The TikTok ban has been signed and sealed, with plans to be delivered in early 2025. If the powers that be can’t find a way to keep the incredibly popular video-sharing app available in the US, its nearly 150 million American users will need an alternative. Unfortunately, the pickings are pretty slim across the social media landscape, with most users agreeing that the Meta-owned Reels platform available on Instagram and Facebook simply does not match up. So, what about YouTube Shorts? The TikTok clone has been a part of the YouTube experience for a few years now, and the Google-owned video platform has almost 250 million users in the US. Still, YouTube users have noted that Shorts is more of a frustration than an actual option, which is why we think a standalone Shorts app could be the solution to give video viewers, short and long form, a viable alternative in the long run.

The case for Shorts as its own app

There’s no denying it at this point, Shorts is a 100% TikTok ripoff. The platform has been lifting features left and right, adding everything from music video remixes to Q&A stickers over the last few years. As is often the case with social media, these platforms are different enough to nitpick about the interface and minor features, perfectly positioning Shorts as an alternative. With a standalone app, content creators could showcase this similarity, rather than hoping YouTube users would just stumble over to the Shorts tab when they’re tired of ads.