Instagram Reels

Online short-form video service

It has been suggested that this article be merged into Instagram. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2024.

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It has been suggested that this article be merged with Facebook Reels. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2025.

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Instagram Reels

Genre| short-form
Founded| November 2019; 5 years ago (November 2019)
Founder| Instagram
Products| Instagram Reels
Services| Short form content

Instagram Reels is the short-form section of the American social media platform Instagram.[1] Reels focuses on vertical videos that are less than 90 seconds of duration and various features for user interaction.[2] As of November 2024 Reels average collectively 150 billion views a day, Creators earn money based on the amount of views they receive, or through ad revenue.[3] The increased popularity of Instagram Reels has led to concerns about addiction for teenagers.[4]

## History

[edit]

In November 2019, it was announced that Instagram will start to roll out a new feature to Brazil known as Instagram Reels. It would then expand to France and Germany.[5] It functions similarly to the Chinese video service TikTok, focusing on allowing users to create short videos already set to existing sounds from other clips.[5] Users could make up to 15 (later 30) second videos using this feature.[6] Reels also uses existing Instagram filters and editing tools.[7]

In July 2020, Instagram rolled out Reels to India after TikTok was banned in the country.[8] Then, the following month, Reels officially launched in 50 countries including the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.[9] Then in August of that year, Instagram introduced a reels button on the home page.[10]

On June 17, 2021, Instagram launched full-screen advertisements in Reels. The ads are similar to regular reels and can run up to 30 seconds. They are distinguished from regular content by the "sponsored" tag under the account name.[11]

Despite the "TikTokification" of Reels and the parent company Meta spending millions on courting content creators, user engagement continued to lag way behind TikTok as of 2022.[12]

Then Instagram started rolling out a new feature with made Reels up to 90 seconds long beginning in June 2022.[13] After a period of testing, a duration of up to three minutes was announced in January 2025.[14]

On February 26, 2025, Instagram Reels came under fire after numerous users reported a sudden surge in violent and graphic content appearing on their feeds.[15][16] Meta issued a public apology, stating that a technical error led to the unintended recommendation of such content. A Meta spokesperson explained, "We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake."[17][18][19]

## Usage

[edit]

Since its inception in 2020, the usage of Instagram Reels has continuously increased. In September 2022, Instagram Reels generated over 140 billion views daily.[20] The number of monthly users also increased from 1.5 billion in 2022 to 1.8 billion as of 2024.[21][22]

## Health concerns

[edit]

Researchers from the Guizhou University of Finance and Economics and Western Michigan University found that short-form videos like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels may make it easier for young adults and children to develop addictive behavior because short-form videos provide "short bursts of thrills".[23] These researchers found that college students in the U.S. and China watch short-form videos for entertainment, knowledge, and to build social identities.[24]

The Wall Street Journal reported that some parents are concerned about the effects of short-form videos on their children, as there is no way to disable Instagram or set limits. When children watch short-form videos, they learn to expect continual stimulation and fast-paced changes, which can cause problems when engaging in activities that require greater focus, such as reading.[24]

Recent studies highlighted the connection between short-form videos such as Instagram Reels and the brain's reward system, specifically dopamine release. According to Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist and chief of Stanford University's dual diagnosis addiction clinic, brief attention-grabbing videos act as powerful stimuli triggering dopamine surges akin to other addictive behaviors.[25] The rapid and easily consumable nature of short-form videos can elicit high levels of dopamine; since dopamine serves as a motivator rather than a direct source of pleasure, individuals are compelled to seek rewarding activities and become addicted to them. Such neurochemical responses lead to addictive patterns and behaviors, entering a vicious cycle. Digital addiction can lead to shorter attention spans and slower cognitive processing.

## References

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1. ^ Menon, Devadas (March 1, 2022). "Factors influencing Instagram Reels usage behaviours: An examination of motives, contextual age and narcissism". Telematics and Informatics Reports. 5: 100007. doi:10.1016/j.teler.2022.100007. ISSN 2772-5030.
2. ^ "Instagram Reels Length: How Long Can Reels Be?". Buffer: All-you-need social media toolkit for small businesses. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
3. ^ "Instagram blog".
4. ^ Chakladar, Swetanshu (October 25, 2023). "The negative effect of Instagram reels on teenagers". Medium. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
5. ^ a b Vincent, James (November 12, 2019). "Instagram is testing a new video editing tool called Reels that copies TikTok's best features". The Verge. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
6. ^ "5 interesting facts about Instagram Reels". India Today. August 4, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
7. ^ "Help Center".
8. ^ Porter, Jon (July 6, 2020). "Instagram's Reels feature reportedly expands to India following TikTok ban". The Verge. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
9. ^ Alexander, Julia (August 5, 2020). "Instagram launches Reels, its attempt to keep you off TikTok". The Verge. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
10. ^ Mehta, Ivan (September 4, 2020). "Instagram introduces a Reels button on its home screen so you might finally watch some". TNW | Plugged. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
11. ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (June 17, 2021). "Instagram Reels now has ads". The Verge. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
12. ^ Sato, Mia (September 12, 2022). "Instagram knows it has a Reels problem". The Verge. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
13. ^ "Instagram Extends Reels to 90 Seconds, Allows 3 Posts to Be Pinned | PCMag". December 10, 2023. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
14. ^ "Instagram Officially Expands Reels Length to 3 Minutes". Social Media Today. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
15. ^ Butts, Dylan (February 27, 2025). "Meta says it fixed 'error' after Instagram users report a flood of graphic and violent content". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
16. ^ "What's going on with Instagram reels? Possible reasons behind surge in sensitive and violent content". Hindustan Times. February 27, 2025. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
17. ^ "Meta fixes error that flooded Instagram Reels with violent videos". Reuters. February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
18. ^ Gibson, Kate (February 27, 2025). Sherter, Alain (ed.). "Meta apologizes for error that exposed some Instagram users to violent content". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
19. ^ Butts, Dylan (February 27, 2025). "Meta says it fixed 'error' after Instagram users report a flood of graphic and violent content". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
20. ^ "32 Top Instagram Reels Statistics For 2024". Adam Connell. October 22, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
21. ^ Santora, Jacinda (August 24, 2020). "22 Instagram Reel Stats & Facts Marketers Should Know in 2024". Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
22. ^ "17 Instagram Reels Statistics You Need To Know For 2024". Blogging Wizard. July 25, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
23. ^ Zhang, Ning; Hazarika, Bidyut; Chen, Kuanchin; Shi, Yinan (August 1, 2023). "A cross-national study on the excessive use of short-video applications among college students". Computers in Human Behavior. 145: 107752. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2023.107752. ISSN 0747-5632. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
24. ^ a b Jargon, Julie (August 12, 2023). "This Was Supposed to be the Antidote for TikTok Brain. It's Just as Bad". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
25. ^ Waters, Jamie (August 22, 2021). "Constant craving: how digital media turned us all into dopamine addicts". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.