Instagram may modify how you access Reels in order to compete with TikTok.

      The surge in popularity of short-form videos and the potential uncertainty surrounding a TikTok ban in the U.S. may have prompted Meta to think about creating Instagram Reels as an independent app. Instagram's feature for vertically scrolling videos may be transformed into a dedicated app that focuses solely on short videos, apart from its photo-sharing capabilities. Adam Mosseri, Instagram's head, reportedly updated staff about this development, as reported by the Information (via Reuters).

      It remains uncertain whether the new Reels app will consist solely of a basic interface featuring video and discovery feeds or if it will include a separate messaging component. In the meantime, if you’re in search of a photo-sharing app that doesn’t encourage endless video scrolling, Foto is a newly launched option free from such distractions.

      The current status of TikTok in the U.S.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      This progression follows U.S. President Donald Trump signing executive orders on January 20, where TikTok was granted a 75-day reprieve from a ban suggested by the previous administration under Biden. At that time, Trump had suggested a 50-50 partnership with an American firm, enabling joint ownership alongside China's ByteDance.

      On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, TikTok experienced a brief offline period, and the apps were removed from both the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store. Although services resumed a few hours later, the apps did not reappear in the stores until mid-February.

      ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has received various acquisition offers, including those from Microsoft, Elon Musk, and a group of independent investors that features YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, also known as Mr. Beast. Following the unbanning of the app, Trump has shown optimism about the possibility of TikTok's (fully or partially) selling to a U.S.-based entity. However, ByteDance has yet to release any formal announcements aside from Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, expressing gratitude to Trump for assisting it in “defending the constitutional right of free speech” for more than 170 million users. Thus, TikTok's future in the U.S. is still in flux, and Meta appears to be aiming to capture some of its user base, as it has in areas like India, where TikTok is banned.

      Another independent app from Meta

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      In parallel, Meta has recently unveiled a different standalone app called Edits, targeted towards creators who primarily produce videos on their phones. In addition to video editing and sharing features, Edits includes additional tools that are currently not available in the Instagram app, such as a higher quality camera for iPhone and an Inspiration tab to assist creators in tracking trends.

      These features position Edits as a competitor to CapCut, a similar app by ByteDance intended for TikTok video creation. In 2023, Meta also introduced Threads, another app connected to Instagram but functioning independently, designed to provide an X-like feed.

      As a large corporation, having distinct applications for various portfolios may enable Meta to manage them more efficiently. However, maintaining two separate apps instead of one might create complications for users and could potentially drive them to abandon one of the apps entirely.