People love using TikTok to create fun videos, and this has been noticed by many companies, advertising agencies, and even the president! So, it’s no surprise that other social media platforms are looking to duplicate this video editing software. Instagram recently launched Reels, which attempts to make short videos more interesting! At a time when TikTok fans are worried that they might lose their favorite social media platform, this alternative chose the right time to come up to bat, but is it any good? Let’s find out!

What is “Reels”?

Reels is essentially a TikTok copycat from Facebook that can be utilized on Instagram to create and edit short videos. This free feature allows you to create montages overlaid with copyrighted music and embellished with emojis and sped-up motion. These videos are published to an Explore tab, which is a mishmash of photos, sponsored posts, and long-form videos. It does not seem to create a custom-tailored feed to provide you with videos that would interest you in particular. It also lacks a layer of artificial intelligence that helps the creative process, such as song recommendations and automatic clip trimming, making it less user-friendly than its counterpart. 

So Is It Worth Utilizing?

Well, you may be wondering if it’s even worth utilizing, which is entirely up to you. As we face the possible banning of TikTok, Reels seems like a decent alternative. But let’s face it, Reels only seems like a decent platform if it no longer has TikTok to rival against. It might be worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the technology in case you are to lose access to TikTok in the future; that way, you have a backup plan and can continue to create great video content! Since it is a brand new feature, you might want to start taking the time now to understand the ins and outs now. 

So, although we are glad to know that there are other options out there and that Instagram saw an opportunity to be competitive, it may need significant improvements. What do you think of the new Instagram Reels? Share your thoughts in the comments below.