Instagram Reels New Features After TikTok Ban

Instagram Updates Reels Amidst TikTok Ban

This morning, Instagram revealed a new update to its Reels video feature. This announcement coincided with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law prohibiting TikTok in the United States, effective January 19th.

Enhanced Content Discovery

According to Meta, the update is designed to streamline content discovery. Users will now find it simpler to identify Reels content that their friends and followers are engaging with.

The intention is to foster more interaction and discussion surrounding Reels content among users.

Initial Launch in the U.S.

Meta has confirmed that these new features are initially being released to users within the United States.

Potential for User Acquisition

The timing of this update positions Meta to potentially attract a significant number of TikTok users. This is especially true for creators who depend on social media platforms for their income.

While some TikTok creators have migrated to the Chinese platform RedNote as a form of protest, monetizing their audience there presents challenges. RedNote is primarily utilized by Chinese users, lacking the substantial presence of U.S. businesses and brands.

New Features Detailed

A new feature has been added to the top-right corner of the Reels tab. This allows users to quickly view content that their friends and followers have liked or commented on.

This is visually represented by a small button displaying the profile pictures of those who interacted with the content, accompanied by a heart icon or conversation bubble to indicate the type of engagement.

Streamlined Reply System

Furthermore, a new “reply bar” is being introduced at the bottom of each Reel. This enables users to easily respond to content their friends have liked.

For example, the bar might prompt a response when a friend’s “Like” appears on the screen. Replies are sent directly to the follower as a direct message.