Instagram announced a timely update to its Reels video feature this morning, along with news that The Supreme Court upheld the law TikTok would be banned in the US on January 19. The update will make it easier for users to discover content that friends and followers like on the platform and will encourage users to start conversations about Reels content, Meta says.
Meta says the features will be released in the US to start.
The company is poised to attract a number of TikTok users in the wake of the US ban, especially creators who rely on social media for income. Although a large group of TikTokers have already fled to the Chinese app RedNote in protest of the ban, it will be difficult for creators to monetize their followers on an app that is largely used by Chinese internet users, but not American companies and brands.
Meta, seeking to capture the attention of TikTok users, announced on Friday that it is adding a feature that appears in the top-right corner of the Reels tab, making it easier to see content that friends and followers have liked or commented on (leaving notes on). This appears as a small button containing profile pictures of those who have interacted with the content and a small heart icon or conversation bubble, to indicate the type of interaction they had.
Additionally, the company said it will introduce a new “reply bar” at the bottom of the reel that will allow users to easily reply to content their friends like. For example, the ribbon might prompt you to respond to a friend’s “Like” while their profile picture and heart float on the screen. When you send a reply, it goes directly to a follower you follow who liked the reel or left a note, like a direct message.
New features are rolling out now, Meta says.
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