From Vertical to Horizontal: TikTok's New Content Format
TikTok, the reigning champion of short, vertical videos, is making waves with a pivot toward horizontal content.
Notifications were sent out to creators in recent weeks explaining that posts exceeding one minute in length and shot in landscape mode will enjoy increased visibility. Posts meeting these criteria will receive a boost within the app for a 72-hour period, serving as a powerful incentive for TikTok creators eager to amplify their presence on the platform.
This shift raises eyebrows given TikTok's historical emphasis on vertical video. The platform's success with this format has influenced virtually every other social app to adopt similar vertical, full-screen displays, leading to a surge in video engagement across various platforms. So TikTok's departure from its signature style seems unexpected.
However, this move towards long-form horizontal content isn't entirely left field. TikTok has been gradually expanding the length of videos, starting from 60 seconds and now extending up to 30 minutes. By adopting longer formats, we think TikTok aims to compete with established video giants like YouTube and streaming services such as Netflix. Although, this shift most likely doesn’t mean a complete abandonment of TikTok's core format. Rather an effort to diversify content offerings.
Now, the question arises: How can creators upload horizontal (landscape) videos to TikTok and ensure the "full screen" experience?
The process is straightforward: Capture footage either within the app or your usual camera, ensuring the video is filmed horizontally. Once your video is within the TikTok editing suite, tap the timeline and rotate the video 270 degrees. Avoid adding text to the black spaces above and below the video, as TikTok will interpret this as a 9x16 video. Text can still be incorporated within the video's field.
You know you’ve uploaded it correctly when you see a “full screen” button appear under your video. Just note that sometimes, you have to close the app completely and reopen it for this to appear.
