Instagram is now testing longer Reels, copying TikTok and YouTube

Short videos are all the rage now – in fact we also have our own selection, accessible on our Youtube Shorts and TikTok pages (subscribe if you haven’t yet!). But there may be a shift soon as more platforms are pivoting to long-form video content. TikTok and Youtube are already dishing out long-form content, and now Intsagram may be joining in soon.

Based on a X post by Alessandro Paluzzi, who is known for reverse engineering apps and discovering early versions of upcoming updates, shared that the next version of Instagram may offer longer Reels – up to 10 minutes long.

 Right now, the maximum length for Reels is 3 minutes, but the new screenshots show that Meta is looking to extend the time longer.

Meta did confirm to TechCrunch that they are testing the new feature. However, the screenshot shared is still considered “internal prototype” and no external testing is currently happening.

If this feature goes live, Instagram will go head-to-head to other platforms already offered on YouTube, TikTok and X formerly known as Twitter.

TikTok introduced the long form mode in March last year, while X introduced the 10-minute limit as an option for Blue subscribers. Youtube is traditionally known as a long-form content platform, but their Shorts content has been going against TikTok and Instagram.

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