With all the drama going on with the TikTok ban, Instagram is making significant updates to attract users. This weekend, Instagram introduced three-minute Reels and replaced the iconic square profile grid with a rectangular one.
Instagram Head Adam Mosseri announced these changes via an Instagram post and Story explaining that the grid update reflects the growing trend of vertical uploads.
“I know some of you really like your squares, and square photos are kind of the heritage of Instagram, but at this point most of what’s uploaded — both photos and videos — are vertical in their orientation, so portrait versus landscape or square, and it just is a bummer to overly crop them,” Mosseri said in his Stories.
He added, “I know it’s a change, I know it’s a bit of a pain, but I think it’s a transitional pain.” He also expressed optimism, saying, “I think that people will over the long run be excited” not to have their posts appear “aggressively cropped.”
The rectangular grid will only affect how photos and videos appear on profiles, and they’ll still expand to their original size when clicked.
Instagram has also extended the maximum length of Reels from 90 seconds to three minutes. Mosseri explained, “We’ve heard the feedback that this is just too short for those who want to share longer stories.” The change makes Reels more competitive with TikTok, which started with short videos but now allows posts up to 10 minutes long.
Additionally, a new Reels tab now lets users see videos their friends have liked or added Notes to. This update brings back memories of Instagram’s old “Following” activity feed, which was removed due to privacy concerns. Some may find this feature fun, but others could see it as invasive.
View on Threads
In a separate surprising announcement, Meta has introduced a new video editing platform called Edits. This comes just hours after TikTok (and by extension, CapCut) faced a US ban, though TikTok is temporarily being restored.
Adam Mosseri announced the app on Threads, describing it as a tool for “those of you who are passionate about making videos on your phone.”
He added, “There’s a lot going on right now, but no matter what happens it’s our job to provide the best possible tools for creators.”
Edits will offer the following features –
Meta says Edits has already been tested with creators and is now available for pre-order on the App Store with a launch expected in February. However, the App Store lists March as the release date.
With these updates, Instagram is positioning itself as a top choice for creators especially as TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain.
Answer. Instagram introduced three-minute Reels and replaced the square profile grid with a rectangular one, reflecting the trend of vertical uploads.
Answer. Meta launched a new video editing platform called Edits, offering features like a high-quality camera, editing tools, and easy export to Instagram, and it’s available for pre-order on the App Store.
Answer. These updates come as the US nears a potential TikTok ban, positioning Instagram as a top choice for creators amidst the uncertainty of TikTok’s future in the US.
Read More: Instagram Tests New Feature to Show Unseen Story Highlights from Friends
Read More: Instagram Replacing AR Filters with Realistic AI Video Editing Tools
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