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TikTok Expands Horizons: Testing 60-Minute Videos to Compete with YouTube

TikTok is currently experimenting with allowing users to upload videos that are up to 60 minutes long. This new feature is being tested with a small group of users in selected markets, First noticed by social media consultant Matt Navarra, TikTok's new feature represents a significant shift from its original format. Although there are no immediate plans to make this feature widely available, the goal is evident: TikTok aims to attract viewers who typically watch longer videos on platforms like YouTube.

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When TikTok was first launched, the platform only allowed videos up to 15 seconds long, much like how YouTube started with short video limits in its early days. Over the years, TikTok has gradually increased its video length limits. Many creators have expressed a desire for more time to create content, citing examples like cooking demonstrations, beauty tutorials, educational lessons, and comedic sketches. The introduction of the 60-minute video option is TikTok’s response to these requests from its community of creators.

The company believes that by increasing the video length limit, creators will have more freedom to experiment with new types of content. This longer format can accommodate more comprehensive and detailed videos, which might be too cumbersome to split into multiple shorter clips. For example, cooking recipes can be demonstrated step-by-step without needing to rush or cut out important details. Similarly, educational content can be more thorough, and comedic sketches can unfold naturally without the constraints of a shorter format.

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This new feature also has potential implications for how TV shows and other serialized content are shared on the platform. Last year, the streaming service Peacock posted the first episode of a show on TikTok, but had to split it into five parts due to the existing time limits. With the ability to upload 60-minute videos, entire episodes of shows could be posted without interruption, providing a more seamless viewing experience for users.

Additionally, TikTok has been testing a horizontal full-screen mode, complete with video-scrubbing thumbnails. This feature further aligns TikTok with YouTube, providing users with a viewing experience similar to what they are used to on YouTube.

In summary, TikTok’s move to test 60-minute video uploads is a strategic step towards expanding the type of content available on its platform. By catering to creators' needs for longer video formats and enhancing user experience with features like horizontal full-screen mode, TikTok is positioning itself to attract a broader audience, including those who currently favor YouTube for longer-form content. This evolution reflects TikTok's ongoing efforts to diversify and enrich its platform, potentially making it a more formidable competitor in the digital video space.