Instagram is ditching video posts and pivoting them to Reels

Instagram is working towards testing a new Instagram Update, Source: Yahoo Movie where Instagram changes and turns video posts into Reels. The company says the change, which is currently being tested with select users around the world, is part of Instagram’s plan to simplify video on the app.

This new update is explained in simpler words, If a user has an account that is public and they decide to post a video it would end up being turned into a Reel, and simultaneously anyone can discover your Reel and use your original audio to create their own Reel. If your account is set to private, your Reel will only be visible to your followers.

If Instagram decides to turn all video uploads into Reels, it would consolidate the company’s video elements even further. Last year, when Mosseri said the company would double down on video and focus on Reels. He even hinted that Instagram would consolidate all of its video products around Reels and continue to grow the short-form product, which indicates that this change may have always been the plan.

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Last year, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the app was “no longer a photo-sharing app,” noting the company was prioritizing a shift into video amid significant competition from TikTok and YouTube. The company then took a step toward its larger goal of making video a more central part of the Instagram experience by combining IGTV’s long-form video and Instagram Feed videos into a new format simply called “Instagram Video.”

It could be difficult to post a horizontal video if it gets uploaded in a vertical Reels format. In addition, Instagram did not say how this change will affect current videos on Instagram.

A Tweet was recently shared by the social media consultant Matt Navarra showcasing that people who are part of the test will see an in-app message that says “video posts are now shared as Reels.”

It’s not surprising that Instagram is looking to expand Reels even more by replacing video posts altogether. If the company does end up making this change permanent, it could boast about people spending even more time viewing Reels.