There are indications that Instagram may soon enable users to share longer Reels, with a potential duration of up to 10 minutes. This insight comes from Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer, who recently unveiled screenshots of an internal prototype on X.
Currently, Instagram’s Reels have a maximum length of three minutes. However, Paluzzi’s findings suggest that a new option allowing users to create 10-minute Reels is in the works.
Despite no official confirmation from Meta or Instagram regarding the extension of Reels’ duration, Meta did acknowledge the authenticity of Paluzzi’s images. They clarified that these images depict an “internal prototype” currently not being externally tested. This revelation sheds light on Instagram’s internal experimentation with the extended Reels feature, implying that it might be introduced in the future.
This change aims to align Instagram’s short-form video feature more closely with TikTok, which extended its maximum video length to 10 minutes in the previous year. This modification serves a dual purpose: not only does it place Reels in direct competition with TikTok, but it also positions it as a contender against YouTube.
While Instagram and TikTok compete for a share of the long-form video market, YouTube is taking a different approach. YouTube has been focusing on strengthening its presence in the short-form video arena, introducing a range of creator tools and a music-discovery feed similar to TikTok’s.
The traditional distinctions between these social media platforms are evolving. Instagram, once known primarily as a platform for sharing photos, TikTok, famous for short videos, and YouTube, recognised for longer videos, are all transitioning into more focused video-sharing platforms.
