While TikTok explores the realm of longer videos, Instagram Head Adam Mosseri has made it clear that the Meta-owned social network will remain dedicated to short-form content.
Mosseri, in an Instagram Reel, expressed his concern that long-form content might divert the platform’s attention from its primary objectives: fostering connections among friends and facilitating user exploration of their interests.
Mosseri highlighted the interdependence of these two concepts, as individuals are able to bond with their friends through shared interests using short-form video. For example, if you come across a reel that brings a smile to your face, you can easily share it with others who you believe would appreciate the video. 
“According to Mosseri, it seems that long-form video is not as mutually beneficial for these other roles,” he stated. Watching a 10- or 20-minute video can have a negative impact on your social interactions. It reduces the amount of content you see from friends, decreases your engagement with them, and lowers the likelihood of sharing that video with others. We have decided not to pursue that business opportunity as it goes against our fundamental mission of fostering connections between friends. We believe that focusing on long-form video content would undermine this core identity. We acknowledge that short-form video may not always achieve that, but it has the potential to do so.
Mosseri recently addressed the topic of TikTok testing the feature that allows users to upload videos up to 60 minutes in length. Over the past few years, TikTok has been gradually expanding its video limit to compete with YouTube, one of its major rivals. Initially, the app had a 15-second time limit for uploads.
In its bid to compete with YouTube, TikTok has introduced some handy features that enhance the viewing experience for longer videos. These include a horizontal full-screen mode and the option to fast-forward videos by simply holding down the right side of the screen. In an effort to encourage users to share their longer content on its platform rather than solely on YouTube, TikTok began incentivizing creators with rewards for longer videos last year.
It appears that Instagram is not inclined to compete with YouTube’s dominance, unlike TikTok.
It is important to mention that Instagram previously explored the idea of long-form content through its IGTV app. The platform, which was introduced in 2018, was specifically created for the purpose of sharing longer videos. Unfortunately, Instagram made the decision to discontinue it in 2022, redirecting its attention towards Reels. The company emphasized the significance of reels on Instagram and expressed its commitment to further investing in this format.
