Instagram has quietly released a new feature for its app that allows users to double the playback speed of Reels. Instagram extended the duration of Reels to up to three minutes earlier this year, and this new function is intended to provide users with the option of fast viewing longer content.
This decision is consistent with the Meta-owned social media platform’s policy of prioritizing short-form content over long-form videos, which the company describes as part of its “core identity” of connecting people with friends.
TechCrunch first reported on the new feature, which allows users to speed up Instagram Reels by tapping and holding either the left or right side of the screen. Meanwhile, the same movement in the center of the screen pauses the video, as before. When the Instagram Reel is sped up, a 2x speed label displays at the bottom.
It is expected to be released as a convenience feature following the social media platform’s decision to increase the duration of Reels to three minutes. The new 2x playback speed option is expected to help consumers reach the end of longer videos. LoudFact can confirm that the feature is currently available for Instagram Reels on Android and iOS.
A similar option is already available on TikTok. This ByteDance-owned video-hosting service recently made headlines for its proposed ban, although the decision was reversed, though only for a while in the United States. With the release of Instagram Reels, the social media platform is expected to enhance its position by adding more options for short-form video content.
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As part of a bigger strategy, Instagram is said to be considering introducing a dedicated app for short-form video content. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri reportedly informed the company’s employees about a project involving a potential Reels app named Project Ray.
Along with Reels, it may also show up to three-minute videos. According to the source, this new standalone app could provide a comparable vertically scrolling experience as TikTok.
