Social media platforms are always eyeing the competition. First, Instagram adopted Snapchat-like disappearing videos that turned into Instagram Stories. Then, Twitter started testing out a feature that looks eerily similar to Instagram Stories called Twitter Fleets. Now, Instagram wants to compete with TikTok in the short-form video space.
Earlier this month, Instagram announced they’re launching Instagram Reels, a new way to discover and publish short-form content on their platform (using their library of audio clips, fun effects, and text overlays to create and edit 15-second videos to share with your followers).
Sound familiar? That’s because it’s very similar to TikTok, the social media platform that has taken millennials and Gen Z by storm. However, there are some key differences.
- TikTok is its own platform, while Reels lives under the Instagram umbrella (which lives under the Facebook umbrella).
- Reels limits videos to 15-seconds (right now), but in TikTok, there is a time limit of 1 minute.
- TikTok has a very popular feature called “Duets” in which users can add to an existing video with their own reactions or audio. Reels does not have this capability yet.
One benefit of trying out Instagram Reels is the potential of saving time. Many influencers and brands are repurposing their TikToks on the Reels platform. If you have created content for TikTok, there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, put it on Reels too! Reels allows for your content to be found on the Explore tab by people who don’t follow your account already, which is another benefit of the new format.
If you want to check out Reels for yourself, head on over to your Explore tab and click on the first video at the top. You should see a Reels icon in the lower-left corner. Then just keep scrolling to your heart’s content.
Scooter Media had to try out this new format, see our first Instagram Reels below:
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👋👋 from the Scooter Team! Have you tried #Instagram Reels? #socialmedia #pragency
