The new feature will collect short videos from Instagram and Tiktok on the Google mobile app. Testing is in its infancy and is limited to a few users.
Google is testing a new short video feature that will collect short videos from Instagram and Tiktok on the Google mobile app. According to a TechCrunch report, the move will help tech giants who go to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok in search of short videos.
A Google spokesperson confirmed on the website that the short video feature is being operated on a mobile device, which means testing is in the early stages and limited to only a few users.
In other words, you don't yet find a video carousel on every search query. But over time, as Google increases productivity, it can become an interesting tool for indexing and surfacing top video content from social media, while a definite platform will prevent Google from doing so. Earlier this year Google introduced the "Short Video" carousel inside its search tab and the new 'Short Video' test expands the previous feature.
Previously the feature was limited to Trail-Tangi and YouTube
Google's short video feature was first focused on Trail and collecting videos from Google's own Tangi and YouTube. However, the new testing also includes Tiktok and Instagram videos. This was first seen by the search engine roundtable (via Brian Frislebev's tweet). The website posted a screenshot of the carousel containing two videos from Tiktok and one from Instagram.
YouTube also came with shorts
Google's Tangi, which was launched earlier this year, is a short video platform that hosts short videos, mainly to help people learn creative skills such as cooking, banking, painting, etc. In the midst of all this, YouTube is also experimenting with the idea of short videos. The initial beta of YouTube Shorts was released in India in September 2020. It allows users to upload videos of 15 seconds or less.
The user will reach the web version of the platform as soon as he clicks
Interestingly, by clicking on one of the short videos, the user accesses the web version of the social media platform, not the app. Even if the app is installed on the user's device. Specifically, Google wants the user to return to its search results page after watching the video.
GOOGLE'S UPCOMING FEATURE: YOU CAN NOW WATCH TIKTOK-INSTAGRAM VIDEOS ON THE GOOGLE MOBILE APP, THE FEATURE IS CURRENTLY IN TESTING PHASE.
