Instagram is rolling out an update that will give users a new way to promote their live videos and give them more options when it comes to remixing videos.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the updates while reiterating the company’s focus this year on building video and messaging.
“We’re focused on building for teens and creators and the video and messaging space. It’s all within those themes.”
Mosseri first hinted at Instagram’s new direction when it was announced last summer: “We’re no longer a photo-sharing app.”
Instagram made that vision a reality this year, starting with two video-focused updates — live video and recorded video.
Updates include:
- Promote scheduled life streams with new banners
- Ability to remix any video
Let’s take a look at these enhancements and what they can do for you as a creator.
Highlight scheduled live videos on your profile
When you schedule a live video on Instagram, you can now highlight it with a new banner on your main profile page.
Mosseri explained:
“Creators have been able to schedule livestreams for a while, but now you can separate the scheduling of livestreams from creating dynamic posts about livestreams and even now story posts. You also get a little badge on your profile, Let followers know, or anyone who knows go into your profile, that a live stream is coming up and they can subscribe to get alerted.”
You can create as many scheduled live videos as you want. For example, this gives you the option to promote live streams that run concurrently each day.
See an example of the new banner in the screenshot below:
People visiting your profile can click on the banner to create reminders for upcoming live videos.
Remix any video on Instagram
Users can now remix any video on Instagram.
“Remixing” on Instagram means taking videos posted by others and responding to or reinventing them with your own. This is similar to TikTok’s video reactions.
In fact, when Instagram first introduced the remix feature, it was basically parodying the reaction videos that were popular on TikTok.
Previously, users could only remix TikTok-inspired Instagram Reels.
Now, users can remix any public video on Instagram, whether it’s a Reel or Feed post.
Just tap the three-dot icon that appears in the upper right corner and select “Remix this video.”
Screenshot via twitter.com/alexvoca, January 2022.Mixing is an optional feature, so users can choose which videos they want to allow others to mix.
source: Adam Mosseri on Twitter
Featured image: Mehaniq/Shutterstock
