TikTok is set to launch 15 minutes video upload limit.
TikTok, which is popularly known for its short-video format is now said to be testing 15-minute long-form videos which will be an improvement of their now 10-minute-long videos, this move is aimed at rivaling Twitter (now X), Facebook, and YouTube. Social media industry expert Matt Navarra shared a screenshot of the update granting users access to this extended format. The upcoming feature is currently under trial in selected regions and is being offered to a limited user group.
TikTok has slowly been creeping up its video upload length for a while now. Originally, home to 15-second videos, the app increased this to a minute, then three minutes, and most recently 10 minutes in February 2022. If launched, users would be able to upload 15-minute long videos to the platform from both the TikTok app and the platform’s desktop version. This improvement is expected to empower content creators with enhanced flexibility, signaling TikTok’s evolution into a versatile platform.
In the past few years, TikTok has blurred the lines between short-form and long-form video formats, and as such, we are still not sure if we should describe the platform as a short-form video platform or dub it as a long-form video. This move will put TikTok – boasting over 1 billion users globally – in direct competition with YouTube – boasting over 2 billion users globally – which is traditionally considered as a longer-form video platform. It’s also worth noting that TikTok has also inched further into YouTube’s territory with a horizontal full-screen mode that’s being tested in select regions.
In 2022, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, increased its maximum video upload limit to 30 minutes per clip. So many are expecting that TikTok will look at increasing its video upload limit once again after rolling out its 15 minute capacity. While not everyone has an appetite for long videos, the degree of adoption for this shift towards extended video content within TikTok’s community remains to be seen.