YOUTUBE SHORTS GETS TIKTOK MAKEOVER WITH NEW FEATURES

YouTube announced the updates Thursday in a blog post rolling out the changes to the short-form video platform. The clear screen mode removes all on-screen icons and text while watching, offering a distraction-free viewing experience. Users toggle the feature by tapping the screen. The thumbs-up button is being replaced with a heart icon, aligning with TikTok's engagement model and simplifying the feedback mechanism. Playback speed controls now include a 2x speed option. Users hold the edge of the screen and lift their finger to return to normal speed, letting viewers consume content faster. These changes reflect YouTube's ongoing strategy to keep Shorts competitive with TikTok's dominant short-form video market. The updates arrive as both platforms compete for creator attention and user engagement time.