{"id":73740,"date":"2024-11-25T12:02:29","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T01:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elements.blog-cms.envato.net\/?p=47871"},"modified":"2025-11-11T18:52:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T07:52:35","slug":"vertical-video-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/vertical-video-trend","title":{"rendered":"Going up? The (continued) rise of vertical video"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vertical videos<\/a> are everywhere\u2014and they\u2019re taking over. Whether you\u2019re scrolling through TikTok<\/a>, catching up on Instagram Stories, or even watching YouTube Shorts<\/a>, you can\u2019t escape them. What was once seen as an accidental or amateurish way to shoot video has become the go-to mobile content format. But why the sudden shift, and what does the rise in vertical video mean for creatives like you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Filming<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive into the vertical video trend, exploring how it evolved from a quirky novelty into a powerful content creation and marketing tool. Understanding the impact of vertical video is essential in today\u2019s mobile-first world. So, let\u2019s find out why vertical video is here to stay and how you can master this format to capture your audience\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The history of video formats: A brief overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To truly appreciate the rise of vertical video, it helps to first understand the history of video formats and how we got here. Let\u2019s break it down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:3 Aspect ratio<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Old<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A near-square format was used in the early days of television and film. This format was perfect for the screens of the time, which were more boxy in shape, and it was dominant throughout much of the 20th century, particularly for TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16:9 Aspect ratio<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"New<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As technology advanced and the demand for more cinematic experiences grew, the industry shifted towards the wider 16:9 aspect ratio, which is now the norm for most TVs, computer screens, and online videos. This format provided a more immersive experience, better suited to the human field of vision, making it the go-to choice for filmmakers and content creators alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mobile revolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Filming<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But then, the world went mobile. With the advent of smartphones and the dominance of social media<\/a>, our viewing habits started to change. Suddenly, people were consuming more content on their phones than on traditional screens, and those phones were almost always held vertically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, vertical video was frowned upon\u2014seen as amateurish or even lazy. After all, it wasn\u2019t the \u201cright\u201d way to shoot video according to traditional standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shift to vertical video<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Shooting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, as mobile platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok gained popularity, the vertical format began to make more sense. It fits naturally with how users held their devices, and before long, the vertical video wasn\u2019t just accepted; it became the new standard for mobile content. This shift marked a significant moment in the history of video, as content creation began to adapt to the realities of modern technology and user behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The emergence of vertical video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it might seem like a recent phenomenon, vertical video started making its mark as early as the mid-2010s, thanks to the explosive growth of mobile-first platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Snapchat and Vine influence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the early 2010s, we saw platforms emerging to embrace vertical video, recognizing its potential for mobile content. Snapchat and Vine were at the forefront of this shift, helping to legitimize and popularize the format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Snapchat<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Snapchat (2011)<\/strong>: Launched in 2011, Snapchat was one of the first platforms to fully embrace vertical video. Its Stories feature (introduced in 2013) allowed users to share brief, disappearing videos designed for quick, in-the-moment content, perfect for the vertical orientation in which people naturally hold their phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vine<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vine (2013-2017)<\/strong>: Though short-lived, Vine\u2019s 6-second video loops also contributed to the growing acceptance of vertical video. Launched in 2013, Vine allowed users to capture and share bite-sized content effortlessly, often in a vertical format, before the platform was discontinued in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you miss it, don’t blink: Vine’s comeback<\/a> might be a thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mainstream adoption and evolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As vertical video gained traction, major social media platforms began to adopt and refine the format, transforming it into a critical element of digital content strategy. This phase marked the mainstream acceptance of vertical video as a legitimate and practical format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instagram Stories (2016)<\/strong>: Following Snapchat\u2019s success, Instagram launched its own Stories feature<\/a> in 2016, solidifying the vertical video format as a mainstream standard. With over a billion active users, Instagram\u2019s influence was pivotal in normalizing vertical video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"TikTok\u2019s<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

TikTok\u2019s impact (2018-present)<\/strong>: TikTok, which launched internationally in 2018 (after merging with Musical.ly), took vertical video to new heights. Its algorithm-driven feed and full-screen vertical format made it easy for users to create and consume content without ever rotating their phones. TikTok\u2019s success<\/a> demonstrated that vertical video wasn\u2019t just a trend but a format that could engage users on a massive scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"YouTube<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

YouTube Shorts (2020-present)<\/strong>: Even platforms that traditionally favored landscape formats, like YouTube, have adapted to the vertical video trend. YouTube Shorts, launched globally in 2021 after initial testing in 2020, shows how pervasive and influential the format has become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why it caught on<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vertical video\u2019s success wasn\u2019t accidental. There are clear reasons why it resonated so strongly with mobile users and content creators alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Filming<\/figure>\n\n\n\n