Instagram Testing an App Clip on iOS to Let Users Watch Reels Without Downloading the App: Report

Instagram is reportedly testing a new feature on iOS that will allow people who do not have the app to still watch Reels in the app’s native interface. This will be done through App Clips, a feature that was added to iPhone in 2021 with the iOS 14 update. App Clips are like previews where users can use a particular feature before they decide to download the full app. Notably, TikTok also has an App Clip that lets non-users watch its short video content.

The information comes from a 9to5Mac report that found an App Clip in the Instagram app version 319.0.2, which is available to beta testers through TestFlight. The App Clip lets iOS users watch Instagram’s short video content Reels in the app’s native UI instead of on the browser. So, if a friend shares a link to a Reel in iMessage, users can now view it normally as it would appear on the Instagram app. The report adds that there is no need to create an Instagram account to use this feature.

With App Clip, users can watch a Reel, scroll to see more popular videos, and even share them with others. However, after the sixth Reel, the App Clip nudges the user to download the app, highlights the report.

Apple defines App Clips as “a small part of your app that’s discoverable at the moment it’s needed and lets people complete a quick task from your app — even before installing your full app.” Some of these tasks can be renting a bike, making a payment at a restaurant, and more. However, do note that App Clips are still mini apps that need to be downloaded first. They are just smaller in size and will become discoverable when the user encounters a specific command.

App Clips can be triggered through several methods, ranging from NFC tags and QR codes to shared links. Clicking on it opens a drawer at the bottom that shows the name of the app and an Open button, tapping which opens the App Clip in full screen and lets the user perform the task. App Clips can send notifications for up to eight hours after it has been opened.

These are meant to serve as a demo or a preview of the app so that users who are apprehensive about it can give it a test run before going through the longer process of downloading and installing it.


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Instagram Allows Feed Post Audience Customisation; Introduces New Reels Editing Tools, More

Instagram recently said that it was testing features to allow users to customise their feeds more. In September this year, it was reported that the company is also testing features that will allow users to choose to share Reels and feed posts with a customised list of profiles. Now, the social media platform has started rolling out the feature where users can choose their “audience” before sharing a post to their feed. Instagram has also introduced several new editing tools for Reels, alongside new post filters and improved insights.

The Close Friends feature on Instagram is expanded so that users can share posts and reels to their main feed that will only be visible to people on the list, as opposed to just their followers. Previously, users could share stories with a specific set of people on their Close Friends list. Users can choose their Close Friends list from the “audience” option by tapping it before sharing a post or Reel. Once posted, it will have a green star icon, just like Close Friends stories have a green circle surrounding them. Gadgets 360 was able to verify this feature.

Whether a user is posting a note, a story, a reel, or a feed post, their lists of Close Friends won’t change. When someone responds to a story, it serves as a private direct message to the poster. However, everyone else in the Close Friends circle can see it when a user likes or comments on someone else’s Close Friends post or Reel.

Instagram also unveiled new Reels editing tools, which include cropping and rotating individual clips. They added that they look forward to introducing undo and redo features for Reels editing soon. The new features also allow you to add audio clips to your Reel. Ten new text-to-speech voices in English have also been introduced, along with new text styles and typefaces that are available in multiple languages. Additionally, you can now get to the audio page from the top of the camera roll and use outlines in your text in Reels. Another improvement includes a more simplified Draft preview. Additionally, you’ll be able to preview, rename, and schedule your drafts beforehand.

The platform now also allows you to make personalised stickers similar to that of WhatsApp stickers. Custom stickers can be created from images and videos in the users’ gallery and those found on Instagram. The app has also incorporated new filters which claim to explore different tones and moods and new insight metrics called ‘Replays’, which measure replay metrics alongside initial plays. In the coming months, they also aim to bring moment-by-moment insight for Reels with an interactive Retention Chart to assist digital creators.



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Instagram Rolling Out Stories-Like Song Lyrics Feature to Reels

Instagram, the Meta-owned social media platform, is rolling out a feature that allows users to add song lyrics to their Reels, just like on Instagram Stories. This comes after Instagram was said to be testing out a few new features over the past few weeks. Some of those features were focused on revamping how we view our feeds, and some of them were about collaborative posting. However, the new song lyrics feature introduced to Instagram Reels is a feature that is familiar to users since it has been available on Instagram Stories for a while now.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update on his Broadcast Channel. He said that the team noticed that users were often manually adding song lyrics to their videos. In the announcement, he hoped that this feature would help users and make it easier for them to express themselves. He also added that the company is currently working on more features for Reels.

While editing an Instagram Reel, if you want to add song lyrics to the video, you have to tap on the music icon first and then select a song. Once the song (which you want to add the lyrics of) is decided, you can swipe left to add the lyrics. This works more or less like the Music feature on Instagram Stories, which has allowed us to add song lyrics (if available) to Stories for a while now.

