Instagram considers launching ‘Reels’ as standalone app to rival TikTok

SAN FRANCISCO: Instagram is reportedly contemplating the launch of its short-form video feature, Reels, as a standalone app, amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, in the United States.

According to a report by The Information, a technology industry-focused publication, Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, discussed this potential move during a staff meeting earlier this week.

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has not yet provided a comment regarding this development.

In January, former President Donald Trump extended TikTok’s compliance deadline by 75 days, following a law enacted by then-President Joe Biden that required either a sale or a ban on the platform. Trump had proposed the idea of a joint venture, suggesting a 50-50 partnership between the U.S. and ByteDance, but did not elaborate on how such an arrangement might function.

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The Biden administration raised concerns that TikTok, which has approximately 170 million users in the US, could serve as a tool for Chinese espionage and political manipulation. Conversely, those opposing a TikTok ban have pointed to issues of free speech as a compelling reason to keep the platform available.

Back in 2018, Meta attempted to compete with TikTok by launching a separate app called Lasso, but that venture was ultimately discontinued.