Facebook, the firm behind Instagram, has launched Reels on its photo-sharing platform. With Reels, users can create “fun videos” with their friends and the wider public. The clips are just short 15-second videos which can contain audio and effects. Reels can be shared with followers on Feed and those with a public account can share them through a new space in Explore.
To start creating Reels, head to the Instagram camera and select the Reels category at the bottom of the screen. Reels can be recorded as a series of clips or all at once. Begin by pressing and holding the capture button and the progress indicator at the top of the screen will let you know that you’re recording. To end a clip, just stop recording.
Once you’ve got your clips ready, you can either use the audio you recorded or a song from the Instagram music library, you can add AR Effects, and set a timer and countdown to record hands-free. You’ll also have the option to align objects so you can create seamless transitions between clips, and you can choose the speed of your video and audio.
The new Reels feature can be described as a rival to TikTok. With TikTok currently facing big issues in the United States, Facebook is no doubt looking to seize the chance to woo TikTok content creators over to Instagram Reels.