
Google Shorts on YouTube allows creators to produce short-form videos up to 60 seconds long.
This feature is a key part of YouTube's efforts to compete with other short-form video platforms like TikTok.
With Google Shorts, creators can capture and share moments from their lives, showcasing their talents, skills, or interests.
By default, Google Shorts videos are set to public visibility, but creators can adjust their settings to make their videos private or restricted to specific audiences.
Google Shorts also offers a range of editing tools and features, including the ability to add music, text, and other effects to their videos.
Additional reading: How to Go Viral on Youtube Shorts
New Features on YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts is getting a boost with the addition of Google Lens, allowing you to search for more information on what you see in a video clip.
The feature is rolling out in beta testing, and you can access it by pausing the Short and selecting Lens from the top menu.
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Google Lens will overlay search results over the clip, giving you more context and information on what's happening in the video.
You can also use the menu to translate captions, which is a great feature for watching videos in different languages.
The new Google Lens feature is starting to roll out this week, so keep an eye out for it.
If you don't have access right away, don't worry - it should be available within a day or two.
YouTube is also making changes to how views are counted on Shorts, starting March 31, 2025.
Views will now count the number of times a Short starts to play or replay, with no minimum watch time requirement.
This update will give creators a more complete view of how their short videos are doing.
The existing Shorts view metric, now called "Engaged views", will still be available in YouTube Analytics for comparison.
A fresh viewpoint: How Long Can Youtube Shorts Be 2024
Customization Options
You can now customize your YouTube experience based on your preferences.
To show fewer Shorts in your Home feed, click on the three dot menu in the upper right of any Shorts grid and select "Show fewer Shorts". This setting will temporarily show you fewer Shorts in your Home feed.
This means you can choose how many Shorts you want to see and when you want to see them, giving you more control over your YouTube experience.
Weird Beauty Filter on Shorts
YouTube has been experimenting with upscaling Shorts videos, but creators are not being notified or given an option to disable the feature. This has led to some very weird and unrecognizable videos.
The upscaling effect is so strong that it's making videos look like they have a beauty filter applied. Some creators have reported that their videos look "smeary" and like they've been painted with oil.
YouTube's team has confirmed that they're using "traditional machine learning" to denoise and unblur videos. However, this doesn't seem to be the case, as the upscaling effect is more like what you'd see with generative AI.

One YouTuber, Rhett Shull, reported that a recent Short they uploaded looked "weird" and resembled a deepfake. Another creator, TheMrBravoShow, also posted about the issue on Reddit, showing examples of their Shorts being upscaled with "a ton of post processing and weird effects."
YouTube's response to the issue has been that they're trying to improve video quality, but they haven't given creators the option to disable these alterations. This is a major concern, especially since YouTube itself is planning to limit monetization options for channels that use AI to improve or enrich their videos.
Customize Your Feed
You can now customize your YouTube experience based on your preferences.
To show fewer Shorts in your Home feed, click on the three dot menu in the upper right of any Shorts grid. This setting will temporarily show you fewer Shorts.
If you want to express yourself, discover something new, and connect with other Shorts fans, this feature is a great way to start.
YouTube's AI Capabilities
YouTube's AI capabilities are impressive, and they're constantly evolving. They use machine learning algorithms to analyze user behavior and preferences, which helps them recommend videos and even create personalized video content.
One of the most notable AI-powered features on YouTube is its video recommendation algorithm, which suggests videos based on a user's viewing history and preferences. This algorithm is so effective that it's responsible for a significant portion of YouTube's views.
YouTube's AI can also detect and remove hate speech and harassment from videos. This is done through a combination of machine learning algorithms and human moderators. This feature helps to create a safer and more welcoming community on the platform.
The AI-powered video editing tool, YouTube Studio, allows creators to edit and customize their videos with ease. This tool uses AI to analyze the video and suggest edits, such as trimming or splitting clips.
A different take: Google Play Algorithm
In-Video Search
You can access the new Google Lens feature by pausing the Short.

It's available from the top menu, where you can highlight a portion of the video to search.
Google Lens will overlay search results over the clip, giving you more information on what you see in the brief content.
The feature is only coming to iOS and Android mobile devices, so if you're using a different device, you won't be able to use it.
You won't see any ads in the search results, at least during the beta testing.
This means you can focus on finding what you're looking for without any distractions.
The Lens experience isn't available for Shorts with YouTube Shopping affiliate links or with paid product promotions.
This is likely a temporary restriction, and we'll probably see some sort of commerce integration or Google Shopping feature when the feature comes out of beta.
Consider reading: Search inside Website Google
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access Google Shorts?
You can access Google Shorts on your YouTube homepage, in search results, and on channel pages. Simply navigate to these areas to find and view Shorts.
Featured Images: pexels.com


