Reels on Social Media – Instagram’s Fight for Unique Content
Since social media became a staple of our daily lives, platforms have been competing for our attention in various ways, constantly adding new features and functionalities. When one platform introduces something new, its competitors quickly adopt it, often in an enhanced form. Not only do Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok compete for user attention, but they also battle for content creators. You’re likely aware of how large this group is among social media users, which is why Instagram has decided to offer them more opportunities.
Instagram Offers Several New Features
The platform is rolling out changes for both content creators and regular users. So, what can users expect?
- Creators will be able to assign themselves a relevant category, which will always be displayed when their content is tagged.
- All users will have the ability to tag products in their posts. This feature is already available to users in the United States, but other countries, like Poland, will have to wait. However, once this feature is available, brands will need to make the most of it. The ability for all users to tag products presents a significant opportunity for many e-commerce brands, offering them free advertising. Those who manage to guide their audience effectively will see substantial benefits.
However, the most important change is that Instagram will prioritize original content. This means that content created specifically for Instagram will be given precedence in the feed.
Instagram explains this initiative as a way to reward users who create something from scratch and choose to showcase it on the platform. They emphasize that this approach is not entirely new, but they will now focus more on it. So, what’s the real goal?
Choose Us, and Your Reach Will Increase
Instagram aims to ensure that the content published on its platform is unique, particularly focusing on reducing the volume of videos reposted from TikTok, where the TikTok logo is often visible on each video—something Instagram isn’t too fond of. Especially given that Reels is one of the fastest-growing content formats on Instagram.
To encourage this, Instagram will lower the reach and visibility of content that was previously posted elsewhere. Content from other platforms can still be shared, but its likelihood of being displayed to users will be significantly lower.
Your Effort Will Be Recognized, and You’ll Benefit
It’s clear that a platform with exclusive content not available elsewhere will naturally become the first choice for users. Everyone wants to see something original, and Instagram is ready to deliver just that. From a creator’s perspective, producing content that hasn’t been shared on other platforms offers the chance to reach a broader Instagram audience with a unique message. Ultimately, everyone stands to benefit from this.
Instagram’s content ranking system has the potential to significantly influence creators’ habits—specifically, what they publish and where. Currently, a large portion of Reels shared on Instagram are reposted from other social media. This move by Instagram could reverse that trend, making content created for Instagram the primary medium, with other platforms following suit. It’s only a matter of time before others adopt this approach. For us, the consumers, this will be an added benefit—unique content is a real treat for internet users.
