Overview
- Meta began limited tests in late October that let select creators in the U.S. upload horizontal videos up to 90 minutes, following earlier trials in Brazil.
- The tested 'Features' format targets long-form content such as podcasts, interviews and shows and uses a wide-screen presentation rather than the app’s usual vertical Reels.
- Instagram is also trialing discovery tools to link short clips to full videos, including a 'Clips as Reels' option to post up to eight short Reels from a longer video and a 'Series' tool to group related Reels.
- Meta has not announced a formal monetization plan for the long-form format and says it is exploring ways creators might earn from brands, fans and performance metrics.
- Industry context matters because YouTube offers a clear ad-revenue share for long videos, so Instagram’s ability to attract creator migration will depend on rollout scale and whether Meta offers comparable creator pay.