Highlights

• Instagram introduces new ways to engage with Reels.
• It includes the ability to see what friends have liked and added notes to make it easier to discover content.
• A new reply bar on Reels allows users to start conversations around content and increases the chances for Reels to be noticed by more people.

In business, one man’s loss is often another’s gain. TikTok might be soon winding up its operations in the US but this is surely a situation full of opportunities for competing apps. First, we heard about the Chinese app Rednote reaping some benefits, now Instagram is trying its best to give users what they might be missing once TikTok is banned. In a perfectly timed move, Instagram has just announced two new features for Reels in the US. Here’s what’s new.

New Ways to Engage on Instagram Reels

With TikTok’s availability in the US set to end this weekend, Instagram appears ready to welcome a potential influx of new users. To strengthen Reels (its short-form video feature and TikTok rival), Instagram is rolling out two fresh updates:

See What Your Friends Like

Instagram is making it easier to discover what your friends and followers are engaging with on Reels. At the top-right corner of the Reels tab, you’ll now see content your friends have liked or added notes to.

Start Conversations Effortlessly

A new reply bar will appear on Reels, allowing users to start conversations around the content they enjoy. This opens up more opportunities for your Reels to be noticed by people who don’t follow you yet.

Instagram shared, “We’re making it easier to see and engage with the content your friends are liking (or adding a note to) on reels at the top right corner of the Reels tab.”

These changes also make it possible to interact with friends’ activity on a Reel. For example, if a friend likes a video, you’ll have the option to reply to their like directly—creating more ways to connect and engage socially.

With TikTok’s US ban looming, Instagram could see significant growth in Reels usage.

Meta seems poised to capitalise on this moment and it wouldn’t be surprising to see even more updates for Reels in the near future. For Instagram, this could be a rare chance to cement its dominance in short-form video content.

FAQs

Q1. What new feature has Instagram introduced to enhance engagement on Reels?

Answer. Instagram has introduced a new feature that allows users to see what their friends and followers have liked or added notes to on Reels, making it easier to discover engaging content.

Q2. How can users start conversations on Instagram Reels with the new update?

Answer. Instagram has added a new reply bar on Reels, allowing users to start conversations around the content they enjoy, which opens up more opportunities for Reels to be noticed by a wider audience.

Q3. Why is Instagram introducing these new features for Reels now?

Answer. With the potential ban of TikTok in the US, Instagram aims to attract new users and strengthen its position in the short-form video market by rolling out these updates at a strategically timed moment.

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