Chapter 12
Understanding Reels
IN THIS CHAPTER
Viewing reels
Tapping into reels
The Instagram Reels feature, which rolled out to the majority of users in August 2020, is a response to the popularity of TikTok and a way to create similar content in the Instagram platform.
Reels, like Instagram stories, are built into the existing Instagram interface. You can even access the reels camera from the Story screen. In this chapter, we talk about viewing reels, and in Chapter 13 we get into the details of creating reels.
Finding and Watching Reels
Chances are you’ve seen reels on Instagram already, even if you didn’t realize it. Reels can be uploaded to stories, your feed, a reels gallery on your profile, and even shown on the Explore page. They’re pretty much everywhere!
You can recognize a Reels video as you’re scrolling through your feed because it will have a play button inside a clapboard icon in the lower-left corner of the video. If you’re looking at someone’s Instagram profile, the icon is in the upper-right corner, as shown in Figure 12-1.
FIGURE 12-1: The Instagram Reel has a Reels icon in the post.
If a reels video has been uploaded to the feed of someone you follow, you’ll ...
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