The Great Content Debate: Horizontal vs. Vertical – What Does the Future Hold?
The debate between horizontal and vertical content formats is hotter than ever. With social media platforms shaping our viewing habits, we ask: Can we return to the traditional, more human-centric horizontal format? And will future tech, like augmented reality glasses be the catalyst to shift the balance?
The Rise of Vertical Video
Vertical video, once seen as a novice mistake, is now the norm on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. This trend is driven by how we hold our smartphones – vertically. Social media platforms have adapted to this preference, making it easier to create and consume vertical content.
The Case for Horizontal Video
Despite the popularity of vertical video, horizontal video remains the gold standard for its immersive and cinematic experience. It aligns with our natural field of vision and is the format we associate with professional content like movies and TV shows. Horizontal video is ideal for storytelling and capturing detailed visuals.
The Future: Swinging Back to Horizontal?
The potential shift from smartphones to augmented reality (AR) glasses could revolutionize content creation and consumption, potentially swinging the pendulum back towards horizontal video. AR glasses promise a hands-free, immersive experience that aligns more naturally with our horizontal field of vision. This technology could make horizontal content more engaging and practical, as users would no longer be constrained by the vertical orientation of their smartphones.
As AR glasses become more mainstream, they could encourage a return to horizontal formats, offering a seamless and enhanced viewing experience that leverages the full breadth of our natural vision. This shift could democratize high-quality horizontal content, making it more accessible and appealing to both creators and viewers.
The Bottom Line
The debate between horizontal and vertical content formats mirrors the evolution of media consumption. While vertical video is here to stay due to the prevalence of smartphones and social media, horizontal video remains crucial for professional storytelling. Future technologies like AR glasses could pave the way for a resurgence of horizontal video, providing a more natural and immersive viewing experience. Until then, content creators must leverage the strengths of both formats to engage and captivate audiences.
Want more on the Vertical vs Horizontal debate ? Listen to our latest Unglossy podcast episode with special guest Matt Jacob.
