Instagram unveils 'Reels' updates to mimic TikTok with new metrics, discovery options and edit tools
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Instagram is gearing up for a head-on battle with rival TikTok's Reels by including a brand-new method for editing videos and discovering trending content. The process of editing videos has undergone the most modification on the platform.
Instead of needing to do it in separate phases, users will now be able to edit uploaded video clips, audio, stickers, and text overlays all on the same interface. A timeline editing function, similar to what TikTok has, is visible in company-shared stills, which is useful for aligning audio and video segments and facilitating smooth transitions.
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What are the new key features?
Users of Instagram will have a new method for discovering popular videos. Up until now, there hasn't been a simple method to discover what was trending on Reels. Easy-to-replicate trends and challenges are part of what made TikTok an incubator for viral video. A new Reels page compiles hashtags and songs that are popular on Instagram, along with the number of videos that incorporate such tracks.
The audio can then be saved for later use or immediately added to the user's own movie. Tools for authors to interact with fans and analyze the effectiveness of their material are also included in the upgrade. The analytics dashboard now includes a new feature that notifies a creator when a new follower discovered them through a Reel video and displays the entire amount of time viewers spent watching a Reel, including replays, as well as the average watch time of the video.
Fans can reward high-performing content
Instagram and TikTok have both been revising or reducing funds meant to reward viewers for high-performing content, which has made it difficult for content creators to get comfortable with how to generate money on the site.
Virtual tips from fans have been one option for monetizing video — TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram all have a variations of the service. A creator will be able to see which fans have sent them presents thanks to a recent update to the Reels gifting tool, and they will be able to accept them by tapping a heart icon.