Recently, Mosseri stated that Instagram is testing a feature that lets users invite friends to contribute to their feed posts, resulting in collaborative carousel posts. Once the invite is extended, the concerned user will be able to see an option to ‘Add to post’ to add more images.

People may soon also be able to see posts from only verified people according to another company statement. In order to improve the feature, Instagram claimed to be actively testing it and asking users for input. There are three options offered – a feed from Following, one from Favourites, and another from Meta Verified users. This may help companies and creators to become more visible.

Notably, Instagram, alongside Facebook, recently announced ad-free subscription plans in Europe. Users in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland can pay EUR 9.99 (roughly Rs. 880) per month for ad-free Web access and EUR 12.99 (roughly Rs. 1,100) per month for iOS and Android platforms without ads.


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Instagram Reels Crossposting to Facebook, New Tools for Content Creators Announced: All Details

Instagram Reels can now be cross posted to Facebook, Meta has announced while also releasing new tools for content creators. The new features include the ability to add an “Add Yours” sticker to Reels, creator studio insights, ‘Stars’ on Facebook Reels, and auto creation of reels on the video and photo sharing platform. The new features and updates appear to be more on the Facebook side. As per Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, these tools will help creators increase the number of people their Reels reach and monetise content.

The new features for Instagram and Facebook were announced via a small clip on Facebook. Mosseri briefly discussed three tools for video creators via Twitter. The first feature that was discussed is the ability to cross post Instagram Reels to Facebook. Cross posting content from Instagram is not an entirely new feature — users have been able to post Stories and images on both the platforms in one go. The same ability is now expanded to Reels. Enabling the “Share to Facebook” option on Instagram will post the Reel on both platforms owned by Meta.

The second feature is the ability to add an “Add Yours” sticker on Reels. This sticker is already popular on Stories, prompting users to share content as per the text written in the sticker. With the new ability, people will now be able to share videos in context with the text written on these stickers. Furthemore, the sticker will have a link to your profile giving you a “shoutout” for starting a trend on the platform.

Users who post Reels regularly on Facebook will stand to gain from the third feature. Content creators will gain improved insights including reach, average watch time, total view time, among others to help them understand how their Reels are performing on Facebook. In a related feature, Meta also announced that Facebook Stars is now available for all eligible creators. Viewers can send these stars to content creators on their Facebook Reels and in return Facebook will pay them $0.01 (about Rs. 0.80) for every star they receive. Creators can check their total Star count in Creator Studio under Stars stats.

The fifth new feature is that Facebook has now got more Reels remix options. The feature will let you create your own Reel by recording alongside an existing one. Users can remix public photos by choosing from different layouts including, a green screen, horizontal, or vertical split-screen to create reels.

Lastly, Facebook can now automatically create Reels using the Stories the users have already shared. The feature could help content creators in multiple situations. For example, if a user has shared a lot of Stories from their recent trip to Europe, Facebook will compile a few of those Stories into one Reel for to share without minimal effort, according to Meta.




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Instagram’s New Enhanced Tags on Reels Makes It Easier for Creators to Get Credit

Instagram has announced Enhanced Tags on Reels, which is going to allow creators to receive credit for their work. The Enhanced Tags feature was launched for Instagram Feed in March, but now the social media platform has rolled out the same feature to Reels as well. Previously, users found alternative ways to credit each other, such as tagging one another in captions or photos on the platform, but now they can directly give credits by tagging them in Reels also, as per the company.

“Enhanced tags allow a creator’s self-designated profile category on their professional accounts to be displayed in their People Tag so that people can share and view a creator’s specific contribution to a photo or video post. And as Reels also continues to be the largest contributor to engagement growth on Instagram, we’re excited to expand enhanced tags to Reels. Simply put—if you’re a makeup artist, songwriter or another significant collaborator on a post, your contributions will be more visible in the post or Reel,” Instagram explained in an Instagram post.

How to use the Enhanced Tags feature on Reels

To use the new Enhanced Tags on reels, follow the instructions below;

  1. Open the Instagram app and tap the (+) in the top right corner.

  2. Create a new Post and tap Next.

  3. Make any creative edits and then tap Next.

  4. After writing a caption, tap Tag People.

  5. Select Add Tag and search and select your contributors.

  6. Tap Show Profile Category to display the creator category.

And finally, once the user has added additional tags and details, they can tap Share.

“Proper creative credit and recognition is a starting point for discovery, new opportunities and economic empowerment. This is especially relevant as more creators collaborate. Until now, the Instagram community has come together to support creators and has found alternative ways to credit each other, such as tagging one another in captions and photos, so we’re now bringing this feature to our product,” Instagram added.

Moreover, Instagram is reportedly testing out a new feature called Templates for Reels, which provides creators with the option to make reels by borrowing formats from other videos available on the platform. Using this feature, the user can easily borrow the format of another reel and replace the videos with their own content.


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