Instagram is reportedly considering turning its Reels feature into a separate app. If TikTok gets banned in the U.S., this move could position Instagram to fill the gap in the short-form video market.
Is Instagram Really Making a Reels App?
Right now, details are scarce. The news comes from an anonymous source who claims that Instagram head Adam Mosseri mentioned the project within Meta. The information was leaked to The Information, but there’s no official confirmation yet.
Internally, this project is being called Project Ray—an interesting name considering Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban on AI-powered smart glasses. However, this could just be a placeholder name with no real connection.
What Would a Standalone Reels App Look Like?
If Meta moves forward with a dedicated Reels app, we can expect:
- Longer videos
- Better content recommendations
- A built-in Reels shopping feature
- More advanced editing tools
While Reels inside Instagram has been successful, it’s still just one of many features. Moving it to a standalone app could allow Meta to compete directly with TikTok and expand its short-form video capabilities.
Why Does Instagram Need a Separate App?
Instagram has become increasingly crowded with features—Reels, Stories, posts, photos, videos, and more. Many users have noticed that the app no longer feels like the simple, photo-sharing platform it once was. A standalone Reels app could help declutter Instagram while giving short-form video content its own space to thrive.
What’s Happening with TikTok?
The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. President Biden signed a ban, but former President Trump granted a 75-day extension before it would take effect.
In that time, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, must either:
- Sell its U.S. operations, or
- Shut down in the U.S.
There’s also a possibility that ByteDance retains 50% ownership if they can convince regulators that the Chinese government won’t have access to U.S. user data—which is the primary reason for the ban.
Final Thoughts
If TikTok is banned, a standalone Instagram Reels app could become the go-to platform for short-form videos. For now, we’ll have to wait and see whether Meta moves forward with the project—or if this remains just an internal idea.
