Instagram Reels Extended to 3 Minutes for Creators

Recently, Instagram made a major update on its Reels feature and increased the maximum limit of video length from 90 seconds to a full 3 minutes. This is because of feedback it received that said users can share longer stories, but the previous time limit was too short for this purpose. Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s CEO, shared the news in a video post on the platform, stating, “You can now upload Reels up to three minutes long. We’ve historically only allowed reels up to 90 seconds given our focus on short-form video, but we’ve heard the feedback that this is just too short for those who want to share longer stories. Hope this helps.“

This update makes Instagram Reels the same as YouTube Shorts, which also had extended its video length to 3 minutes last year. Also, it’s a good time to make this announcement as uncertainty continues to surround the future of TikTok in the United States. TikTok has been allowing videos that are up to 3 minutes long for quite some time now and was faced with a ban-or-divest law passed by the U.S. government last year. Although the services of TikTok have been resumed in the U.S., the situation is still fluid.

Extending Reels to 3 minutes is Instagram’s attempt to appeal to who may be looking for an alternative to TikTok. Providing longer video lengths will help the creators share content that is more comprehensive and therefore interact with their audience in a better manner. This, in turn, is also an extension of a larger strategy on Instagram’s part to improve its video capabilities and compete directly with other short-form video sites.

Apart from the longer Reels time limit, Instagram has also unveiled other new features, such as a redesigned profile grid that perfectly accommodates vertical content, and a new video editing app called Edits, much like CapCut. These are just a few features Instagram introduces continuously, always looking forward to improving and being in-line with the content that is nowadays.

The reaction has been mixed, with some embracing the new Reels time limit and others worrying that there will be longer pieces of content that are not as engaging. Yet, on Instagram’s side, it believes that the increased time limit will more easily allow creatives to have the scope needed to express their thoughts and tell a full story.

Interesting changes await Instagram’s users and creators with the new development it is experiencing. With increased time limits on Reels and many more new features, Instagram will become one of the most effective competitors in short-form video space and be a goldmine for those wanting to share their stories.