In a bid to compete with TikTok’s popular video-sharing capabilities, Instagram has introduced a new feature that allows users to download and share Reels. The announcement was made by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri in a post utilizing the platform’s new broadcast channels feature, as reported by TechCrunch.
Previously, TikTok held a significant advantage over Instagram Reels as anyone could easily download a TikTok video and share it on other social media platforms. This feature served as a powerful tool for attracting new users to TikTok. However, Instagram has now closed the gap by enabling the ability to download and share Reels.
Initially, the feature is only available to users in the United States on mobile devices, and it is limited to public accounts rather than private ones. Additionally, Instagram offers users with public accounts the option to block others from downloading their Reels. To utilize the feature, users simply need to tap on the “Share” icon for a specific Reel and select the “Download” option.
An image shared by Adam Mosseri indicates that downloaded Reels will be watermarked with the Instagram logo and the account’s name, mirroring the approach taken by TikTok. YouTube also implemented watermarks for its Shorts videos created on desktop, likely as a way to draw attention to its own short video feature.
By introducing the ability to download and share Reels, Instagram aims to ensure wider visibility of its content on various social media networks. However, it’s worth noting that Instagram does not actively support videos from rival platforms. While TikTok and other videos can be uploaded to Instagram, the platform’s algorithms stopped promoting watermarked videos from competitors in 2021.
With this new feature, Instagram takes a step closer to matching TikTok’s functionality and aims to retain existing users while attracting new ones with enhanced sharing capabilities. The ability to download and share Reels provides users with more options to engage with and distribute their favorite Instagram content across multiple platforms.