Instagram is currently in the process of testing an exciting feature that could potentially change the way users create Reels. According to information confirmed by the company, Instagram is internally experimenting with the idea of extending the Reels duration from the current three minutes to a more generous ten minutes.
It’s important to note that this feature is still in the testing phase within the company and not available to the public yet. The initial discovery of this potential update was made by Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer who shared some sneak peeks of the internal prototype on X.
This proposed extension in Reels’ time limit brings Instagram in line with TikTok, which expanded its maximum video length to 10 minutes in February 2022. With this change, Instagram’s Reels would not only rival TikTok but also step into competition with YouTube. If Instagram decides to officially roll out this feature, content creators would gain significantly more flexibility and time to produce a wide range of content, including cooking demonstrations, beauty tutorials, educational videos, and comedic sketches.
#Instagram is working on the ability to create #Reels up to 10 minutes long 👀 pic.twitter.com/jQTUM9fPsM
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 30, 2023
Currently, creators often work around the three-minute limitation by splitting their content into multiple parts, which can sometimes make it challenging for viewers to find and watch the correct video. This potential update would eliminate such issues, making content consumption on the platform smoother and more user-friendly. As Instagram and TikTok explore opportunities in the long-form content market, YouTube is also venturing into the world of short-form videos.
Recently, YouTube announced a suite of enhanced creation tools for Shorts, indicating its commitment to short-form content. Just a couple of weeks later, the platform introduced “Samples,” a personalized short-form video feed similar to TikTok’s format.
This latest development regarding Instagram’s Reels comes amid a series of updates and enhancements the platform has been introducing. For instance, Instagram is currently testing a feature that allows creators to share noteworthy fan comments they’ve received on their posts and Reels directly to their Stories. Additionally, earlier this month, Instagram enabled users to incorporate music into their photo carousels, providing a creative way to showcase their musical preferences. These continuous improvements demonstrate Instagram’s commitment to enhancing user experience and offering more diverse content creation and sharing options.
