After realizing 45 Percent of videos on Instagram is 15 seconds or less
Flood of anti-China sentiment due to the grown tension on the border has carried away TikTok with 59 other Chinese apps. But it has also deposited an opportunity for Indian alternatives in the last few days. Instagram had been testing its newest short video-sharing feature, Instagram Reels, in markets such as Brazil, Germany, and France. And now, it’s officially being tested in India.
Filling the void
Reels in India is similar to TikTok, allows users to create 15-second videos and share them on Instagram. It’s not a different platform but a feature that lets users create videos on the app, add creative filters and music, and share it beyond their regular followers.
You can find Reels at the bottom of the Instagram camera.
What do Reels offer?
Vishal Shah, VP of Product, Facebook, said that the product comes from the realization that 45 percent of videos on Instagram is 15 seconds or less. Instagram has worked with prominent music labels to bring a dense music library for Reels. If users don’t want to use a music track, they can choose to use their audio.
The feature will start rolling out for users in India starting at 7:30 PM IST on July 8, 2020.
Other features
Reels in India also supports Sparks AR which will allow users to make use of AR filters and effects that are not only created by Instagram but also by independent creators around the world.
Align is another feature available on Reels that will basically let users line up objects from a previous clip before recording the next one. So, if users want to make a video of outfit changes with seamless transitions, Align will help them do so.
Lastly, users can also choose to slow down or speed up videos to make slow-mo or hyper lapses respectively.
Reels don’t offer a lot at the moment but Instagram promises on learning and bringing more features as more and more users make use of it.
How to get started?
Users having public accounts only can share Reels with their followers but they also stand a chance to be featured on a dedicated space on the Explore tab. Additionally, your Reels might appear when someone clicks on a song, a hashtag, or an effect that you may have used.
Users having private accounts are able to share Reels to their feed, stories, and direct messages. In the latter two cases, Reels will disappear after 24 hours.
