Vertical Video

Definition

Video content formatted in portrait orientation (9:16 aspect ratio) optimized for mobile viewing and social platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. It's how today's audiences consume content, making widescreen videos feel ancient.

Example Usage

We shifted our video strategy to 100% vertical video and saw engagement rates triple on TikTok and Reels.

Origin

Mobile-first video consumption, 2016 onward

Fun Fact

Vertical video performs 9x better than horizontal video on mobile platforms because it fills the screen instead of the awkward black bars

Source: Social Media Marketing Institute

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