Instagram Reels may become a standalone app

Instagram is reportedly considering spinning off Reels into a separate short-form video app, potentially capitalizing on TikTok’s uncertain future in the US. According to The Information, Instagram head Adam Mosseri discussed the plan with staff.

While the Biden administration had pushed for a forced sale or ban of TikTok, citing concerns over its China-based parent company ByteDance, President Donald Trump recently extended the deadline by 75 days.

With 170 million US users, TikTok remains a dominant force.

Meta has a history of experimenting with standalone apps. However, its TikTok competitor, the Lasso app, failed to pick up and shut down in 2018.

Things may turn around this time. Instagram has been ramping up its efforts to attract content creators. It even offered cash bonuses and launched Edits, a competitor to ByteDance’s CapCut video editing app.