YouTube Shorts keeps evolving fast, and late August 2026 brought a mix of new creative tools and tighter spam controls that every business posting Shorts should know about. With Shorts pulling in roughly 50 billion daily views, small shifts in how the format works can have an outsized effect on reach and engagement.
What Changed in Late August
On August 23, 2026, YouTube added clickable links near the Subscribe button on channel pages, giving creators a new, prominent spot to direct viewers toward Shorts content specifically. Just over a week later, on August 31, YouTube pulled the ability to edit comments and insert clickable links inside Shorts descriptions and comment sections. That second change is squarely aimed at spam reduction, but it also means businesses need to rethink where they place calls to action. Channel descriptions still support up to 14 links, so the fix is to lean on the channel-level link real estate rather than individual Shorts comments.
New Tools Worth Testing
Alongside the spam cleanup, YouTube has been rolling out features aimed at making Shorts more interactive and collaborative:
- Collaboration tools that let creators film alongside other YouTube and Shorts videos, useful for co-marketing with complementary local businesses or creators.
- Q&A stickers that let viewers ask questions directly on a Short, a simple way to turn passive views into direct engagement and gather content ideas from your actual audience.
- Mobile-first live streaming in vertical format, supporting Super Chat and channel memberships for creators building a paid community around their content.
- AI-assisted Remix tools that suggest edits and help mix audio and visual snippets, lowering the production bar for businesses without a dedicated video editor.
Why This Matters for Business Accounts
Shorts monetization currently runs up to $3 per 1,000 views, noticeably lower than long-form YouTube content, which can earn anywhere from $1.61 to $29.30 per 1,000 views. That gap is worth remembering when deciding how much production effort to put into Shorts versus long-form video. Shorts remain a discovery and reach engine first, not necessarily a direct revenue line, so the smartest use of the format is still driving viewers toward your channel, website, or offer, just now through the channel-level Subscribe button link rather than comments.
Practical Steps for This Week
- Update your channel description with your top links, since it now supports up to 14 and is the most durable place to send traffic.
- Add a Q&A sticker to your next Short to start collecting real questions from your audience instead of guessing what to cover next.
- Try the Collaboration feature with a complementary local business or micro-creator to tap into a new, relevant audience.
- Stop relying on comment links for calls to action going forward, they no longer work as of August 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still add links in YouTube Shorts comments?
No. As of August 31, 2026, YouTube removed the ability to add clickable links and edit comments on Shorts, as part of a broader spam reduction effort.
Where can businesses add links for Shorts now?
The channel page now has a clickable link near the Subscribe button (added August 23, 2026), and channel descriptions support up to 14 links, making these the primary places to direct Shorts viewers.
How much do YouTube Shorts pay compared to long-form video?
Shorts monetize at up to $3 per 1,000 views, while long-form YouTube videos can earn between $1.61 and $29.30 per 1,000 views, making Shorts more of a reach and discovery tool than a primary revenue source.
What new engagement features does YouTube Shorts have in 2026?
2026 additions include Collaboration tools for filming alongside other videos, Q&A stickers for audience interaction, mobile-first vertical live streaming with Super Chat, and AI-assisted Remix editing tools.