3 days ago
Last Updated:September 30, 2025, 14:05 IST
Instagram Reels has billions of viewership and now the company wants more people to see the short videos on their mobile screen.
More reels on the app, what could be wrong with that?
Instagram is making a new plan to get more people to watch Reels or short videos on its platform. The new update will be available for mobile users in India, which they are called, Reels-first mobile experience.
The tests have started with a limited group of users in the country which eventually will be available for all the users with the public release in the next few months. Reels has become the core function for Instagram, not only because of the popularity of short videos but also its obvious marketability for ads and other revenue sources.
Instagram Going More Into Reels For India: What It Means For The Users?
The Reel-first experience on mobile for users in India might be limited to a select group but it is still hardly surprising to see this focus from the platform. The new testing means that when you open Instagram you will directly see all the Reels videos.
The Stories from your friends are still at the top but not the centre of your attention because of this change. This is probably not what most Instagram users are seeking but does look like the way forward for the company.
Having said that, tests have usually been done to gauge user interest and any possible backlash usually works out against its release. We’ve seen this with Instagram before when it wanted to make all the photos in 9:16 ratio for vertical shots which did not get the green flag from its users and the platform was criticised for diverging from its origins.
Reels is pretty much the go-to feature for Instagram these days and its claims of short videos being shared over 4.5 billion times every day suggests the focus will only get stronger on the feature.
That’s not all, Instagram wants you to see Reels from people you follow, don’t follow and from random accounts with the Friends, All and Latest within the new Following tab. We do hope the Reels-first tests are done and the feedback taken with the right intent and not just to make short videos more visible to the users.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr...Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr...
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Location :
Delhi, India, India
First Published:
September 30, 2025, 14:05 IST
News tech Reels-First On Mobile: Instagram’s New Plan To Have More People In India Watch Short Videos
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