YouTube is looking for a new revenue stream, and it's turning to its TikTok-like feature, Shorts. The streaming giant is testing a new commission for creators on the site, where users can purchase products as they scroll through Shorts. This move comes amid decreasing ad spending and an economic downturn. YouTube rivals TikTok and Instagram have something similar in the e-commerce space. The new shopping features are expected to roll out in 2023, with creators getting a 45% cut of the revenue made from ads displayed between videos.
Viewers in Canada, the US, Brazil, Australia, and India will get the chance to interact with the product tags eligible creators add to their posts. YouTube plans to bring this to more markets in the future.