Instagram Adds New Features to Reels as TikTok Ban Looms

With TikTok on track to be banned from U.S. app stores starting on Sunday, Instagram is adding new features to Reels, its video-based feature that's modeled after TikTok.

Instagram Feature 2
Going forward, there will be a new Reels feed that includes videos that your friends have liked or commented on, so you can see what your friends have watched and what they like. Your friends will also be able to see the videos that you have liked, which is something to be aware of.

In this new Reels feed filled with friend recommendations, there will be an option to "start a conversation" with someone over a reel that they've liked.

"We want Instagram to not only be a place where you consume entertaining content, but one where you connect over that content with friends," Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a video announcing the change.

Instagram used to have a dedicated Activity feed that offered up this information, but it was removed several years ago. It is not yet known if Instagram plans to provide an opt-out for the new feed.

The new feed is rolling out in a handful of countries right now, with Instagram set to expand it in the future.

Instagram competitor TikTok could be unavailable to use starting on Sunday, which is the day U.S. app stores will be prohibited from distributing the app. Instagram could absorb some displaced TikTok users if that ends up happening.

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Top Rated Comments

spaxxedout Avatar
10 weeks ago
The MacRumors comment section is about as close as I get to social media these days.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Belisama Avatar
10 weeks ago
The Chinese should not get data about your life!

Give your data and your life to Zuckerberg and Musk instead ???.
And trust them to take great care of your privacy...
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mostly Adequate Avatar
10 weeks ago
I miss the pre-2006 internet, before social media started to creep everywhere online and offline…
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
10 weeks ago
Short form video really is a blight on society.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
10 weeks ago

With TikTok on track to be banned from U.S. app stores starting on Sunday, Instagram is adding new features to Reels, its video-based feature that's modeled after TikTok.
? And Zuckerberg has the gall to say that Apple lacks innovation ('https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/11/mark-zuckerberg-slams-apple-on-its-lack-of-innovation-and-random-rules.html'). Every new feature Meta/Facebook has rolled out is a copy of another companies feature.

Reels? [S]Copied from[/S] inspired by TikTok

Instagram Stories? [S]Copied from[/S] inspired by Snapchat

Threads? [S]Copied from[/S] inspired by Twitter/X

Community Notes? [S]Copied from[/S] inspired by Twitter/X

Messenger Rooms? [S]Copied from[/S] inspired by Zoom and/or Houseparty
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BGPL Avatar
10 weeks ago

They want to ban TikTok, but they can't ban pornography sites in America, on what planet does this make sense?
You are comparing apples and orangutans, exploitation of privacy and morality.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)