TechCrunch reports that Meta has confirmed that the change, which is currently being tested with select users around the world, is part of Instagram’s plan to simplify video in the app. “We’re testing this feature as part of our efforts to simplify and improve the video experience on Instagram,” a Meta spokesperson tells TechCrunch. Yesterday, social media consultant Matt Navara posted a screenshot on Twitter showing a notification about Instagram’s experimental feature that says all video posts will be shared as Reels in the app. Instagram now makes EVERY video a wheel h/t @ChristinaSBG pic.twitter.com/YLRDhT1nw0 — Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) June 30, 2022 The message indicates that if a user’s account is public and they post a video that ends up being converted into a Reel, anyone can discover that Reel and use your original audio to create their own. If an account is set to private, an uploaded wheel will only be visible to a user’s followers. The message also notes that once a Reel is posted, anyone can create a remix with that Reel if the account is public. However, users can prevent users from mixing Reels in their account settings. The test comes after an internal memo revealed that Meta’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox said Instagram’s TikTok clone Reels was one of the few “bright spots” for the company and warned employees of “serious times ahead’ due to slowing growth. In the company’s Q4 2021 earnings report, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Reels are now Meta’s fastest-growing content format and make up more than 20% of the time people spend on Instagram. It remains to be seen whether the experimental Instagram feature will make it to widespread release. But since Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said the social media platform was “no longer a photo-sharing app” late last year, Instagram has put an even bigger emphasis on video and adopting more features that look like TikTok in 2022. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg announced that Instagram is testing a full-screen feed that closely mimics the company’s rival. Image Credit: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
