By Instagram appears to be working on expanding its Instagram Reels feature, allowing users to create videos up to 10 minutes in length. However, neither Meta (the parent company of Instagram) nor Instagram itself have officially confirmed this extension or responded to inquiries.
This potential expansion of Reels, from its current three-minute limit to 10 minutes, would bring it closer in duration to many YouTube videos. Nevertheless, it would still fall short of TikTok’s offerings, as TikTok already allows users to record longer videos. TikTok introduced longer video options of up to 10 minutes for free users, and they have a separate paid tier that extends video lengths to 20 minutes, catering to fans who want more content from their favorite creators. In contrast, YouTube has been encouraging creators to focus on shorter content.
Instagram has been making efforts to enhance Reels’ features to compete with TikTok as the latter gained popularity in the short-form video space. These updates have made Reels increasingly resemble TikTok by adding new editing tools and templates to help creators replicate viral content. Initially designed for short and snappy clips, Reels may soon accommodate longer, YouTube-like videos such as 10-minute vlogs, product reviews, and more.
The introduction of 10-minute videos could create new opportunities for creators, benefiting those who prefer making longer-form content. While YouTube has been a dominant force in long-form video content and is currently promoting short-form content, it may face increased competition as more short-video platforms start offering longer video options.
