Vertical videos snuck into our lives over the years, and Vine (remember that dinosaur?) might be the OG. And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube channel or building a brand on social media, YouTube Shorts is not optional.
It’s your ticket to more views, more subscribers, and way more watch time. So let’s dive into everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts — from how they started to where they’re headed (hint: Google Lens is getting in on the action).
What even are YouTube Shorts?
Shorts are YouTube’s answer to short-form video content. Think TikTok, but with a YouTube engine behind it.
They’re vertical videos under 60 seconds, built to be addictive, punchy, and perfect for viewers on the go. You’ll find them in the Shorts feed & even the YouTube homepage — a swipeable, snackable, and so addicting, must-scroll-moreeeeee, stream on the YouTube app.
And yes — creators are flocking to it. Over 70 billion Shorts are watched daily. That’s not a typo. That’s billions — with a “B” — every single day.
With volume often off by default, adding captions is a must (I use this subtitle generator because it’s stupid accurate). Captions = retention. Retention = more views.
A study by Digiday indicates that 75% of people often keep their phones on mute while watching videos, with the percentage rising to 85% among Millennials.
Verizon Media reports that 69% of consumers watch videos with the sound off in public places, and 25% do so even in private settings.
The origin story: From TikTok dupe to social media staple
Shorts officially launched in September 2020, right when TikTok was dominating the internet and Instagram Reels was still figuring itself out.
But the YouTube team had something others didn’t — the biggest video library in the world, a loyal creator base, and the ability to tie Shorts directly to your existing YouTube videos and playlists. No starting from scratch. No new platform. Just one massive ecosystem.
How long can YouTube Shorts be?
Short and sweet. Shorts must be:
- Vertical (9:16 aspect ratio)
- 60 seconds or less initially. Now it can be up to 3 minutes.
- Uploaded via the YouTube app or marked with #Shorts if uploading from desktop
Things you can do with & for YouTube Shorts
YouTube is adding new stuff all the time, but here are some of the hits:
- Shorts feed: Where all the bingeing happens
- Remix: Use audio or clips from other YouTube videos
- Reply with Short: Just like TikTok replies, but on YouTube
- Captions: Critical for silent scrollers
- Dream Screen: AI-generated video backgrounds (still rolling out)
- YouTube Create app: On Android (iOS coming), makes Shorts editing easier
- Playlist integration: Yup, Shorts can live in playlists too. And I recommend you create many, accordingly.
- Video clips: Grab 5–60 second highlights from your existing videos and share them as links or repurpose them into Shorts.
How to create and upload a YouTube Short
It’s easy. Open the YouTube app, hit the + button, and choose Create a Short. You can shoot directly or upload a clip. Add music, trim, caption, and boom — post it.
Already have a long-form video? Tools like Magic Clips can turn your best moments into viral Shorts automatically.
Why YouTube Shorts?
Because this is the biggest opportunity on YouTube right now.
- You don’t need fancy gear
- It plugs into your existing content
- It feeds your long-form video growth
- It can grow your subscribers like crazy
- It actually pays you (hello, YouTube Partner Program)
And with YouTube pushing Shorts hard on the homepage, in search, and under long-form videos, it’s pure algorithmic jet fuel for creators.
Gary Vaynerchuk recently made this profound and bold statement on LinkedIn.
Gary Vaynerchuk on opportunities in videos.If you want to post a video every day, you should checkout Submagic AI Video Editor. It's a three-click video editor and done. Also, scale up your multilingual video strategy in over 100 languages. Even if you somehow don't know who Gary Vaynerchuk is, it's good advice.
How is Shorts different from TikTok and Instagram Reels?
Here’s the tl;dr:
| Feature |
YouTube Shorts |
TikTok |
Instagram Reels |
| Max length |
60 sec |
10 min |
90 sec (3 min for ads) |
| Monetization |
Built into YouTube Partner Program |
Creator Fund + Ads |
Creator Fund + Ads |
| Discovery |
Shorts feed, Search, Homepage |
FYP (For You Page) |
Reels tab, Explore |
| Ecosystem |
Tied to full YouTube channel |
Standalone |
Tied to Instagram feed |
| Editing tools |
Getting better |
Best-in-class |
Mid-range |
Shorts wins when you want to turn Shorts views into channel growth, podcast discovery, or long-form video views.
Meet the Shorts superstars
Some of the biggest Shorts creators right now:
A lot of traditional vloggers and DIY creators have also pivoted to Shorts to revive their watch time and hit monetization thresholds faster.
Top Shorts CreatorsAwards: Yes, Shorts awards is a thing now
YouTube launched the Shorts Community Awards to spotlight top creators in categories like Comedy, DIY, Fashion, and more. It’s still growing, but it’s a sign that Shorts is no longer the side hustle of YouTube — it’s front and center.
The future of Shorts is even weirder (and cooler)
The next frontier? AI meets search meets short-form video.
Thanks to a new feature, Google Lens now connects to YouTube Shorts. You can literally scan something in real life and instantly get Shorts that explain it, demo it, or react to it.
Imagine pointing your phone at a product, getting a Shorts review, then buying. This is next-level video content discovery.
Combine that with YouTube’s push into AI tools, better video editing, tighter playlist curation, and smarter monetization— Shorts isn’t just here to stay. It’s leading the charge.
Small detour: What is Google Lens?
Google Lens is a visual search tool from Google that lets you scan real-world objects — think signs, shoes, cereal boxes — and instantly get info about them. You point your camera at something, and Lens finds similar images, identifies text, or suggests content related to what it sees.
So, what’s the deal with Lens + YouTube Shorts?
Google is now integrating Lens with YouTube Shorts. That means when someone scans something with Google Lens — like a product, a place, or even food — YouTube Shorts related to that item will show up in the search results.
Why Google Lens + Shorts is a big deal:
- Contextual discovery: Viewers don’t need to search manually. Shorts surface because of what they’re looking at in real life.
- More eyeballs on Shorts: This expands the reach of your Shorts outside YouTube. It’s like a backdoor to new viewers.
- Big for product videos and reviews: If you’re making Shorts about products (DIY, unboxings, tutorials), they now get discoverable through Lens scans — driving more views, watch time, and possibly affiliate or ad revenue.
Phew. That was a lot for a topic on Shorts.
If you're not creating YouTube Shorts, you’re leaving views, subscribers, and ad revenue on the table.
It’s not about jumping on a trend. It’s about meeting your audience where they already are — on mobile, in vertical, and ready to binge.
So grab your phone, hit record, and let your next 60 seconds change everything.
Want a shortcut? Use tools like Magic Clips to turn your best content into Shorts, add captions, zoom effects, b-roll, and background music — all in a few clicks.
You’re not just editing clips. You’re building an empire. One vertical video at a time.
