When Instagram first introduced video to its platform, users could only upload clips up to 15 seconds long. Then in 2016, they finally extended the limit to 60 seconds. Since then, video has only become more of a priority for Instagram and its parent company Facebook, as Instagram Stories has proven to be a wild success and users are sharing more video than ever.
According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Instagram is now preparing to launch a new long-form video feature, which could allow video uploads of up to an hour in length. The social network has reportedly had recent rounds of conversations with content creators and publishers about making long-form video for the platform when the new feature launches. Rumor has it that the focus will be on vertical video—similar to Instagram Stories content. WSJ's sources stress that the plans are "tentative and subject to change," however.
Some industry experts point out that the move would be a logical next step for Facebook to compete with YouTube for lucrative video-based ad dollars. It could also be their way of attempting to even the score after YouTube passed Facebook as the most popular social network among American teens.
The plans to explore long-form video content are a continuation of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's mission to go all-in on video. In 2016, he told BuzzFeed News, "We’re entering this new golden age of video. I wouldn’t be surprised if you fast-forward five years and most of the content that people see on Facebook and are sharing on a day-to-day basis is video."
