TikTok has confirmed to TechCrunch that it is testing a new horizontal full screen mode with select users around the world. Users with test access will notice a new “full screen” button appear on square or rectangle videos in their feed. When you press the button, the video will switch to a horizontal full-screen mode, utilising all of the available space on your phone.
The test feature is yet another way TikTok is infiltrating YouTube’s territory. TikTok enabled users to upload videos up to 10 minutes in length earlier this year. The move was interpreted as TikTok’s attempt to attract the same type of longer-form video creators who typically post content on YouTube. With the expansion, creators now have more freedom to film things like cooking demos, beauty tutorials, educational content, comedy sketches, and more without worrying about video length.