Instagram introduces new feature enabling users to download public Reels
Instagram Finally Allows Users to Download and Share Reels Outside the App
chandni
Instagram has taken a significant step by enabling users to download Reels created by others for sharing beyond the platform. This move comes after rival short video app TikTok gained popularity for its capability to share videos with the app's watermark outside its platform.
According to Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, U.S.-based users now have the option to download Reels to their camera roll. To download a Reel, users simply need to tap on the share icon and select the Download option.
It's important to note that only Reels from public accounts are eligible for download, and public accounts have the option to disable this feature. While it remains unclear whether downloaded Reels will bear a watermark, a photo shared by Mosseri suggests that the video will include an Instagram logo and the account name. TikTok utilizes a similar format by adding a watermark to downloaded videos. However, Instagram has always allowed users to download their own Reels without a watermark from drafts.
In a bid to attract more users to consume content within the app, Instagram ceased promoting videos with TikTok or any other watermark in 2021. Additionally, YouTube introduced logo-based watermarks on downloaded Shorts (its short video product) in August, discouraging cross-platform sharing. Therefore, Instagram's decision to permit Reel downloads may serve as a strategy to increase content consumption on their platform.
Reels has become a focal point for driving growth and revenue for Meta (formerly Facebook) in recent quarters. During the Q1 2023 earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg highlighted that time spent on Instagram increased by 24% thanks to AI-powered Reels recommendations.
