Instagram to let select creators post videos up to 90 minutes long, plans TV app

Social media has become part of everyday life, and Instagram holds a big place in it. People open the app for everything, big and small, and it has also become a good way to show off one's talent. So far, only reels, stories and photos could be posted there, but the company is now bringing a new update that could take on Facebook and YouTube head-on.

The company is currently working on longer videos and is testing a new feature. Under it, a few select users will be able to post videos of up to 90 minutes.

Until now, only videos of a minute or two could be posted on Instagram. People therefore turned to Facebook or YouTube to watch longer videos. To draw those viewers in, videos of up to 90 minutes are now being allowed. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said this.

On a podcast hosted by Colin and Samir, Mosseri said he had earlier been strongly against long videos and wanted only short ones. But times are changing. People like to watch podcasts, interviews, conversations and long vlogs, and they go to YouTube for these. According to him, if long videos are available on Instagram itself, people will use the company's app more.

For now, the feature has been given to select creators. They can upload horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes. These videos will appear on the regular feed and the Explore page, just as other videos appear while scrolling Instagram. Creators can also post a short clip of their long video as a reel. Those who like the reel can watch the full video on Instagram itself, without going to another app.

Instagram is also launching a new app for TV, which will give more prominence to long videos so that people who watch videos on TV can see them too. The app has been launched on Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV. It will come to Apple TV in a few days.

Two more features are coming. The first is Series, in which creators can tell a story in parts, much as a serial has Part 1 and Part 2. This will make it easier for people to watch one part after another.

The second is second screen, in which a mobile phone can be used like a remote. If a video being watched on the phone is paused, it can be resumed from that point on the TV. A video can also be saved and watched later on TV. Background playback has also been mentioned, meaning a video's audio will keep playing after Instagram is closed, which will be very useful for podcast listeners. This feature has not yet arrived, but Mosseri has said it will come soon.

The most important question is whether creators will be paid. Long videos earn money on YouTube, but Instagram has no such scheme at present. It has no plan for now to share money for any video, short or long. The company says this could change in future.