Remember the fight between Instagram and TikTok over short-form videos? YouTube jumped into that ring a few years ago with Shorts. Now, they’re doubling down on it by testing a new Shorts Carousel right on the desktop website.
This carousel sits alongside recommended videos, prompting you to swipe to the side for quick clips rather than scrolling down for longer content. This may look a little strange on a larger screen, especially because Shorts is designed for mobile. Plus, some people worry that it will take viewers away from the classic YouTube experience.
The thing is: Shorts are wildly popular, with 70 billion views per day! And creators are making money from them. But is pushing them next to regular videos the best approach?
Probably not. Creators often earn more from traditional YouTube ads than from shorts. Additionally, there is already a short shelf on the homepage. It seems like this new carousel is a step too far.
Good News? This may just be a limited test. It is not visible to everyone yet. Hopefully YouTube will reconsider this approach. Instead of forcing shorts down our throats, perhaps a different app or website would be better.
