Feature Review: Instagram’s Reels Debut
“Bringing you closer to the people and things you love”-Instagram by Facebook.
Abiding by what it says,this photo sharing app has over 1 million active monthly users making it one of most popular worldwide networks. One of the major driving forces behind its popularity is its features, you can explore your social community, follow things of interest, discover and can do what not as it allows you to share everything from daily moments to life highlights.
Today, Instagram is not mere an entertainment, it is a platform that provides opportunities to many artists, influencers, bloggers and even start ups to gain recognition from around the world. The brands have started tapping in this platform to get connected with their customers and be discovered by the potential ones. Instagram never fails to stay relevant with the fast moving world by its engaging and user friendly updates.
Let’s see what it has brought with its new feature launch in India?
What is this new Instagram feature update?
With 88 million users, India becomes the fourth country where the new feature called “reels” is launched. “Reels” is a new video format that allows users to shoot a 15 second long video, add creative filters, effects and music from its library. Sounds familiar? Yes, this concept is no different from Tik Tok.
Creating reels:
- The reel is an integrated feature of the app and is a part of the story section.
- This feature uses the inbuilt camera option to which the users are already accustomed, hence making it an “easy to use” option.
- It covers major aspects of video creation with its editing options of timer, speed, effects, audio and align. So the variety of video creation ranges from slow-mos to fast forwards, the array depends on the users’ creativity of using the feature.
- The best part of reeling is that all the filters of Instagram works exceptionally well even with this feature and has a huge library so there is always something for everyone.
Shareability:
- One can share reels with their followers in case of a private account or under the “explore” option in case of a public account.
- Like IGTV, Instagram has also provided a different section to reels, it appears as a tab on one’s profile.
- It can be shared as “story” or in “direct” so, under these circumstances it won’t appear on the user’s profile.
Tik Tok ban — an opportunity for Instagram?
Reels were rolled down into the Indian Market just after the central government banned the 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok. Weather a planned strategy or a coincidence but the current scenario of Indian market is in favour of Instagram as:
- Tik Tok had 200 million users in India which means the potential reelers for Instagram is immense.
- The Tik Tokers with a huge fan base were left stranded, struggling to find similar format and then came reels serving them the required. Hence, the ones who wouldn’t download the app otherwise are now motivated to do so.
- Reels’ interface is extremely similar to Tik Tok making it an easy switch for the Tik Tokers.
- Due to the vast reach of Tik Tok many brands took the platform for their product promotion and developed strategies accordingly. Reels being the same format can prove to be a saviour to them.
- Famous Tik Tokers with millions of followers can establish their fan base again. Vishal Pandey, Sameeksha Sud to name a few have already established a great fan base on Instagram.
Can we spot the difference between Instagram Reel and TikTok?
No doubt, this video-music remix feature can be said as a clone of Tik Tok. The interface, the editing options and the option that reelers can record their original sound and if publicly available can be used by others, all of it is the same as the banned app.
Still Instagram needs to catch up a lot in terms of an app that was completely dedicated to the video format. The penetration that Tik Tok had even in the rural parts of India is yet a goal to be achieved.
The Reelers-Will Tik Tokers make the “Switch” ?
The similarity of the feature with the banned app makes it clear that it wants to seize the opportunity. Reels was launched with initial access to only selected influencers, publishers or journalists, so there were no random hilarious reels on the explore making all of its existing users to at least have a look at it. Instagrammers can try reeling to showcase their creativity.
The Tik Tok stars are divided by two opinions:
- First, the ones who think Instagram being an already established app, it would be difficult for them to gain a fan base because of the fierce competition.
- Second, the ones who believe in their talent and hence are sure about gaining a fan base on any platform.
Whatever be the case, it’s a win-win for Instagram because every TikToker is trying other similar video-format apps and Instagram being a renowned name with millions of users has an edge.
How’s it Reeling — Convenient or chaotic?
“Reels” is absolutely a new space in the explore section, so love it or hate it but you can’t ignore it.
The similarity of it with TikTok seems like an advantage considering that Instagram wants to tap in the Tik Tokers because in that case the switch will be really convenient, so well done! Also there were many Instagrammers who shared Tik Tok links in their Insta-bios and vice versa, for them it would be really convenient to manage all kinds of contents in just one app.
The matter of convenience is still a point to ponder because to some Instagram is providing an array of options whereas for others it has risen complications as it already had four kinds of video formats including the ones in the stories, normal videos on the feed, the long videos- IGTV, a live video and now reels.
So, the key takeaway here is the ease that Instagram is providing to its users. It has got everything that can keep its users enticed.
Let’s get some public opinion:
Apurva Verma, a 23 year old student says, “It’s a good thing for content creators but then again it’s being misused more than used. But then that is with everything else. At Least on Instagram they keep a check on the kind of content we post, so there won’t be any abusive content. Also, it has better features than TikTok. So, overall it’s a win-win.”
Aditi Raj, another 22 year old says, “I feel like reels wasn’t that needed, as TikTok is just banned in India (majority of the Indian TikToks were cringy anyway) so kinda the good stuff was filtered, plus the real talented tikTokers would’ve found their way around anyway.”
Aditi Shruti, a self acclaimed Instagram addict says, “I feel that reels is a good substitute for TikTok as it is included in Instagram which is already among the most popular social media platforms. Thus, it is more handy for influencers and entertainers. On TikTok they used to include the links to their Instagram accounts that is not required now. Moreover Instagram does not have any popular privacy issues as TikTok was reported to have.”
Tanya Sinha says, “A good source of entertainment during the pandemic after the ban of TikTok. I see reels as a backup of TikTok because this is something that now I have switched to for similar content”.
Conclusion:
To some it’s an opportunity, to some it’s just entertainment, but the bottom-line is that love it or hate it but Instagram is serving literally everything to everyone through different features in just one app, the choice is of the users.
