NEXT TOK MODEL

YouTube has secretly built its own TikTok rival called Shorts – and it’s nearly ready to launch

YOUTUBE is reportedly launching a short video user-generated content app that could rival TikTok.

The new app is thought to be appropriately named "Shorts".

, Shorts will allow users to upload brief videos to a feed style platform.

The publication also claims users will be able to use YouTube's catalogue of music for their videos.

This already sounds a lot like TikTok.

The established video app features a lot of people dancing and lip-syncing to popular songs.

Reports indicate TikTok has seen a growth of 125% over the last two years.

The Information noted that TikTok had 842 million first-time downloads over the past year.

Other tech giants seem to want a piece of this action.

Facebook has also created a short-video sharing app called Lasso.

It's thought that Shorts will appear inside the existing YouTube app.

Experts predict it will launch by the end of this year.

We have reached out to YouTube for comment.

Here's the official description from the NSPCC's Net Aware...

TikTok is a social media app where users can record and upload short video clips. In August 2018, TikTok merged with Musical.ly, meaning all users with Musical.ly accounts were moved to TikTok. We’ve pulled together some information about the app and how to keep your children safe while using it.
The majority of clips in TikTok include young people lip syncing and dancing to songs or comedy sketches (skits). Users can watch clips posted by other members, and can set their videos to be viewed publicly to other users or privately to friends (also known as followers).
Like Snapchat, TikTok has filters where users can record their videos. It also includes other additional video editing features such as slow motion or speeding up videos. What makes this app popular with young people is the collaborative element where TikTok users can reply to one another and do joint videos on a split screen or participate in user created challenges.
TikTok users can send messages to each other within the app; privacy settings for this can be changed to allow a user to communicate with all other TikTok users or just to friends. TikTok has a similar social media element like Instagram and Twitter, where users can follow each other and like content.
If your child is using TikTok, we recommend speaking to them about how they can use this app safely.

Maura Higgins gives fans a sneak peek into her home as shares her quarantine routine on Tik Tok

TOP STORIES IN TECH