TikTok users will soon be able to upload 10-minute-long videos. The video platform launched worldwide 2018 allowing users to create one-minute videos. That length tripled July 2021 three minutes. TikTok says an extension 10 minutes will allow people to be more creative. A company spokesperson said: "We're always thinking new ways to...enrich the TikTok experience." She added: "We introduced longer videos, giving our community more time to create and be entertained. Today, we're excited to start rolling the ability to upload videos that are to 10 minutes, which we hope would unleash even more creative possibilities our creators around the world."
Social media consultant Matt Navarra said the new time limit means TikTok will be a bigger rival YouTube. However, TikTok could lose users who prefer shorter videos. They could switch other social media platforms, like Instagram's Reels, Snapchat's Spotlight, or YouTube's Shorts. Mr Navarra says shorter videos are more popular younger people, who are used to "whizzing" through videos "at speed". He says longer videos are more suited older people. Navarra believes the longer videos may increase TikTok's profits as they are "easier to monetize and keep people -platform longer". Short, bite-sized videos are one the reasons TikTok's huge popularity. It has more than one billion monthly active users.