Clock app or red play button app? Thirty seconds or ten minutes? TikTok or YouTube? One rewards quick and snappy content, the other rewards long and thoughtful videos. Both showcase well-planned scripts and endearing candid moments.

YouTube’s format allows for a fuller expression of ideas, while TikTok’s format allows for a faster flight to pop culture.

YouTube’s 2.5 billion global monthly users still dominate TikTok’s 1.5 billion, according to Statista. The new, fashionable platform is exceedingly popular but has yet to beat its predecessor. 

The debate over which is better can really be put simply: Is there more worth in long-form videos or in the short-form?

TikTok is a platform that needs little introduction. Its easy-to-use image makes this app ideal for anyone who wants to get their start on social media. With its simple 15-second format, any burst of creativity someone has can be shared for the entire world to see. 

Of course, it’s not limited to quick dance routines and simple food recipes. You might be surprised to find how thoroughly constructed some of the content is. For example, some popular accounts dedicate themselves to a series of short sketches, with the results becoming a short series. 

Bistro Huddy is a sketch series widely recognized for its elaborate storylines and television-worthy production, all provided by one Drew Talbert.  Many fans find themselves invested in the charismatic characters and realistic portrayal of food service, making it a perfect balance of entertaining and relatable. 

@drew_talbert

This type of content can find its fanbase fairly easily on a platform like TikTok, as its algorithm keeps feeding the viewer with new videos with every swipe of a finger.

But of course, this format also leads to forms of content made purely to gain interaction. The internet is no stranger to clickbait and interaction-based posts, but the instantaneous nature of TikTok allows for these to be spread more easily, and possibly even with longer-lasting effects. 

Enter “brain rot,”  Oxford’s 2024 word of the year, and the very real trend we are witnessing. The definition explains a growing concern over the deterioration of someone’s mental state due to the consumption of low-quality content. 

While these short videos of Minecraft parkour simulations or an AI-generated cat dancing may be a fun way to fill up the time, it’s easy to fall into the habit of consuming these low-effort clips. The chase for immediate entertainment can drag on for hours at a time, all while the more constructive videos slip away from someone’s “for you” page. 

This need for immediate interaction is present in both parties, even in something so simple as the “part 2” format many creators are adopting. When a content creator divides their video into two separate parts on their page, they create more engagement–double the likes, double the comments, double the views. The viewer wants a quick conclusion, something to fulfill that dopamine chase. And with that, they fall for the trap. It’s both a win-win and a lose-lose. 

Despite the negative outcomes of TikTok’s simplicity and easy-to-use concept, it can’t be disregarded for what it’s done for our culture. 

Many phrases and events that we’re adopting to become part of our world have originated on the platform. 

The trend of dressing up to see a theatrical movie release is a great example. Tracing back to the release of Minions: Rise of Gru, tiktokers originally got dressed up for the film as a comedic performance for the internet. However, the idea soon became a trend, with people wearing pink to see Barbie, green to see Wicked, and even dressing as certain emotions for Inside Out 2.

This trend might even help the dying market of movie theaters, increasing ticket sales and attendance for new films. 

Thanks to TikTok, words such as “bet” or “demure” have found their way into day-to-day conversation. Some words may be so naturally used in conversation now that it’s difficult to believe that these originate from the online culture and not from our own.   

TikTok’s simple algorithm may allow for well-produced content to be swept under the rug in place of simpler creations, but that doesn’t take away from the real influence it has on our world.

The classic video-sharing site, YouTube has upheld its reputation for decades, since its conception in 2005. 

As with TikTok, you can find anything on YouTube: tutorials, entertainment, analysis, and even news. The main thing that differentiates the two sites is the average length of the video. YouTube videos can run from 7 to 15 minutes, significantly longer than TikTok’s 15-second runtime. 

This difference mainly allows for more details to be put into someone’s video. A longer form of content doesn’t insist on an instant demand for dopamine like TikTok, and instead gives a longer time frame to perfect the desired value of the result. 

YouTube’s users typically open the site to find something that pertains to their interests: a music video from their favorite artist, a review of a new video game or educational videos concerning a niche subject. With the viewers looking for a greater depth to help their understanding of a topic, creators give themselves the motivation to present it as neatly as possible. Through the use of editing, research provided, and even making the topic more accessible online, these creators can be seen as positive role models for those browsing the apps. 

Someone’s dedication to a topic can be the main draw to a YouTube channel’s popularity. The impressive amount of work for such a small audience is what gives many YouTubers their dedicated fanbase.

This is what makes YouTube such a hotspot for aspiring artists.  

One great example is the channel Defunctland, a documentary-style channel that provides an in-depth history on various theme parks and rides. Even if you’re not enthusiastic about the history of the Ferris wheel or the worst roller coaster in Six Flags history, the channel has something to offer. Kevin Perjurer’s editing style and well-researched topics signify a true passion for the subject at hand. 

It’s not just a quick summary made to get quick views, it’s an in-depth journey into a world many people may not even dare to enter. This true commitment to such a subject is what garnered Perjurer 2.05 million subscribers as of 2024. 

This symbolic show of devotion can drive many rising artists to consider YouTube as the next step in their artistry. They can create videos at their own pace and hope their diligence gets recognized by even a small portion of the 2 billion users. 

However, the work may not be as recognized as people hope, as YouTube’s algorithm allows for more individual choices than TikTok’s. Videos do not flow continuously on the page as soon as you open the site, and instead you have to search for the specific type of video you want. Popular creators, therefore, continue to get more attention.

Another thing to consider when comparing YouTube to TikTok is the attention span of the desired audience. TikTok’s addictive format has influenced the quick “satisfaction guaranteed” mentality, and numerous sources claim that Gen Z has an average attention span of 8 seconds. Although evidence seems to be mixed, it is true that TikTok’s influences are more present.

We don’t often see a YouTube trend spread from the screen and into daily interaction or grow into a cultural norm. Instead, it almost functions as an archival site. YouTube still has full-length videos from as far back as video history can go and makes access free for everyone. 

Things like silent movies or even cartoon episodes you remember from childhood can be found without having to pay for a subscription or a physical copy. Videos from years past are at your fingertips and can be shown to anyone with a computer. 

Even before the popularity of TikTok, compilations from the short-form content platform would be made and posted to YouTube, and garnered millions of views for just showing the content found on the app. These videos are still up for those to look back on those nostalgic early days of one of the biggest social media platforms in history. 

So, who does it better? Well it depends on what you want. If you find yourself preferring the quality of the work provided, YouTube might be your best bet. Its content does not feel as rushed and made for likes as some of the content on TikTok. On the other hand, TikTok provides a better shaping of the culture you may find yourself engaging in every day.

Next time you find yourself wanting to explore what the internet has in store for you, think deeper about what you’re looking for. Think about what you want in the moment, and enjoy the best of what you can find.

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featured image graphic by EMILY STEPHENS