Webtoon Platforms Embrace Short-Form Video content to Attract Modern Audiences
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Archnetys.com – Published: May 21, 2025
Leading webtoon platforms like Naver Webtoon and kakao Entertainment are strategically integrating short-form video content to capture the attention of today’s digital consumers. This shift reflects a broader trend in online content consumption, where shorter, more visually engaging formats are increasingly favored.
The rise of Short-Form Webtoon Content
Inspired by the explosive popularity of platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, webtoon giants are now leveraging short-form video to enhance user engagement and content discovery. This strategic move aims to cater to the evolving preferences of audiences who increasingly favor quick, immersive experiences.
The trend aligns with current digital consumption habits. According to a recent study by Statista, short-form video content accounts for over 60% of online video viewing time among users aged 18-34. This demographic is crucial for webtoon platforms, making the adoption of short-form content a vital strategy for growth and retention.
Naver Webtoon is set to launch ‘CUTS’ in the latter half of this year, a user-generated content (UGC) platform designed to empower both professional creators and amateur enthusiasts.This initiative allows anyone to produce and share short animations, fostering a diverse range of content without genre or IP restrictions.
along with ‘CUTS’, Naver Webtoon has already implemented the ‘New & Hot’ tab, offering users globally a glimpse of real-time popular content through short, trailer-like previews. This feature enhances content discovery by categorizing content by genre and utilizing a vertical swipe user interface, making exploration more intuitive and engaging.
We provide short foam previews to reflect the recent content consumption trends, and it is indeed a strategy to increase the efforts of North American market users.Naver Webtoon Official Statement
The ‘New & Hot’ tab showcases core scenes from main webtoons with animated effects, delivering a more visually impactful experience than conventional thumbnails. This approach is particularly aimed at attracting and retaining users in competitive markets like North America.
Kakao Entertainment’s AI-Powered ‘Helix Shorts’
kakao Entertainment has also entered the short-form webtoon arena with ‘Helix Shorts’, an AI-driven service on Kakao Page that automates the creation of short webtoon videos. This technology streamlines the entire process, from video production to content recommendation and exposure.
Since February of this year, all Kakao Page users have access to AI-generated 40-second webtoon introductions on the app’s home screen. These videos provide an intuitive overview of the plot and key highlights, enabling users to quickly assess whether a webtoon aligns with their interests.
Based on the early plot and major scenes of the work, we are creating a combination of music and subtitles so that readers can easily understand the atmosphere and contents of the webtoon.Kakao Entertainment Official Statement
Industry Viewpoint and the Future of Webtoon Content
Industry experts suggest that the increasing demand for short-form content reflects a broader shift in user preferences.As audiences become more accustomed to quick, easily digestible content, there is a growing need for more intuitive and immersive formats than traditional webtoons.
The integration of short-form video into webtoon platforms represents a strategic adaptation to these changing consumption patterns. By embracing this trend, platforms like Naver webtoon and Kakao Entertainment are positioning themselves to attract and retain a new generation of digital consumers, ensuring the continued growth and relevance of the webtoon industry.
