Instagram Reels

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Instagram Reels
GenreShort Form Content
FoundedNovember 2019
FounderInstagram
ProductsInstagram Reels
ServicesShort 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]

Contents

History

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]

Usage

Since its inception in 2020, the usage of Instagram Reels has continuously increased. In September 2022, Instagram Reels generated over 140 billion views daily. [15] The number of monthly users also increased from 1.5 billion in 2022 to 1.8 billion as of 2024. [16] [17]

Health concerns

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." [18] These researchers found that college students in the U.S. and China watch short-form videos for entertainment, knowledge, and to build social identities. [19]

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. [19]

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. [20] 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.

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References

  1. ↑ Menon, Devadas (2022-03-01). "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 2024-11-30.
  3. ↑ "Instagram blog".
  4. ↑ Chakladar, Swetanshu (2023-10-25). "The negative effect of Instagram reels on teenagers". Medium. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  5. 1 2 Vincent, James (2019-11-12). "Instagram is testing a new video editing tool called Reels that copies TikTok's best features". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  6. ↑ "5 interesting facts about Instagram Reels". India Today. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  7. ↑ "Help Center".
  8. ↑ Porter, Jon (2020-07-06). "Instagram's Reels feature reportedly expands to India following TikTok ban". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  9. ↑ Alexander, Julia (2020-08-05). "Instagram launches Reels, its attempt to keep you off TikTok". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  10. ↑ Mehta, Ivan (2020-09-04). "Instagram introduces a Reels button on its home screen so you might finally watch some". TNW | Plugged. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  11. ↑ Kastrenakes, Jacob (2021-06-17). "Instagram Reels now has ads". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  12. ↑ Sato, Mia (2022-09-12). "Instagram knows it has a Reels problem". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  13. ↑ "Instagram Extends Reels to 90 Seconds, Allows 3 Posts to Be Pinned | PCMag". 2023-12-10. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  14. ↑ "Instagram Officially Expands Reels Length to 3 Minutes". Social Media Today. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  15. ↑ Src='https://Secure.gravatar.com/Avatar/Ab77c97882da324a8ddeb0db6a5a286b?s=80, <img Alt='' ;='' #038;d='mm;' Srcset='https://Secure.gravatar.com/Avatar/Ab77c97882da324a8ddeb0db6a5a286b?s=160, #038;r=g' ;='' #038;d='mm;' then,='' #038;r='g' 2x'='' class='avatar avatar-80 photo' height='80' width='80' decoding='async' /> Adam Connell Adam built his first website at the age of 12 Since; Agency, He’s Run a Marketing; Brands, Managed Content Marketing Campaigns for 8 Figure; channel, grown Blogging Wizard to over 3 million yearly visitors Fun fact: Adam can 'split the atom' on a yo-yo Subscribe to Adam's YouTube (2024-10-22). "32 Top Instagram Reels Statistics For 2024". Adam Connell. Retrieved 2024-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Santora, Jacinda (2020-08-24). "22 Instagram Reel Stats & Facts Marketers Should Know in 2024". Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  17. ↑ Src='https://Secure.gravatar.com/Avatar/9c5ba4d5e95f1749a4bf63a87efffff8?s=80, <img Alt='' ;='' #038;d='blank;' Srcset='https://Secure.gravatar.com/Avatar/9c5ba4d5e95f1749a4bf63a87efffff8?s=160, #038;r=g' ;='' #038;d='blank;' team,='' #038;r='g' 2x'='' class='avatar avatar-80 photo' height='80' width='80' decoding='async' /> Lyn Wildwood Lyn Wildwood is a member of the Blogging Wizard content; WordPress, a freelance writer for hire with over a decade of experience in the marketing space She loves sharing new tips on; blogging; Whole, Online Business as a (2024-07-25). "17 Instagram Reels Statistics You Need To Know For 2024". Blogging Wizard. Retrieved 2024-11-30.{{cite web}}: |first8= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Zhang, Ning; Hazarika, Bidyut; Chen, Kuanchin; Shi, Yinan (2023-08-01). "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.
  19. 1 2 Jargon, Julie (2023-08-12). "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 2023-11-09.
  20. ↑ Waters, Jamie (2021-08-22). "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 2024-01-10.
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