In the dizzying arms race of social media, Instagram is reportedly considering an important move to gain an advantage: spinning off its short-form video feature, Reels, into a standalone app.

Instagram appears to be quietly testing locked reels that viewers would have to unlock with a code and a provided hint. The feature is a simple way to increase engagement with the creator’s content, ...

Instagram and TikTok’s apps might look even more similar before long. Instagram just announced a test rolling out to “a small group of people“ that makes Reels the default tab view when you launch the ...

Whether you consider it a feature or a bug, Instagram Reels are becoming a mainstay in our collective internet experience — another constant, droning pull to keep us online and on our phones. I've ...

More than half of all ads on Meta's Instagram ran in the service's short-form video product Reels in 2025, up from 35% in 2024, according to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. The shift ...

Meta has resisted longer Reels in the past. Meta has resisted longer Reels in the past. is a former weekend editor who covered tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech ...