts properly, with a gradual phased rollout planned.

This tweet highlighted that while creators could upload their 3-minute Shorts immediately, there would be a delay before they were fully integrated into the Shorts feed.


Issues Faced by Creators Post-Launch and YouTube Liaison’s Responses

After the launch, many creators encountered issues with the rollout. YouTube Liaison responded to several queries and concerns from users:

  • Long-Form vs. Short-Form Uploads: A youtuber asked if there was any way to prevent a 2-3 minute vertical video from being treated as a Short. YouTube Liaison provided guidance:

    • "Starting today, you would have to upload them as horizontal, or make them longer than 3 minutes, to prevent them from being processed as Shorts over the next few weeks."

  • Thumbnails concerns: One thumbnail expert expressed concern about how thumbnails would affect their Shorts’ visibility. YouTube Liaison responded:

    • "The vast majority of Shorts are viewed in the feed where there are no thumbnails... if immediate performance is a concern, you probably want to wait."

  • Uploading on Mobile vs Desktop: A user, curious to test this new feature, asked how to upload 3-minute Shorts and if there was a special setting. YouTube Liaison explained:

    • "Just upload a video that's square or vertical and 3 min or under, and over the next while the system: - Will identify it as a Short - Start showing it in the Shorts feed (days) - Add it to the Shorts tab on channel pages, etc. (weeks)"

  • Video Visibility: Another user noticed that their Shorts were appearing as long-form content in the video section, rather than the Shorts section. On this YouTube Liaison confirmed that the system would take time to fully process:

    • "The 16x9 long-form thumbnail won't show up once the video gets fully processed as a 9x16 Short and begins to appear in the Shorts Tab, Shorts Shelf, etc."

These interactions showcased the technical challenges creators were facing and highlighted YouTube's efforts to address them.


Thumbnails: A Point of Frustration

Another common source of confusion post-launch was the issue of custom thumbnails. Creators rely on thumbnails to increase engagement, and many were frustrated that YouTube hadn’t yet implemented full support for custom thumbnails in Shorts.

This concern was resolved by this tweet:


Timeline of the Rollout Phases

The lack of clarity and feedback received from the users prompted YouTube Liaison to provide a clear timeline when the system would be fully updated:


Reactions and Frustrations Post timeline information:

Despite the clear timeline, some creators were frustrated with the phased rollout and its effects on their uploads. Many voiced concerns about the delayed system integration:

  • Categorization Confusion: One expert creator trying the long shorts expressed confusion over why their video, which was just under 3 minutes, was still being treated as long-form content:

    • "After seeing this post I went to upload a 2:58 short form and it is still being treated as a long form so I'm a bit confused on the '3 min or under, uploaded to YouTube would stop being treated as a long-form and, going forward, be treated as a Short'." - YouTube Creator

  • Waiting for Proper Rollout: Other creator felt that the rollout was poorly coordinated. He mentioned that they had planned to upload several longer Shorts on October 15 but decided to wait due to the unclear rollout timeline:

    • "This is one of the least coordinated YouTube feature roll outs I’ve seen in a while. I saved up quite a few 1-3 minute Shorts to upload from the 15th, and it seems like that I will have to wait even longer to release them." - YouTube Creator

These reactions underscored the challenges creators faced as the new format rolled out across the platform.


Implications and Benefits of the Update

The extension of Shorts to 3 minutes offers numerous benefits for creators, even with the phased rollout:

  • More Flexibility for Storytelling: Creators now have more time to tell engaging stories, which can lead to richer content. The added length opens up possibilities for tutorials, skits, and mini-documentaries within the Shorts format.
  • Improved Audience Engagement: As the algorithm adjusts, longer Shorts will help creators keep viewers engaged for extended periods, which could improve overall watch time and recommendations in the long run.
  • Monetization Opportunities: With longer content comes greater potential for monetization, as creators can fit in more content while adhering to the fast-paced nature of Shorts.

    • What Creators Should Do Now

    Given the phased rollout, creators who prioritize immediate engagement may wish to hold off on uploading 3-minute Shorts until the system is fully updated. However, those eager to explore the new format can begin experimenting with longer videos now, with the understanding that algorithmic adjustments are ongoing.


    Conclusion

    The rollout of 3-minute Shorts brought excitement but also confusion and frustration. YouTube’s phased approach, while necessary for technical reasons, left many creators uncertain about when their content would be fully integrated into the Shorts feed. YouTube Liaison has been actively responding to these concerns, but full functionality is not expected until early 2025. Creators must now decide whether to upload content immediately or wait for the system to catch up.


    References:

    Tall Updates Comming to Shorts by blog.youtube


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