Giphy Adds Short Video Support To Expand Micro-Entertainment

Popular GIF platform Giphy has expanded beyond its staple product with the introduction of short videos. The service is best known for offering a huge library of GIFs; it's integrated with a number of mobile apps, including Facebook Messenger. The new support brings short videos to the platform, as well, enabling users to share clips up to 30 seconds in length.

The service fills a void that some may disagree exists. YouTube is the most popular platform for uploading videos, but a short clip seems less than substantial enough for Google's offering. Short video clips are very similar to GIFs, both typically offering very brief emotes or similar content.

Short videos can offer something GIFs can't, though: audio. The feature greatly improves the experience for certain expressions, eliminating the need to add subtitles. The quality is often better, as well. Giphy is referring to these videos as "micro-entertainment," citing them as part of the future it anticipates.

The new platform is a soft-launch, the company told The Verge. The company unveiled the Grand Prize Winner of its first Giphy Film Fest, too, called "WASHED UP." Other short videos are live on the platform now and can be found by sorting based on categories that include Animated, Narrative, and more.

Users have the ability to share a short video by copying the link and pasting it elsewhere. All of the new short video content is aggregated under the company's Giphy TV page. Videos will be available in both standard and high definition, as well as on desktop and mobile.