TikTok is once again extending the maximum length of videos shared on its platform. We can now publish sequences of 10 minutes. Enough to compete with YouTube by attracting new users.
What if TikTok became a real competitor to YouTube? We can legitimately ask the question insofar as the platform has just reduced the maximum duration of videos from 60 seconds to 10 minutes. A size change that allows the creation and publication of long sequences. Much longer even than the small clips that have made the reputation of the social network. Enough to allow the development of richer content, of the chronicle, tutorial or essay type, as we find on YouTube precisely.
Of course, this is a maximum duration: it will always be possible to share very short videos, to share a mood, a choreography or a gag, as is currently the case. But the appearance of this long format opens up many possibilities that could well attract experienced youtubers, who until now had to content themselves with publishing excerpts from their productions. And that will further lengthen the duration of consultations. However, it is necessary to wait to find out if this extension of duration will appeal to current users, who are very fond of sequences of a few seconds.
Note that the modification is being deployed on the mobile application (for Android and iOS, but also on the web version of the platform, which can be used on a computer with a simple Internet browser.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is the trendy social network. With an account and the mobile app, watch and share short videos for fun or self-expression. And it’s free!
Available on Android and iOS, TikTok is a free mobile application for creating videos, with music and playback. It has been a great success in France since 2019, especially with the youngest – the famous generation Z. But for several months, older users as well as personalities of all stripes (influencers, artists, comedians and even politicians) have joined this network and actively participate in the uninterrupted flow of video creations. Thus, it is estimated at more than 11 million its number of monthly users in France alone, and 800 million in all in the world, placing it ahead of WhatsApp.
TikTok owes its success to its extremely effective and easy-to-use functions for creating videos: filters, effects, adding music… Initially limited to 15 seconds, their duration has increased to 60 seconds and even 10 minutes for videos. longer. For now, it is still the short format that remains the most popular. And the result could be compared to a YouTube on steroids: it’s fast, noisy, with abuse of special effects and zooms. If the majority only seeks to entertain, some videos are educational, decipher the news or defend causes with a strong commitment against racism or sexism, for example.
Who says social network, says sharing. In fact, other users can comment, relay or “like” the videos, and even reuse them in their own productions. The videos and choreographies thus created are broadcast on the platform and can easily be sent to other social networks such as Instagram or Twitter.
Like Instagram, TikTok uses hashtags to highlight certain videos, and offers challenges based on specific music. These regularly renewed creative challenges offer both a way to arouse the interest of users and a good way for them to showcase themselves.
But like any social network, TikTok has its excesses. Widely used by the youngest (13-18 years old), the Chinese application has been talked about because of the risks of cyberbullying and pedophilia, scams and even accusations of espionage, to the point of being temporarily banned in the United States. Since these accusations, TikTok has changed the privacy of accounts created by minors. However, it is strongly recommended to make young people aware of the risks, to pay attention to the content posted… and to check their privacy settings regularly.
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