Instagram lovers are about to see a big shift on non-Reels video posts in the coming weeks. The company has announced that every video you upload, whether you like it or not, will be shared as reels.
Meta notes, “Since reels offer a more immersive and entertaining way to watch and create videos on Instagram, we’re bringing the full-screen experience to your video posts, too.”
It further explains that new video posts shorter than 15 minutes will now be shared as reels. The company, however, noted that videos already uploaded to the platform will remain as videos and won’t become reels.
Meta wants all uploaded videos in the app will now be fed into the Reels stream, even though a 15-minute video doesn’t seem to be in short format.
The company claims it is “always working on ways to improve user’s experience on Instagram. However, its recent updates proves the company is just chasing TikTok in order to take back the No. 1 position. Can’t it?
Well, as more people watch Reels, there will be more content available, which will only increase engagement. More content should also result in more views for your clips because they will be surfaced in that stream.
However, a strategy like this will make the platform less unique and users will see Instagram as a cloned-TikTok app.
Anyways, it all depends on what Mark Zuckerberg and his team are trying to achieve.
Another addition Meta made to its Instagram platform is the introduction of Templates with preloaded audio and clip placeholders for creating Reels and a new Dual camera feature to record content and your reaction at the same time. The company also announced more ways to collaborate with enhanced Remix features.
To easily create Reels with templates, Meta says you can create reels by preloading audio and clip placeholders, so you can simply add your own photos or video clips. To find template ideas you can simply tap the camera icon on the Reels tab.
With the Dual feature, you can record content and your reaction at the same time. You can record using your phone’s front and back cameras simultaneously. You do this with the Instagram camera.
With Remix you can enhance the way you tell stories. Instagram is giving users the ability to remix photos.
You can choose from the new Remix layouts: a green screen, horizontal or vertical split-screen, or picture-in-picture reaction view to add your own video commentary to existing reels.
These additions are also in line with existing TikTok trends — so if you’re familiar with TikTok, you’re all set for these new creative options and tools. That’s the goal, but it’s also a problem.
If Instagram continues to focus solely on TikTok, then the app lacks real originality and lacks a unique value proposition.
