Instagram is testing a new long-form video format called Features. The Meta-owned platform will allow select creators to upload horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes, moving beyond the short, vertical clips that define Reels.
The move puts Instagram in direct competition with YouTube, where long-form videos remain central to creator earnings, audience loyalty, and watch time. Instagram wants creators to publish podcasts, interviews, comedy specials, tutorials, and extended vlogs directly on the platform.
Features is built for widescreen content. Unlike Reels, it supports videos that run far beyond a few seconds or minutes, giving creators room for complete episodes and deeper storytelling.
Instagram says the format will help creators expand their narratives and reach audiences who want more than quick entertainment. The company has positioned Features as a way to bring television-style and YouTube-style viewing into its existing feed experience.
Long videos will not sit in a separate standalone hub. They can appear in the main feed and Explore, increasing the chance that users discover them during normal scrolling.
Instagram is also testing Clips as Reels. This feature lets creators cut short segments from a long video and publish them as Reels. Each clip can link viewers back to the full video.
The design creates a clear content funnel. A viewer may first watch a 30-second podcast highlight, then tap through to the complete 90-minute episode. Creators can connect up to eight Reels to one long-form video. This approach mirrors YouTube’s discovery model, where Shorts often introduce audiences to longer videos.
The test began with selected creators in Brazil. Instagram later expanded it to a small group of creators in the United States on October 26. The company did not confirm a global launch date. Reports suggest Instagram may extend the trial to tens of thousands of US creators if early results prove promising. For now, most users cannot access the upload option.
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