YouTube faces concerns over impact of Shorts on long-form videos

YouTube, a platform known for its long-form videos, is reportedly experiencing internal problems with its YouTube Shorts feature.

According to the Financial Times, senior YouTube staff have discussed the risk of long-form videos, which generate substantial revenue for the company, becoming less popular and facing a decline. Internal data reportedly indicates that content creators are producing fewer long-form videos due to reduced viewer interest.

This shift towards shorter content has implications for ad revenue, as longer videos typically accommodate more advertisements and lead to a higher click-through rate on ads to e-commerce websites. Advertisers are also favoring short-form content when it comes to product placements.

Over the last four quarters, YouTube has reported drops in ad revenue, with only a recent increase in earnings. To combat this, the platform has taken measures such as cracking down on ad blockers and increasing the price of YouTube Premium in the United States.

YouTube claims that Shorts is intended to complement, not compete with, other formats used by creators on the platform, including audio and live streaming.