Instagram Tests TV-Friendly Format for Long Videos

    Instagram is testing a new format called “Features” for long, horizontal videos. The aim is to make long videos more suitable for watching on television. “Features” is currently being tested among a small group of users in the US market. The format is also being tested with some content creators in Brazil.    Instagram head Adam Mosseri said he had long opposed adding long videos to the platform. His main concern about 6.5-minute videos is that they weaken connections between friends. According to Mosseri, when users spend more time watching long videos, they see fewer Reels, photos, and carousel posts that they could send to friends. As a result, the number of likes and shares could decrease.    The team is now working on ways for short and long videos to complement each other. For example, the full version of a podcast or comedy show could be published as a long video. Individual segments could also be divided into short clips. Instagram is also testing short excerpts that link to long videos and consecutive Reels series created by creators. Changes are also being developed to make live broadcasts easier to find.    The new format was announced following the launch of the Instagram TV app late last year. The app was initially tested in the US market for watching Reels on Amazon Fire TV devices. It was later added to Google TV, Samsung TV, and Apple TV devices as well. A feature for watching Stories in the TV app was introduced earlier this year.