Meta has introduced new tools to expand the ways you can collaborate with others using Reels, as part of its strategy to better compete with TikTok. For starters, you can now remix not only videos, but also photos on Instagram, giving you more material to work with. The company has added more Remix layouts to include a green screen, split screen, or frame-by-frame reaction view, as well as making it easy to add your own spin or to an existing Reel . Also, you can choose to attach your remix to the end of the original reel instead of having them play side by side. This format works best if you have a hot take or rebuttal you want to post.
In addition, Meta is releasing templates to make it easier to create reels with preloaded audio and video effects; just add your photo or video to one. You can view the company’s collection of templates by tapping the camera icon on the Reels tab. Another new feature that makes the feature a more real rival to TikTok is the ability to record with the phone’s front and back cameras at the same time as the Instagram camera.
Finally, Meta has confirmed an earlier feature leak that will convert all videos posted to Instagram as Reels, as long as they are shorter than 15 minutes. Videos under 90 seconds can be recommended in the app and therefore can have a wider reach. But you don’t have to worry about being famous if you don’t want to be: Instagram won’t use your Reels as a recommendation if your profile is set to private, and it won’t retroactively convert old uploads. This feature will be rolled out over the next few weeks and will also consolidate all your videos and reels into one tab in the app.
Just a few days ago, Instagram also introduced a feature that would allow influencers to earn from their reels. Creators can now share subscriber-only feeds that lock their content behind a paywall. Meta promised creators that it won’t cut their earnings until 2024, but putting Reels behind a paywall is a way to monetize them. Company executives previously said they intend to focus on monetizing Reels as soon as possible in the second half of 2022, so we’ll likely see more features aimed at monetizing short videos in the near future.