YouTube Tests Video Highlights Tool to Turn Engaging Long-Form Segments into Shorts
YouTube
YouTube is testing a new video highlights tool in YouTube Studio on desktop. A small group of creators will see a “Create a video highlight” option in the editor tools, allowing them to cut engaging segments from their long-form videos and post them as separate 16:9 Shorts.
Why It Matters: This feature simplifies the process for creators to repurpose long-form content into bite-sized, shareable Shorts. By focusing on the most engaging segments, these clips are more likely to perform well—though YouTube hasn't clarified how "engaging" content is determined.
Creators will also save time by reducing the mental effort of deciding what to clip. Additionally, they can do it directly within YouTube’s platform for free. However, third-party apps like Descript and Opus Clip offer more advanced capabilities, but at a cost.
As a potential TikTok boom looms, it’s shaping up to be a big year for YouTube Shorts, which are currently averaging over 70 billion views per day.
Many creators are increasingly investing in YouTube Shorts as a backup plan for a world where TikTok doesn’t exist in the US. But that’s not the only reason—YouTube has made strong progress in its short-form video experience, with positive updates in 2024, such as supporting longer Shorts and introducing dozens of new creation tools.
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