Observed Signal · Jan 5, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Carousels Arrive in YouTube Shorts Feed
YouTube is trialing image posts within the Shorts feed, including carousel posts that can host up to 10 images per post. The rollout, inspired by TikTok, aims to boost reach for creators who already have access to posts as a supplementary format to videos. YouTube’s help page confirms image posts can appear in Shorts, with the potential to add audio to image posts in the future. The test, ongoing since mid-December, has seen early detections by observers such as Radu Oncescu in Romania, suggesting Europe is part of the rollout, though testers in some regions have not yet seen carousels. YouTube notes that all creator posts may land in the Shorts feed as part of the experiment, and that an audio option could arrive to accompany image posts, a feature Instagram has offered since 2023. The move underscores YouTube’s push to broaden discovery and engagement across Shorts touchpoints.
Platform feature test on a major video platform with potential impact on creator reach.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- YouTube is testing image posts in Shorts feed, with up to 10 images per post.
- Carousel posts can appear in Shorts feed; an audio option for image posts is planned.
- The feature is TikTok-inspired; tests have been ongoing since mid-December.
- Observer Radu Oncescu spotted the feature in Romania, suggesting European rollout.
- All creator posts may land in Shorts feed during the experiment; audio for image posts may follow.
Connected Companies & Entities
4 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
YouTube Adds Licensed Music for Shorts Feed Image Posts
YouTube now allows creators to add licensed music to single-image posts and carousels served in the Shorts feed, enabling up to ten images to be paired with 15-second music clips to boost reach. The change aims to make visual posts more competitive in the video-dominated Shorts environment, while warning that creators and brands must ensure lawful music licensing for commercial content. Separately, Google's NotebookLM received an update that can generate vertical video overviews of up to 60 seconds using the Nano Banana 2 Lite model, produced from sources such as links, textbooks or research documents. Access to these 60-second vertical video overviews is currently limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers on mobile and web. The article was authored by Niklas Lewanczik for OnlineMarketing.de and republished on t3n.
Instagram Adds Per‑Slide Captions for Carousels
Instagram has begun rolling out a feature that allows creators and brands to add separate captions for each slide within a carousel post, rather than a single caption for the whole post. The capability follows tests and early sightings from app researcher Jonah Manzano and creators such as Sarah Roizman and Ahmed Ghanem; Instagram’s creator account reported strong demand and the feature is being widely rolled out, currently available on mobile. Publishers note the format could improve swipe rates, time on post and make tutorials, before/after formats and product posts more informative. The article (OnlineMarketing.de, author Larissa Ceccio) was published on 2026-06-19 and notes the story first appeared on 2026-05-12.
Instagram tests reordering carousels after posting
Instagram is piloting a feature that would let creators reorder slides in carousel posts even after they have been published. The test follows earlier experiments in late 2024 that allowed adding visuals to published carousels, though not a full reorder capability. App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi identified the new function and demonstrated how it would work in a video on Threads. At present, the feature is not publicly accessible to users as Instagram has not announced an official rollout. Proponents argue that the ability to rearrange carousels could improve engagement and time spent in the feed and enhance content reuse for brands and creators. The format remains a high-engagement option on Instagram, with carousels traditionally performing well in engagement terms but competing with Reels for reach. If the feature becomes available, it could influence content optimization strategies and post-grid presentation, while exact rollout timing remains unclear.
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