Instagram, owned by Meta, is borrowing yet another feature from TikTok—this time, the ability to speed up Reels by 2x.
Users can now fast-forward videos by long-pressing on the right or left side of their screen.
TikTok originally launched with 15-second videos, but as the platform gained popularity and extended video lengths, it introduced a speed-up option to help users consume content faster. Instagram Reels followed a similar path, starting with 15-second videos and later expanding to allow uploads up to 3 minutes long. Now, Instagram is adding the fast-forward feature to keep up with TikTok’s approach.
This new option could help keep users engaged, especially with longer videos, as quick, digestible content continues to dominate social media. Some experts have raised concerns that the rise of short-form content may be reducing people’s attention spans, making features like fast-forwarding even more appealing.
Since Instagram Reels was designed as a direct competitor to TikTok, it’s no surprise that the platform keeps adopting similar features. The Remix tool, for example, is essentially a copy of TikTok’s Duet feature. As competition between the two apps continues, users can likely expect even more overlap in the future.
