Instagram is our go-to social media app for photos and quippy short-form videos that keep us entertained for hours — but a new update will completely change how we view and use the Instagram app. Today, June 20th, the company announced that it will soon allow users to upload videos up to an hour in length. These videos will live on a different platform called IGTV, which will be a separate app from OG Instagram.
Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom introduced IGTV to an audience in San Francisco earlier today, according to TechCrunch. “It’s time for video to move forward, and evolve,” Systrom said. “IGTV is for watching long-form videos from your favorite creators.”
Although the hope is that IGTV will make it easier for users to enjoy content created by their favorite Instagram celebrities, anyone will be able to upload to the new app. Upon IGTV’s launch, your account size and newness to IG will determine the length of the video you’re able to upload. Users will be able to vertically upload to IGTV via the standalone app or the internet.
Users can also access IGTV through Instagram’s home screen. The IGTV app will reportedly be available to download on iOS and Android devices today.
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Once on the IGTV platform, users can swipe through content similar to swiping through Instagram Stories. Or, users can swipe up to see recommended videos or browse through uploaded content.
Similar to YouTube, creators can tailor their own Instagram Channels and provide links to other content, products, or services in video descriptions.
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It’s been five years since Instagram released its minute-long video upload feature and this new platform is going to be a massive, hopefully positive, shift for the photo-sharing app. Plus, keeping IGTV separate from the base app will help keep the platform clutter-free and easy to use.
What do you think? Will you be using IGTV?