You may have been wondering why your Instagram profile looks a little different than it used to do. Or, more specifically, wondering what has happened to the IGTV tab.
IGTV is a thing of the past. Instagram has officially ditched the IGTV tab and revamped its video format as a whole in an effort to focus more on video content.
Instagram has, instead, combined IGTV and feed videos into one format called "Instagram Video." Read on to find out more about Instagram's new video format, Instagram Video.
Why Instagram Got Rid of IGTV
Earlier, Instagram had announced that it would be making changes to the app as we know it, focusing less on images and more on video content, amongst other things.
Instagram even went as far as mentioning TikTok and YouTube as its competitors, citing the need to meet the demands of the market—which is entertainment.
Now, Instagram has followed through on that promise, ditching IGTV in favor of a new video format. But why has Instagram got rid of IGTV? Quite simply, the long-form video feature just didn't pan out.
IGTV Never Really Took Off
Instagram launched IGTV in 2018 in the hopes that it would become the mobile equivalent to YouTube.
However, the longer format never quite took off, especially with TikTok launching just two months later in the US, introducing short-form video content, which was more favored by social media users.
Instagram then focused its efforts on competing with TikTok with its short video format copycat feature, Instagram Reels.
How Instagram Video Is Different From IGTV
So what makes Instagram Video different from IGTV?
You Can Upload and Discover Videos More Easily
Instagram is launching new features for Video, including trimming tools, filters, and the ability to tag people and locations. You'll also be able to preview videos in your feed for 60 seconds (except for videos that are eligible for ads, which will still preview for 15 seconds).
New Ways to Watch and Explore Video Content
The new Video tab will house all video content going forward, making it easier for you to find content from your favorite creators.
You can also continue scrolling to discover new video content from creators you may not be following, but which you may enjoy. This will help you find new creators to follow, and new content for inspiration.
Your in-feed videos can now be as long as 60 minutes, and users won't have to leave the main app to view them, as was the case with IGTV videos.
You can now tap anywhere on a video to enter fullscreen mode. Previously, this action muted the audio of a video.
Instagram is also making it easier to track the performance of all your posts in one view by merging feed post insights and video insights into a combined metric for businesses and creators.
A New Time Limit for Video Ads
IGTV ads are now known as Instagram In-Stream video ads, and businesses that want to take advantage of these must ensure that their videos are not longer than 60 seconds in length.
Where to Find Videos on Your Instagram Profile
You will find the new Video tab on your Instagram profile, directly under your bio and between the tabs for Reels and tagged content. Previously, video content was scattered, meaning that you were able to discover it in different areas like on your feed and on the Explore page.
Now you will have a dedicated place for video content, which will make it easier for you to create and explore new video content.
Is Instagram Changing Its App as We Know It?
With the social media market being so competitive, it's no surprise that Instagram is changing things up and investing more in features that could encourage more engagement and inspire creators to create more captivating posts.
Previously known as the photo-sharing app, Instagram is focusing less on images and more on videos, changing the app as we know it. With so many key changes in direction, we can't help but wonder how different Instagram will look in the future.
