Adam Mosseri, Instagram CEO, Recently Stated That Long Videos Are Not Planned for the Platform, as They Don’t Align with the App’s Identity
🔹 Instagram: Long Videos Are Not on the Agenda
In a short video posted on his personal account, Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, explained that long videos are not a priority for the platform. He believes short videos better align with Instagram’s two main goals: discovering new interests and connecting with friends. These interactions are particularly facilitated through private messaging: “You see a funny video and send it to someone who will laugh just as much. Or, I see a video of an amazing goal and send it to a football-loving friend like myself.”
According to Mosseri, long videos don’t support these goals. “If you watch a 10- or 20-minute video, you see less content from your friends, interact with them less, and are less likely to share that video,” he explains. Investing in long videos could therefore compromise Instagram’s “fundamental identity.”
🔹 Instagram Reaffirms Its Role as a Social Network
Instagram’s primary video format, Reels, has seen its length increase gradually from 15 seconds in 2020 to 10 minutes today. This change reflects an adaptation to the strategy of its competitor, TikTok. However, while TikTok tests one-hour videos to compete with YouTube, Instagram is choosing a different path.
Unlike TikTok, which positions itself as an entertainment app, Instagram aims to be a true social network. Adam Mosseri wants to “connect people with their friends” through short videos. In line with this goal, he recently announced an algorithm update where the number of private message shares becomes a key factor in content ranking. Additionally, a share counter has been added under posts and Reels.