YouTube Update - Shorts are Now 3 Minutes Long

YouTube now classifies any vertical or square video up to three minutes as a Short, while horizontal videos remain under long-form rules. The new format introduces potential issues with traffic distribution and visibility, as longer Shorts may not appear where expected. Videos exceeding 60 seconds that use copyrighted audio or visuals are subject to full blocking, posing fresh compliance challenges. Despite the increased length, monetization does not benefit from additional watch time, which could deter creators from leveraging the extended format.