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Instagram will evolve into a TikTok-like service, with push into video content

Credit: Solen Feyissa

Facebook plans to test a suite of changes to Instagram that could make the social media platform much more like TikTok in form, with an emphasis on recommended video content.

Specifically, the company plans to start showing full-screen, recommended videos in a user's primary feed, Facebook's Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a Twitter video on Wednesday, as CNBC.

"We're also going to be experimenting with how do we embrace video more broadly — full screen, immersive, entertaining, mobile-first video. You'll see us do a number of things, or experiment with a number of things in this space over the coming months," Mosseri said.

In addition to more full-screen video content in general, Instagram will also start showing videos that it recommends to users — including clips that a user doesn't follow. Mosseri said the changes will roll out in the coming months.

"People are looking to Instagram to be entertained, there's stiff competition and there's more to do," Mosseri said. "We have to embrace that, and that means change."

The changes will bring Instagram a bit closer to TikTok in content style. In fact, Facebook's Instagram chief attributed the planned changes to "serious competition" from that of platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

"Let's be honest, there's some really serious competition right now. TikTok is huge, YouTube is even bigger, and there's lots of other upstarts as well," he said.

This isn't the first time Instagram has moved to compete more closely with Chinese-owned TikTok. In 2020, Facebook launched a new "Reels" feature on the platform that adopted TikTok's focus on short-form video content with audio and other effects.

"We're no longer a photo-sharing app or a square photo-sharing app," Mosseri said.

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13 Comments


It's so funny when I watch IG's "Reels"... they're all TikTok videos (logo and all) re-uploaded to IG...  I'm surprised IG hasn't figured out a way to blur/remove the TikTok branding.

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes

Well, fuck that, then.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

If Instagram wants to be more like tiktok
why wouldn't I just go to TikTok?
Why would I want an imitation?

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

Sucks for photographers but I guess this is a good opportunity for someone to create a new photo sharing app 

6 Likes · 0 Dislikes

said:
It's so funny when I watch IG's "Reels"... they're all TikTok videos (logo and all) re-uploaded to IG...  I'm surprised IG hasn't figured out a way to blur/remove the TikTok branding.

They don't care, Instagram wants this, as it means more engagement. All those people uploading their tiktoks are having their IG followers watch them = more ad sells.

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes