Instagram 'copying' TikTok with new video editing tool for stories

Instagram's new video editing tool resembles TikTok to a significant extent. This tool is reportedly called Reels and is available on both iOS and Android. For now, Instagram Reels is only available in Brazil. It is still unclear whether Instagram Reels tool will be available in other countries. If Reels succeed in Brazil, we see no reason why Instagram won't launch it in other countries.

What is Instagram Reels?

Reels is a new video tool for Instagram stories that allows users to record 15-second videos. Users can also adjust video speed, add music or borrow audio from videos posted by others, similar to TikTok's 'Duet' feature. Users can share videos these videos over stories or them send them via DMs. Instagram users can also videos created and edited using Reels post to a new section of Instagram’s Explore tab called Top Reels. Top Reels is where the Facebook-owned photo and video-sharing social networking platform hopes the best clips will go viral.

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Reels intensifies 'Instagram vs TikTok' fight 

Instagram Reels could be Facebook's answer to TikTok. But this is not the first time Facebook is mimicking TikTok. 

Instagram previously rolled out a design overhaul to IGTV to change the way people discover new videos on the app. AI-based recommendation engine on IGTV resembles TikTok to a great extent. Instagram launched the IGTV app last year. But IGTV never really picked up at all. Of late, China’s ByteDance owned TikTok app is dominating the short video content space.

Last year, Facebook secretly announced a new app called ‘Lasso’ with TikTok like features. Lasso lets users create short videos blessed with filters and effects. They can further share these videos over Facebook’s story feature. Urging users to create viral videos related to trending topics and hashtags, the app wants users to give their own, unique spin by recording yourself. Users can then add special effects, filters, music, text on video and share it publicly.

With Reels, Facebook is expected to provide Instagram users with more advanced story editing options like never before. Instagram may also extend these video editing tools to the IGTV app.

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