I know many, especially in my millenial generation, neither understand nor like that TikTok is as popular as it is. Short form content definitely isn’t for everyone but it looks like it’s here to stay.
So, we have to suck it up and watch the video content platform for our generation, YouTube, try to copy TikTok’s homework.
I think it’s a good thing and I hope Zimbabweans, who I’ve learnt are really active on TikTok, move to YouTube instead. See, there is a reason why you find many TikTok creators trying to push you to subscribe to their YouTube accounts.
Subscription no longer available. LIVE subscription is no longer available in your region due to lack of payment options. Your access to LIVE subscription is therefore revoked.
That’s one revenue stream that’s not availale to Zimbabwean TikTok creators. The situation is a little better on YouTube. However, even if that stream was available, TikTok is known to pay out much less than YouTube does.
Anyway, YouTube made some new updates meant to inspire creation with YouTube Shorts. Some of the new tools are gamechangers, especially the one that allows creators to repurpose old video.
Auto layout
See, the correct way to shoot video is in the landscape orientation. However, video shot this way does not look good when viewed vertically, if that makes sense. You can’t just crop the video too as the framing would be all off.
YouTube has been able to auto frame your horizontal videos for you to keep the main subject in frame for a little while. However, that feature was not available on Android, until now.
YouTube says when you’re remixing long form videos into Shorts, the Auto layout tool will automatically and dynamically pan, zoom, & crop to make sure your Shorts look great.
Narrate text
Have a thick Shona accent like mine that you know some will struggle to hear? You don’t have to subject your viewers to that.
After recording your Short, you can add your text and tap the “Add voice” icon in the top left where you can find four voices to choose from.
Of course, in this age of AI, your actual accent may just have that humanness that sets it apart. So, you’ll have to decide if these voices are the way to go.
Captions
I’m not quite sure whether captions lean more to the useful versus the annoying side but I know they are popular on TikTok. YouTube Shorts are getting the same love.
Soon, you’ll be able to add auto-generated captions directly on your content to help your Shorts be more accessible and helpful for people watching on mute.
You’ll be able to edit, customise, and style your captions with different fonts and colors just like you can on TikTok.
The other tools
There are other tools that allow creators to participate in trends and remix videos etc, that my millenial brain does not understand the appeal of.
Join the community convo with the “Add yours” sticker: Creators can now include an “Add yours” sticker to their Shorts to inspire their audiences with their own related content, sparking a chain reaction of content.
Remix a Remix (a Remix): YouTube rolled out a handful of remixing tools already, and now creators have the option to remix a remix! Whether participating in a dance trend or keeping a musical chain going, remixing a remix lets creators join in on the fun with other creators while putting your own spin on remixed content.
A shame about the payments situation
I love competition and love that there’s some competition for YouTube in TikTok. However, the payments sitaution and TikTok’s inflexibility, low payout history means YouTube remains the platform of choice for creators.
I guess we couldn’t expect 6 second videos to generate as much revenue as movie-length ones do. Hence why TikTok is trying to puch users to create longer videos but it’s a tall ask.
I’ll be honest, I enjoy long form videos but when I’m on TikTok, 5 minutes feels too long. They conditioned me to expect a dopamine hit in 10 seconds or less. When I want to watch proper videos, I go to YouTube.
The payments situation means creators also want you to view their stuff on YouTube. So, TikTok becomes a discovery engine, something it shines at. What a shame.
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7 comments
Ever heard of spellcheck. In this day and age of AI and what not, come on!
People, you should learn to respect this Leonard Sengere guy… I mean his posts are really good, eye openers of I may say… going back to them e-creater ponzi, this guy was there for you, so some respect is the little you can do, seriously, and not point out meagre misspells
Chinyora yako article ine ma spellings ari correct tione kana ukatinyorera content inonakidza
If your English is that good and less error prone,why don’t you start you own tech site and stop complaining about other people’s productive work.
Apa sengere wanyora. Good staff. I thought I was alone I have tiktok on my phone but it’s now frozen by the phone system because of not being opened. Kkkk ini YouTube, Facebook, IG and Twitter bho zvekuti izvi zvine addiction bodo…
I was initially quite skeptical about TikTok, and never thought it would be able to hold its own against the more established YouTube. But its popularity skyrocketed very quickly, because of the popularity of its short video format. I even downloaded the app just so that I can also have easy access to the platform. They spotted a gap in the social media space, and very quickly and intelligently filled it.
Becoming the media and medium of choice, not just for youths and the young at heart. But also for savvy citizen journalists, and surprisingly for me, also some politicians.
Surprisingly TikTok’s worldwide popularity has got on the nerves of a lot of Western governments. So much so that a number of them have banned it from being installed on government devices. And others are advocating for its total ban in their countries.
Their argument is that because it is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, it can be used by the Chinese 🇨🇳 government for spying purposes. I think the truth of the matter is that they are simply jealous that unlike Google, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, TikTok is not owned by some tech guru in the Western world. As if social media companies and search engines haven’t been secretly collecting our data and spying on us for years?
Jealousy is always a very bitter pill to swallow.
By the way even though they are yet to announce their subscription packages, come what may I have decided to go with Eutelsat/OneWeb, and can’t wait for them to launch so that I can dump DStv and stream to my heart’s content. I will not voluntarily support any shady, low down and dirty Weakass tenderpreneurs. Doing so will only be aiding and abetting brutal autocracy and despotism. I will not be doing that.
Thanks Leonard & always remember to just ignore the haters, and keep doing what you love! 😉