Is Reels the real deal?
Instagram’s latest video feature Reels has officially launched. This is Facebooks answer to TikTok. As reported over at Hypebeast, The company’s short-form video feature is launching across 50 countries, including the U.S. and other key international markets such as India, Brazil, France, Germany, the U.K. and Japan. The new Instagram video feature builds on the familiar short-form creative content and allows users to create and post short, 15-second videos using a new set of editing tools that include options like AR effects, a countdown timer and music.
Although Facebook, which owns Instagram, said the plans for Reels have been well underway for a while now, the launch of the new platform comes at an opportune time. Just last month, President Donald Trump announced that the Chinese-owned video app TikTok would be banned in the U.S., citing security risks, “potential counterintelligence threats” and privacy concerns as reasons for the ban. In order to compete with TikTok, Instagram understands the importance of music in helping Reels succeed. The company’s deals with major record labels offers up a variety of musical content, which means users’ sound won’t be removed due to a rights issue.
