Why YouTube created Shorts to compete with TikTok

Short-form videos have gained immense popularity due to their ability to deliver quick dopamine hits to users, a trend that surged with TikTok's rise in 2020, prompting YouTube to launch its own version, YouTube Shorts, in March 2021. Originally introduced in India following a TikTok ban, YouTube Shorts aimed to compete with TikTok by offering short videos under 60 seconds that cater to mobile users and help discover new content and creators. Despite not being an innovation, this strategic move helped YouTube retain users and tap into the preferences of younger demographics, particularly Gen Z, who were gravitating toward TikTok. YouTube Shorts have amassed over 2.3 billion monthly active users, though they face challenges in monetization compared to long-form content, leading to ongoing efforts to bridge this gap and enhance the platform's coherence between short and long-form videos. The success of YouTube Shorts underscores the broader trend of short-form content's effectiveness, raising questions about its future impact and potential regulatory measures in the face of addiction concerns.