Instagram Wants to Blur the Difference between Reels and Video Posts

Reels, the answer to TikTok’s success, is the biggest driver of growth for both Facebook and Instagram. This means that these networks will search for more and more ways to intensify this growth, and one of them, according to sources, is turning every video into Reels, at least optionally. This possibility is now being tested by Instagram.

The update that is soon to roll out, according to Instagram, will, by default, post videos as Reels. It’s not known yet whether one can post a video in an old manner, like a post. Making it a Reels one gives the user access to more editing tools, including meta tools (pun intended). For example, it will be possible to build a Reels video using other Reels one as a template. Mutual remixing possibility is an integral part of the Reels popularity; if you wish, though, you can turn this option off.

If your video is a landscape one, you can optimize it for Reels and convert it to the vertical format. It will be achieved, though, by simply cutting its sides off, so if there is some cinematic widescreen content, that’s not an option. It’s not clear either how it will affect the maximum length of a video; as we know, Reels videos can be as many as 90 seconds long, while traditional videos can exceed this limit.

The internal phase of testing is already done. Now certain users all over the world participate in the second phase. These users are selected by Instagram itself, so there is no way to become a tester unless you already are. If the decision is already made, though, you won’t have to wait for long: soon, the new video publishing policy will cover the entire Instagram audience.

What do you think about Reels in general and this initiative in particular? Would you like all your videos to be uploaded as Reels? Or will you prefer a way to post them like you used to? Let us know what you think in the comments below!