Instagram’s short-form video feature is called Reels. It lets people create and share brief vertical videos using music, audio, filters, effects, and editing tools within Instagram.
Instagram began testing Reels in Brazil in 2019 before expanding it to France, Germany, and other markets. The feature launched globally in 2020, as Instagram responded to the rapid popularity of TikTok-style short videos. Early Reels were limited to 15 seconds, though Instagram later increased the available length.
Reels is often confused with Stories, but the formats serve different purposes. Stories are designed for temporary posts that generally disappear after 24 hours, while Reels are intended for discovery and can remain on a profile. IGTV was Instagram’s former long-form video product, and Boomerang creates looping mini-clips rather than full short-form videos.