Instagram Reels Launches Features Amid U.S. TikTok Ban

Instagram is launching new features for its Reels platform in the U.S. as TikTok faces a ban starting January 19. These features include a dedicated feed that displays videos liked or commented on by friends, encouraging social interaction around content. Users will also have access to a 'reply bar' allowing them to respond easily to their friends' engagements on Reels. The update comes at a strategic moment for Meta, aiming to attract TikTok users, especially creators who rely on social media for income, amidst their migration to other platforms. While some TikTok users have turned to the Chinese app RedNote, monetization opportunities there may be limited. This move by Instagram is seen as an opportunity to capitalize on TikTok's potential user displacement.