General Tips & Music Industry

TikTok changes how you watch videos

TikTok's reported test suggests a new way to watch videos

TikTok is reportedly rolling out an update that lets users post full screen landscape videos.

There’s been no official word from TikTok yet, but some users can now view TikToks that automatically adjust to 16:9 when users turn their phone sideways.

The update was spotted on a TikTok posted by user takaki_mafia.

Up until now, 9:16 vertical was the only supported format for TikTok videos. Videos in a different ratio would show up cropped with black negative space.

HOW POSTING IN LANDSCAPE COULD CHANGE TIKTOK CONSUMPTION HABITS:

TikTok is a platform made for mobile. 9:16 full-screen video is the norm, so 16:9 videos is an update that might be slow to catch on at first.

The hope seems to be that, similarly to YouTube mobile users, TikTokers will get used to watching videos in different aspect ratios depending on the content. On YouTube that’s 9:16 for Shorts and 16:9 for standard video uploads.

16:9 videos are better suited to content originally filmed in landscape, like repurposing sports content or TV ads for social.

At this stage the update looks like a test with select users, so if you have access, be aware that your 16:9 TikToks won’t look that way for everyone.

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