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Instagram has introduced a new feature called Blend that changes how users engage with Reels. The update offers a unique way for friends to engage with a private shared feed of suggested Reels that are based on their shared interests. Instagram's Blend feature makes Reels more social as well as personalized, breaking the experience away from scrolling alone to discovering content together.
The Blend feature on Instagram creates a curated Reels feed found inside their direct messages (DMs). It provides users with a daily mixture of content that is impacted by both their selections and their friends' selections. The feature draws inspiration from Spotify's Blend playlists allow users to foster a connection through a shared media experience, which will hopefully make the experience a bit more meaningful. It enables users to react in real-time and share their interactions within the chat, turning Reels into a collaborative experience.
Instagram Blend is really easy and user-friendly. Here is how the feature works:
Open a DM with a friend or get into a group chat.
Hit the Blend button (two interconnected circles) in the top right corner.
Tap the 'Invite' button to send an invite; once it has been accepted, the Blend feed becomes active.
Scroll through daily Reels suggestions for everyone based on their interests and tastes.
React and reply with the message bar to people, creating real-time engagement.
Return the next day for fresh Reels suggestions.
The feature is also available in group chats, and that makes it a great way to interact with friends, family, or communities with specific interests. This new, daily refreshing content will continue to bring people back through the app, which will lead to users spending more time on the app and further increasing social engagement on the app.
Instagram's recent update for Reels is focused on making video content consumption more social and fun. Instagram has created a scrolling experience on Reels that you can share with others. In doing this, Instagram is competing with TikTok while creating an experience that is more conversational and connected.
The personal Reels on Instagram through Blend provide a more in-depth sense of shared interests and engagement. In a digital world that encourages the passive consumption of content, Instagram Blend provides an opportunity to have interaction and discovery within the familiar setting of a DM thread.
