Instagram Tests Converting All Video Posts into Reels Format
Instagram is experimenting with a change that automatically turns standard video posts into Reels for select users worldwide. This move aligns with Meta's ongoing strategy to prioritize short-form video and simplify the app's experience.
Instagram is testing a new feature that automatically converts standard video posts into Reels for a select group of global users. A Meta spokesperson confirms that this experiment is part of the company's ongoing effort to simplify and improve the video experience within the app. Users in the test group see an in-app notification explaining that their video posts now share as Reels.
The test brings significant implications for user privacy and content creation, as public accounts automatically allow their Reels to be discovered by anyone and their original audio to be used by others. Although users retain the ability to disable remixing in their account settings, the format shift poses practical challenges, particularly for horizontal videos that do not fit the vertical Reels layout. Instagram does not yet clarify how this change affects previously uploaded videos on the platform.
This experiment highlights Meta's massive bet on short-form video as it competes directly with TikTok and YouTube. Reels already account for over 20% of the time users spend on Instagram, and consolidating all video uploads into this format pushes the platform further away from its photo-sharing roots. It remains unknown when or if Instagram plans to roll out this change to all users globally.