The news: Instagram is mulling a standalone app for Reels as an aggressive move to capitalize on TikTok’s uncertain future.
The app’s interface would resemble TikTok’s, per The Information, with a scrolling carousel of videos and would be part of an initiative to improve user recommendations and feature more long-form Reels.
The news comes as Instagram is facing content moderation problems within its feed, including an incident Wednesday that allowed violent and graphic content to flood users’ Reels pages, per CNBC. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, apologized for the “error.”