YouTube tests 15 second videos & a new voice search

YouTube is experimenting with 15-second videos for the mobile app like TikTok and also working on a manual language selector for Voice Search.

Both YouTube tests - TikTok like videos and Voice Search are currently in the beta phase and are available for a short period of time to a small group of users.

Multi-Segmented Videos

The new feature will let creators record multiple videos and upload it at as one, form the mobile YouTube app. If a creator has access to this test, they will see an option to ‘create a video’ in the mobile upload flow.

Users can tap or hold the record button to record the first clip, then tap again or release the button to stop recording that clip.

The maximum length of recording is 15 seconds, users can repeat these steps until they have the full video. The feature is being tested on both iOS and Android.

Limited information about the test is available now. But if the experiment goes well we can expect the addition of more supplements such as TikTok-like Filters, AR lenses, and more.

YouTube is not the first one to duplicate the feature. Since 15-second videos had been popularized by TikTok, first Facebook launched its clone Lasso in 2018, a standalone app with filters, effects, and video-editing tools. Users could shoot 15-second long videos by lip-syncing to music, and do similar things one would on TikTok.

Also Read: YouTube tests shoppable ads

Then, Instagram was working on a feature called 'Clips', that lets you record a short-video by selecting the length of the video & it’s speed, lets you overlay music.

Instagram's most recent duplication of TikTok, Instagram Reels, used for the creation of short videos, adjust the duration, speed, and background music, has now been expanded to France and Germany, after first being launched in Brazil.

After Stories, features enabling the creation of multi-segmented short videos are turning out o be the most duplicated ones.

Voice Search

YouTube is working on an option that would let users select a language for voice search, other than the default in-app settings.

Users who are a part of the experiment will see a blue banner on the voice input screen with more details. The experiment is available in Hindi, Punjabi, Kannada, German, Spanish, Nepali, and more.

This feature if and when becomes available with all regional Indian languages, it will further boost the boom of creation and consumption of regional content in the country.

As more rural regions gain access to digital, voice search might gain popularity in places where people are not that handy with tech, as it is an easier way to search.