Instagram has provided creators with some tips for getting discovered in the Reels tab and, as part of that, it says doesn't want content that's been pulled from TikTok — or, as Instagram puts it, "is visibly recycled from other apps." Reels, of course, is Instagram's take on the short-form video format popularized by TikTok. However, while Instagram was willing to duplicate much of the functionality of TikTok, it's not so keen on having the TikTok watermark appearing on its platform.
To recap, Instagram has been around since 2010 and started life as a photo-sharing app, although it has since added more functionality. TikTok launched in 2016 and its never-ending cycle of short videos has since proved to be something of a hit, with the app having been downloaded around a billion times in 2020. In an attempt to compete on that front, Instagram introduced Reels in August last year, allowing users to create videos with added music, filters, and effects.
With the feature now well bedded in, Instagram put out a post on its 'creators' channel offering tips to get discovered in the Reels tab. It explains that it is making improvements to how it recommends Reels for viewing based on surveys with users and seeing how users have interacted with Reels so far. With all that in mind, it has put together some "best practices" for creators to follow to maximize the chances of their content being discovered.
Instagram's Best Practices For Reels
Over the course of two images, Instagram provides a series of dos and don'ts. First, it advises users to ensure the Reels they post are entertaining, fun, or inspiring, use creative tools like text, filters, or camera effects, are oriented vertically rather than horizontally, are accompanied by music from the Instagram music library, and are perhaps experimental in some way or other.
It then moves on to advising users what not to do, including posting blurry and/or low-resolution content, videos with borders around them, or videos that are largely covered by text. It's here that Instagram also says that users should not post content containing logos or watermarks that are identifiable as being from other services — meaning one service primarily, no doubt, with many users having been reposting content from TikTok for ease rather than creating original content for Reels. To show that it means business, Instagram advises that Reels posted with any of these faults won't be recommended as often to people that the uploader isn't connected with on the platform, although they will still be shown as they would ordinarily to a user's followers.
Instagram says it's making this sort of content less discoverable because it's learned that it "makes the Reels experience less satisfying." While that may be the case, no doubt Instagram would also rather not have one of its competitors routinely advertised on its platform, let alone via a feature that was based on the competitor in question.
Source: Instagram