YouTube is shaking things up with a new experiment: displaying long-form videos in the Shorts feed.
This test, currently available to a select group of users, aims to enhance content discovery by mixing longer videos with the usual short clips.
The move is detailed in a community post titled “Testing new content discovery features.”
According to YouTube, this experiment is designed to help viewers find diverse content by integrating longer videos into places where short-form content typically dominates, like the Shorts feed.
This new “discovery experience” will show a blend of video formats, potentially including hour-long documentaries alongside minute-long Shorts.
While this could boost visibility for long-form content, it might disrupt the user experience, as viewers often come to the Shorts feed specifically for quick, bite-sized videos.
Google has not disclosed which users are participating in this test nor how it might impact children’s content.
Creators are reassured that their content will remain eligible for monetization and analytics, though the feedback from both viewers and creators will be crucial in determining if this feature will roll out more broadly.
In essence, YouTube’s latest experiment could mark a significant shift in content discovery, but its success will depend on how well it balances short and long-form content within the feed.
