YouTube has introduced new features for image-based posts in Shorts, allowing creators to reach viewers through photos instead of only video content.
Under the update, users can now upload carousel posts containing up to 10 images in Shorts, which viewers can swipe through to view. Creators can also add text to each image and include background music of up to 15 seconds.
For music, users can choose from YouTube licensed music catalog, the YouTube Audio Library, and Dream Track where it is available.
YouTube said the new features are meant to give creators a more effective way to share visual stories on the Shorts feed, while also giving musicians a better chance of having their music discovered by wider audiences.
The update brings YouTube Shorts closer to Instagram and TikTok, where image based carousel and photo posts are already popular. Instagram has long offered carousel posts with music, while TikTok has also introduced photo posts as an alternative format to short videos.
According to the company, the new feature will be particularly useful for creators and artists who share content across multiple social media platforms at the same time, as it gives them another familiar format for their promotional material.
