CNN just rolled out a TikTok-style 'Shorts' feed on its mobile app homepage, putting vertical news videos front and center as the struggling network scrambles to capture younger audiences. The move represents another desperate attempt by traditional media to adapt to social-first consumption habits, complete with swipeable clips designed to mimic the addictive scroll mechanics that have made platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels dominant.
CNN is betting big on bite-sized news as the network unveils a dedicated 'Shorts' feed that transforms its mobile app homepage into something resembling TikTok or Instagram Reels. The new vertical video stream sits prominently alongside a 'Top News' tab, representing CNN's most aggressive push yet to capture the attention spans of younger audiences who increasingly get their news from social platforms.
The timing isn't coincidental. CNN is facing what industry insiders are calling an existential crisis, with viewership hitting historic lows amid a rapidly deteriorating linear TV landscape. The network previously buried short-form content in a separate 'Watch' tab, but now it's front and center, complete with exclusive clips produced specifically for the social-style feed.
'In addition to showing all recently published vertical videos, the new Shorts feed will also include clips made exclusively for the stream,' CNN spokesperson Courtney Hardin told The Verge. That exclusive content strategy signals CNN's recognition that simply repurposing traditional broadcast segments won't cut it in the attention economy.
This latest move is part of a broader digital transformation that's seen CNN experiment with everything from paywalls to streaming services. Just last month, CNN launched its second attempt at a direct-to-consumer streaming platform, following the spectacular failure of CNN+ which lasted barely a month in 2022. The network also introduced paywalls for some digital content and even hosted a subscriber-only election night 'watch party' last week.
But the short-form video pivot reveals just how dramatically the media landscape has shifted. Traditional news organizations are essentially copying homework from platforms that have mastered the dopamine-driven engagement mechanics that keep users scrolling. CNN is now competing directly with TikTok creators and Instagram influencers for the same eyeball time, armed with decades of journalistic credibility but handicapped by institutional constraints that make viral content creation challenging.
