On October 26, Instagram announced Features, a horizontal and long video format that supports pieces of up to 90 minutes and allows short clips to link directly to the full video. [1]
Although Instagram is testing Features, the launch is not yet available in Europe; currently, the program is restricted to specific creators in Brazil and the United States, with no planned date for other countries. [1]
For now, users can replicate the workflow promoted by Instagram by using YouTube for the full video and Reels or Shorts as tools for promotion and linking. [1]
The new format introduces a tripartite architecture based on Features (long videos), Clips as Reels (up to eight concatenated clips linked to a base video), and Series (episodes in Reels format). [1]
Instagram is transitioning from a strict short-video policy to a synergistic system, where the vertical clip becomes the entry point for extended video content, visible both on mobile and in widescreen format. [1]
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has acknowledged his previous resistance to prolonged content, fearing that every half hour of video would generate a bombardment of uncensored Reels and carousels. [1]
The current strategy seeks to create a symbiosis between short and long formats, comparable to a podcast that exists simultaneously as a single piece and within a structure of distinct episodes. [1]
Details of the project were confirmed through data provided by Instagram, corroborated by reports analyzed by Variety, The Verge, WIRED, and TechCrunch. [1]
Tessa Lyons explained the logic behind the test: the mobile device is used for content discovery, while large screens are reserved for consumption. [1]
The algorithm will begin to reward narrative continuity, placing emphasis on seriality and consistency, rather than on a single clip that goes viral in isolation. [1]
A 20- to 45-minute informative workshop presents a natural structure suited to the format, as it already includes an intro, blocks of three to four main ideas, and practical conclusions. [1]
Instagram’s reference model is the podcast format, where a complete episode is broken down into small fragments distributed on Reels to capture audiences without requiring them to listen to the entire original material. [1]
Clips as Reels attempts to solve the problem of discovering long-duration content that remains hidden outside the platform, transforming the Reel from the final product into a strategic teaser. [1]
This methodology aligns with ethical requirements, particularly article 32 of the Ethical Code, which calls for avoiding false hope—a much easier approach to apply over thirty minutes than over forty seconds. [1]
Major limitations include the fact that Features is only a pilot test and lacks a set schedule for Spain or for most of Latin America. [1]
Support on the TV app will take time, but Mexico is already involved in testing the Series, and Brazil tested Features even before the official announcement. [1]
Monetarily, unlike YouTube which distributes 55% of advertising revenue to creators, Instagram does not promote a revenue-sharing model at this stage. [1]
Meta considers it premature to discuss long-term monetization strategies, focusing instead on converting viewers who transition from short clips to longer viewing sessions. [1]
Instagram’s previous attempt, IGTV launched in 2018 and closed in 2022, failed partly due to forcing vertical format for content preferred in horizontal view. [1]
Creating an exclusive video library based on a beta feature involves significant risks, although Tessa Lyons believes lessons from the past could enable the success of this iteration. [1]
Until full regional availability, creators can adopt a workflow similar to that existing on YouTube, which allows linking a Short to a longer video via the related videos feature. [1]
The main challenge remains scripting content; raw materials are not optimized for splitting, while structured content allows identifying autonomous segments of four to seven minutes. [1]
Recording a 20- to 45-minute lecture must be done in horizontal format, keeping the subject centered, to facilitate subsequent vertical cutting without losing image quality. [1]
The script must be fragmented into four to eight autonomous sections, each acting simultaneously as an individual video and as a distinct chapter, equipped with a title and a key question. [1]
Uploading the complete piece will be done on YouTube and linking each Short to it as a reference, while on Instagram, Reels are numbered like a season, pointing to the main source in the profile. [1]
Rigorous verification of each clip outside of context is essential to eliminate personalized clinical recommendations or unrealistic promises about outcomes. [1]
Obtaining written consent from all visible participants and excluding interventions that reveal patients' private details constitute mandatory steps in the recording process. [1]
The announcement comes late compared to competitors, but interest among mental health specialists is driven by the platform's ability to leverage complex context, rather than direct conflict with YouTube. [1]
Instagram seeks to convert short motivational phrases into deep analyses, thus rewarding narrative consistency in an environment where extreme fragmentation usually predominates. [1]
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